Calthorpe Associates of Berkeley, Calif., has been hired to develop and propose growth and design options for communities along the Minnesota 36 corridor in Washington County and across the St. Croix River in St. Croix County, Wis.

The firm is famous for promoting pedestrian and transit-oriented communities that foster diversity and promote social interaction. Peter Calthorpe, the founder, was named one of 25 innovators on the cutting edge by Newsweek for his work redefining the models of urban and suburban growth in America.

Metro Council Chairman Ted Mondale said the $85,000 study will help ensure that the development that occurs around the new St. Croix River bridge will remain consistent with the goals and policies of the council's regional blueprint.

Mondale stressed Tuesday that the announcement of the study did not mean the council was reopening discussion about whether a new bridge will be built over the St. Croix River near Stillwater.

``This study is not going to alter the final decision whether a bridge will be built or not,'' he said.

He said the study would give community leaders, citizens and local government officials a chance to build a vision as to how the Minnesota 36 corridor and St. Croix Valley will grow.

``Instead of drawing up a plan in St. Paul and telling people in the region that `it's this way or no way,' we are offering to the region the nation's finest designers and consultants to ultimately lead a process so the citizens of the area will decide what their communities will look like in the future,'' he said.

Mondale said the process marks a distinct change from the former Metro Council.

``The old Met Council said, `You build a bridge and nothing is going to happen,' '' he said. ``But future growth in this region is going to go somewhere and we think the smart thing to do is plan ahead. Let's work now to build the communities we want, rather than simply accept the communities we get. We're not going to duck from issues, and we're going to help communities be what they want to be.''

Calthorpe will conduct a public workshop in September to give local residents and officials a chance to talk about ``where they think the region ought to grow and what kind of growth they would like to see,'' said Timothy Rood, project manager for the St. Croix Valley Development Design Study.

``We're moving in the direction of walkability and mix of uses, and we'll be looking for opportunities where that kind of growth could occur in the St. Croix Valley,'' he said.

It's a plan that excites Oak Park Heights Mayor Dave Schaaf, who says the city has already been looking at those same principles for its proposed Central Business District.

``I think we're ahead of the curve,'' said Schaaf, of the new mixed-use development that will include pedestrian-friendly retail establishments and affordable housing. ``The key ingredient is that they're going to be looking at the Wisconsin side as well and working with St. Croix County and the West Central Planning Agency in Wisconsin. The plan anticipates this improved river crossing and will help come up with smart growth strategies.''

``The Met Council is footing the bill and (we) get to benefit from it,'' he said. ``It's real help for local government. None of us is large enough that we look at the whole area, so having somebody take a look at it on a real-world community basis gives us a framework for doing some creative thinking and gets an enlightened dialogue going.''

But Wally Abrahamson, Washington County board chairman, expressed concerns Tuesday that the new study may somehow affect plans for the new bridge -- a bridge he says has been needed since 1960.

``I know (Mondale) says that this has nothing to do with the new bridge, but I think it has a lot to do with the new bridge, personally,'' he said. ``Something in the back of my mind says: `Hey, somebody's screwing up the system again.' ''

Marc Hugunin, the Metro Council member who represents most of Washington County, assured Abrahamson that the study would not re-examine the need for a new bridge.

``We've had more than enough discussion about whether the new bridge will or won't promote more growth in the Stillwater area,'' he said. ``The fact is, growth is already occurring. What's important now is to help shape that growth in a way that is cost-efficient for taxpayers, as well as appealing to local residents.''

Results from the study will be available to local governments throughout the metro area as a resource to provide ideas on community design, said Bob Mazanec, planning analyst for the Metro Council.

``The study will be another tool in the tool box for local government when dealing with growth and development issues,'' he said.