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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />See LMC Information Memo, <br />Planning Commission Guide. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.353. <br />Roselawn Cemetery v. City of <br />Roseville, 689 N.W. 2d 254 <br />(Minn. Ct. App. 2004). <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.352, subd. <br />5. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.355, subd. <br />1 a. <br />Minn. Stat. § 473121, subd. <br />2. <br />Minn. Stat. § 473.864, subd. <br />2. <br />Amcon Corp. v. City of <br />Eagan, 348 N.W.2d 66 <br />(Minn. 1984). <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.357, subd. <br />lh. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.355, subd. <br />1. <br />Minn. Stat. § 103G.005, subd. <br />10b. <br />See LMC Information Memo, <br />Planning Commission Guide. <br />For more information on <br />Comprehensive Planning see <br />Under Construction by MN <br />Department of <br />Administration. <br />Concept Properties, LLP v. <br />City ofMinnetrista, 694 <br />N.W.2d 804 (Minn. Ct. App. <br />2005). <br />Larson v. Washington <br />County, 387 N.W.2d 902 <br />(Minn. Ct. App. 1986). <br />1. Comprehensive planning <br />The adoption of a comprehensive plan is a common first step in the <br />development of a zoning ordinance Minnesota statutes grant all cities <br />authority to adopt a formal comprehensive plan for their community. A <br />comprehensive plan is a lengthy document that formally establishes a <br />blueprint for the city's long -range (usually between five and 15 years) <br />social, economic, and physical development. <br />In metropolitan area cities, including cities in the counties of Anoka, Dakota <br />(excluding the city of Northfield), Hennepin (excluding the cities of <br />Hanover and Rockford), Ramsey, Scott (excluding the city of New Prague) <br />and Washington, the adoption of a comprehensive plan is mandatory under <br />the Metropolitan Land Planning Act. All other cities have the option of <br />adopting a comprehensive plan, but are not required to do so. <br />Non - metropolitan cities located in counties or watersheds that contain 80 <br />percent of their presettlement wetlands are subject to the President Theodore <br />Roosevelt Memorial Bill to Preserve Agricultural, Forest, Wildlife, and <br />Open Space Land (hereinafter the "T. Roosevelt Memorial Preservation <br />Act "). These cities are not required to engage in comprehensive planning, <br />but must meet the requirements of the T. Roosevelt Memorial Preservation <br />Act by adopting certain findings of fact when adopting a comprehensive <br />plan. <br />a) Reasons to adopt a comprehensive plan <br />While not all cities are required to adopt a comprehensive plan, a plan is still <br />a good practice for a couple of reasons. <br />First, the comprehensive planning process helps a city develop a plan for <br />creating and maintaining a desirable environment and safe and healthy <br />community. Once a plan is adopted, it guides local officials in making their <br />day to day decisions and becomes a factor in their decision making process. <br />Second, preparing a comprehensive plan prior to the adoption of a zoning <br />ordinance also affords the city additional legal protections, if a particular <br />ordinance provision is challenged in court. Zoning ordinances must be <br />reasonable and have a rational basis. Comprehensive plans assist a city in <br />articulating the basis for its zoning decisions. Usually the courts will not <br />question the policies and programs contained in a comprehensive plan <br />adopted by a local community, or the ordinances based upon the plan, unless <br />the particular zoning provision appears to be without any rational basis or <br />clearly exceeds the city regulatory authority. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 9/10/2012 <br />Zoning Guide for Cities Page 3 <br />