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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.355, subd. <br />4). <br />Pawn America Minnesota, <br />LLC v. City of St Louis Park, <br />787 N.W.2d 565 (Minn. <br />2010). <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.355, subd. <br />4(a). <br />Any city that has adopted a zoning ordinance should regularly review it to <br />make sure it is consistent with current law. In addition, cities should also <br />review their ordinances to make sure they are consistent with past staff and <br />council interpretation and to make sure they are consistent with the city's <br />comprehensive plan. <br />Finally, the zoning ordinance should be reviewed to ensure that it is <br />consistent with the city council's current goals and visions for the <br />community Changes in the city's economic situation, population changes <br />and surges in development interest may quickly make a zoning ordinance <br />outdated with current city realities. Regulations that are inconsistent with <br />what the staff and council see as the future of the community can only cause <br />conflicts when particular applications have to be evaluated. <br />1. Interim Ordinances (Moratoria) <br />Adoption of an interim ordinance (more commonly known as a moratorium) <br />may aid cities in the zoning ordinance amendment process, by allowing a <br />city to study an issue without the pressure of time generated by pending <br />applications. Cities may use a moratorium to protect the planning process, <br />particularly when formal studies may be needed on a particular issue. Cities <br />must follow the procedures established in state statute to initiate a <br />moratorium. <br />a) Procedure for interim ordinance adoption <br />Cities must initiate a moratorium by adopting an ordinance (interim <br />ordinance). The interim ordinance may regulate, restrict, or prohibit any use, <br />development, or subdivision within the city or a portion of the city for a <br />period not to exceed one year from the effective date of the ordinance. An <br />interim ordinance may only be adopted where the city: <br />• Is conducting studies on the issue. <br />• Has authorized a study to be conducted. <br />• Has held or scheduled a hearing for the purpose of considering adoption <br />or amendment of a comprehensive plan or other official controls, <br />including the zoning code, subdivision controls, site plan regulations, <br />sanitary codes, building codes and official maps. <br />• Has annexed new territory into the city for which plans or controls have <br />not been adopted. <br />The legal justification for the interim ordinance should be stated in the <br />findings of fact when the ordinance is adopted. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 9/10/2012 <br />Zoning Guide for Cities Page 38 <br />