Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/20/2015 - Joint with Planning Comm

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RELEVANT LINKS: Minn. Stat. § 462.357, subd. 2. A.G. Op. 59-A-32 (Jan. 25, 2002). Minn. Stat. § 462.357, subd 3. LMC information memo, Newspaper Publication. See LMC information memo, Zoning Guide for Cities. Minn. Stat. § 462.357, subd 4. For more information see LMC information memo Zoning Decisions. See Section W- B on the 60 - Day Rule. The city council may adopt a zoning ordinance by a majority vote of all its members. In adopting an ordinance, one Minnesota attorney general opinion has found that charter cities may not provide for different voting requirements in their city charter, because the Municipal Planning Act supersedes inconsistent charter provisions. Prior to the adoption of a zoning ordinance, the city council or planning commission must hold a public hearing. Notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing must be published in the official newspaper of the municipality at least ten days prior to the day of the hearing. When an amendment involves changes in district boundaries affecting an area of five acres or less, a similar notice must be mailed at least ten days before the day of the hearing to each owner of affected property and property situated wholly or partly within 350 feet of the property to which the amendment relates. The drafting and adoption of a city zoning ordinance is covered in detail in the LMC Information Memo, Zoning Guide for Cities. 2. Zoning ordinance amendment An amendment to a zoning ordinance, including a rezoning, may be initiated by the governing body, the planning commission, or by petition of affected property owners as defined in the zoning ordinance. An amendment not initiated by the planning commission must be referred to the planning commission for study and report. The city council may not act on the proposed amendment (either by adopting or denying the amendment) until the planning commission has made its recommendations or 60 days have elapsed from the date of reference of the amendment without a report by the planning commission. It is important to note that while state statute provides the planning commission 60 days to respond to proposals, the 60 -Day Rule (an entirely different rule with 60 days in the title) still applies to ordinance amendments brought by application or petition of property owners. As a result, internal procedures should be developed to coordinate planning commission review that does not violate the 60 -Day Rule automatic approval statute. In generating a report on a proposed zoning amendment, the planning commission serves in a strictly advisory role. The city council ultimately decides on the amendment for the city and is not bound by planning commission recommendations. League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/20/2015 Planning Commission Guide Page 14