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

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RELEVANT LINKS: Minn. Stat. § 462.359, subd. 2. See Handbook, Chapter 11. Minn. Stat. § 462.352, subd. 7, 8. See LMC information memo, Purchase and Sale of Real Property. Minn. Stat. § 462.354, subd. 2. I. Role in adoption of an official map After the planning commission has adopted a comprehensive plan containing a major thoroughfare plan and a community facilities plan or simply these portions of their comprehensive plan, it may adopt an official map. The official map is not the zoning map required for adoption of a zoning ordinance. In addition, it is not the map adopted as part of the comprehensive planning process. Instead, the official map is a unique map designed to help carry out the policies of the major thoroughfare plan and community facilities plan. The official map can cover the entire city or any portion of the city. The purpose of an official map is to identify land needed for future public uses, such as streets, aviation purposes or other necessary public facilities, such as libraries, city halls, parks, etc. Identification on an official map of land needed for future public uses permits both the public and private property owners to adjust their building plans equitably and conveniently before investments are made that will make adjustments difficult to accomplish. Official maps do not give a city any right to acquire the areas reserved on the map without payment. When the city is ready to proceed with the opening of a mapped street, the widening and extension of existing mapped streets, or the use of lands for aviation purposes, it still must acquire the property by gift, purchase, or condemnation. It need not, however, pay for any building or other improvement erected on the land without a permit or in violation of the conditions of the permit. Following the adoption and filing of an official map, the issuance of building permits under the MN State Building Code are subject to its provisions. If any building is built without a building permit or in violation of permit conditions, a municipality need not compensate a landowner whose building may be destroyed if a street is widened. In other words, while the official map does not give any interest in land, it does authorize the municipality to acquire such interests in the future without having to pay compensation for buildings that are erected in violation of the official map. J. Board of zoning adjustment and appeals A city that has adopted a zoning ordinance or official map should provide for a Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals (BZA). By ordinance, a city may delegate the role of a BZA to the city planning commission or a committee of the planning commission. The duties of a BZA include: League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/20/2015 Planning Commission Guide Page 16