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LEAGUE OF <br />MINNESOTA Planning Commission Guide <br />CITIES <br />INFORMATION MEMO <br />Learn ways the city may create, change or discontinue a city planning commission. Provides <br />information on appointment of members, commission powers and duties, and meeting rules. <br />Understand council and planning commission roles in creating a comprehensive plan for growth and <br />development; how to implement it. Ways to participate in joint or multijurisdictional planning. <br />RELEVANT LINKS: <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.355. <br />Minn. Stat. § 473.175. <br />See MN Planning "Under <br />Construction: Tools and <br />Techniques for Local <br />Planning.- <br />Minn. <br />lanning." <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.352, subd <br />3. Minn. Stat. § 462.354, <br />subd 1. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.354. <br />Minn. Stat. § 410.12. <br />See Handbook, Chapter 4. <br />I. Creation of a city planning commission <br />State law encourages all cities to prepare and implement a comprehensive <br />municipal plan. In addition, cities within the seven -county metro area are <br />required to adopt comprehensive plans. Under state law, the city planning <br />commission or planning department is delegated the authority to create the <br />city's comprehensive plan. <br />A comprehensive plan is an expression of the community's vision for future <br />growth and development. It is also a strategic map to reach that vision. <br />Comprehensive planning is an important tool for cities to guide future <br />development of land to ensure a safe, pleasant, and economical environment <br />for residential, commercial, industrial, and public activities. <br />The first step in creating a comprehensive plan is the creation of a city <br />planning agency. A planning agency can be either a planning commission or <br />a planning department with an advisory planning commission. Planning <br />commissions are by and large the most prevalent form of planning agencies <br />in Minnesota. This memorandum discusses the commission form of a <br />planning agency in depth. In most instances the laws related to planning <br />commissions will apply to planning departments as well. However, cities <br />interested in forming a planning department as their main planning agency, <br />or who currently operate a planning department, should consult their city <br />attorney for guidance. <br />The planning commission must be created by city ordinance or charter <br />provision. When a planning commission is created by ordinance, a simple <br />majority of councilmembers present is needed to adopt the ordinance. When <br />a planning commission is created by charter, the statutory provisions for <br />amending a charter must be followed. In drafting a planning commission <br />ordinance or charter provision, a city will need to include provisions related <br />to: <br />This material is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal advice. Consult your attorney for advice concerning specific situations. <br />145 University Ave. West <br />Saint Paul, MN 55103-2044 <br />www.lmc.org <br />(651) 281-1200 or (800) 925-1122 <br />1/20/2015 <br />© 2015 All Rights Reserved <br />