Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/20/2015 - Joint with EPB

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RELEVANT LINKS: Minn. Stat. § 462.358, subd. 3(b). See Handbook, Chapter 11. See also LMC information memo, Subdivisions, Plats, and Development Agreements. See LMC information memo Subdivisions, Plats, and Development Agreements. See the LMC information memo, Meetings of City Councils. See LMC information memo, Meetings of City Councils. Minn. Stat. § 13D.01. Rupp v. Mayasich, 533 N.W.2d 893 (Minn. Ct. App. 1995). Minn. Stat. § 13D.01, subd. 1. Minn. Stat. § 13D.01, subd. 6. K. Role in review of subdivision applications Absent a charter provision to the contrary, in cities that have adopted a subdivision ordinance, the city council may by ordinance delegate the authority to review subdivision proposals to the planning commission. However, final approval or disapproval of a subdivision application must be the decision of the city council. Planning commissions charged with reviewing subdivision applications must follow fairly strict legal standards for their review. Specifically, the city must follow the requirements of the subdivision ordinance it has adopted. If a subdivision application meets the requirements of the ordinance, generally it must be granted. If an application is denied, the stated reasons for the denial must all relate to the applicant's failure to meet standards established in the ordinance. The standard of review for subdivision applications is discussed in depth an LMC information memo on subdivisions, plats and development agreements. IV. Planning commission meetings Planning commission meetings are governed by the same statutes as regular city council meetings. For example, planning commission meetings are subject to the Open Meeting Law and subject to the records retention laws. A. Open Meeting Law The Minnesota Open Meeting Law generally requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public. This presumption of openness serves three basic purposes: • To prohibit actions from being taken at a secret meeting where it is impossible for the interested public to become fully informed concerning decisions of public bodies or to detect improper influences. • To ensure the public's right to be informed. • To afford the public an opportunity to present its views to the public body. The Open Meeting Law applies to all governing bodies of any school district, unorganized territory, county, city, town or other public body, and to any committee, sub -committee, board, department or commission of a public body. Thus, the law applies to meetings of all city planning commissions and any city or commission advisory boards or committees. At least one copy of the materials made available to the planning commission at or before the meeting must also be made available for inspection by the public. However, this does not apply to not -public data or materials relating to the agenda items of a closed meeting. League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/20/2015 Planning Commission Guide Page 18