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METROPOLITAN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVES ACT <br /> <br />CHAPTER <br /> <br />, MINNESOTA STATUTES <br /> <br />H.F. 1612 <br />AUTHORS: Schreiber, Levi, Vanasek, McEachern . <br /> <br />S.F. 1597 <br />AUTHORS: Sikorski, Purferst, Nelson <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS' <br /> <br />SECTION 1. <br /> <br />(CITATION; POLICY; PURPOSE.) <br /> <br />Establishes state policy for preserving farmland in the Metropoli- <br />tan Area and names the act. See text. - <br /> <br />SECTION 2. <br /> <br />(DEFINITIONS.) <br /> <br />Gives definitions that are critical to correct interpretation of ...... <br />the act. Especially significant are the definitions of "certified' <br />long-term agricultural land"; and "long-term ~gricultural land." <br /> <br />SECTION 3. <br /> <br />(ELIGIBILITY.) <br /> <br />States that only long-berm agricultural land comprising 40 or more <br />acres is eligible; but eligibility is expanded to include noncon- <br />tiguous parcels farmed as a unit, small quarter/quarters, some <br />parcels down to 20 acres based on local determination, and' some <br />parcels that stradle political bo6ndaries. <br /> <br />SECTION 4. <br /> <br />(CERTIFICATION.) <br /> <br /> Requires each authority t~ certify eligibility for designation as <br /> a preserve. Only lands certified can become preserves. This <br /> section clarifies that each authority interprets its own planning <br /> and zoning and is in the driver's seat as far as eligibiliy is <br /> concerned. <br /> <br />.SECTION 5. (APPLICATION; COVENANT AGREEMENT.) <br /> <br /> Describes the voluntary process for application and designation. <br /> Key aspects are that (i) the local authority must sign a statement <br /> confirming that the area is long-term agricultural land; and (ii) <br /> a restrictive covenant by which the owner commits the land to agri- <br /> cultural use for the duration of the preserve.is required. <br /> <br /> <br />