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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.351. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.352, subd <br />5. Sample: Bethel <br />Comprehensive Plan, City <br />Population 502. <br />Sample: La Crescent <br />Comprehensive Plan, <br />Population 5,174. <br />Sample: Minnetonka <br />Comprehensive Plan, City <br />Population 51,519. <br />III. Powers and duties of the planning <br />commission <br />State statutes vest the planning commission with certain mandatory duties. In <br />addition, state statute allows the city council to prescribe additional duties in <br />local ordinance. In most instances, unless noted in statute or ordinance, the <br />planning commission serves in an advisory capacity subject to approval by <br />the city council. <br />A. Preparing and recommending a comprehensive <br />plan <br />The primary duty of a newly created planning agency is advising the city <br />council on the preparation and adoption of a comprehensive plan. <br />1. Purpose of comprehensive planning <br />A comprehensive plan is an expression of the community's vision for the <br />future and a strategic map to reach that vision. Comprehensive planning is <br />not mandatory in cities outside the seven- county metropolitan area. <br />However, comprehensive planning is an important tool for cities to guide <br />future development of land to ensure a safe, pleasant, and economical <br />environment for residential, commercial, industrial, and public activities. In <br />addition, planning can help: <br />• Preserve important natural resources, agricultural, and other open lands. <br />• Create the opportunity for residents to participate in guiding a <br />community's future. <br />• Identify issues, stay ahead of trends, and accommodate change. <br />• Ensure that growth makes the community better, not just bigger. <br />• Foster sustainable economic development. <br />• Provide an opportunity to consider future implications of today's <br />decisions. <br />• Protect property rights and values. <br />• Enable other public and private agencies to plan their activities in <br />harmony with the municipality's plans. <br />For many cities creating a comprehensive plan is the first step in adopting <br />zoning and subdivision regulations. <br />As a result, the comprehensive plan normally lays out a vision for the city's <br />future land development and land use, dictating where growth should occur, <br />the type of growth that is allowed in various areas of the city, and the density <br />of such growth. However, a comprehensive plan also may include a: <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: <br />Planning Commission Guide <br />12/16/2024 <br />Page 6 <br />