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<br />land Use and Zoning - legal Review <br />Planning Commission Meeting <br />May I 3, 2003 <br /> <br />V. Adoption and Amendment of Land Use Controls <br />A. Comprehensive Plans <br />1. Statutory Authority <br />a) Municipal Land Planning Act, Minn. Stat. ~462.351 to <br />462.365, ~462.353, subd.1 <br />b) Metropolitan Land Planning Act, Minn. Stat. ~473.851 to <br />473.871; ~473.858 <br />c) County Planning Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 394. <br />2. Purpose and Scope <br />a) A comprehensive plan is a general plan to control and direct <br />the use and development of land in a city or county. The <br />purpose of a comprehensive plan is to analyze existing <br />economic, social and environmental conditions, layout the <br />goals and policies that will guide future development, and <br />provide the legal basis for land use controls. Comprehensive <br />plans have been described as a strategic map to reach the <br />community's vision of its future. <br />b) Municipalities within the Twin Cities metropolitan area are <br />required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act to prepare a <br />comprehensive plan for Metropolitan Council review and <br />approval. Minn. Stat. ~ 473.858. Outside of the Twin Cities <br />metropolitan area, comprehensive plans and formal planning <br />activities are not required. However, State law specifically <br />encourages each county (Minn. Stat. ~394.232, subd. 1) and <br />each municipality (Minn. Stat. ~ 462.3535, subd. 1) to prepare <br />and implement a community-based comprehensive plan. A <br />comprehensive plan should be adopted if a community <br />intends to adopt and enforce a zoning ordinance. <br />c) Minn. Stat. ~ 394.232, sub. 4 and ~462.3535, subd 2 <br />authorizes the preparation of regional comprehensive plans <br />through the joint planning activities of contiguous counties, <br />cities and/or towns; and mandates coordination with <br />neighboring jurisdictions in the preparation of a plan. <br />3. Procedural Requirements. Minn. Stat. ~462.355 and ~ 394.232 set <br />forth detailed procedural requirements for the preparation, adoption <br />and amendment of comprehensive plans. In addition to these <br />statutory requirements, it is recommended that cities and counties <br />strive to achieve the greatest community involvement possible in the <br />development of a comprehensive plan. <br />