Contact: Paul Sobocinski, LSP, 507-342-2323, 507-430-1509 (cell)

2/16/04
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Bills that could gut some of the most effective planning tools available to local governments in Minnesota get their first hearings in St. Paul on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

If House File 2021 becomes law, cities and townships will be denied the opportunity to effectively use interim ordinances as a planning tool. Current Minnesota law gives townships and cities the right to put a temporary stop to proposed large developments while they conduct planning and zoning that fits the needs of the community. House File 2021 could effectively gut that right.

The Minnesota Legislature’s Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee will give this controversial bill its first hearing on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building. The authors of H.F. 2021 are Representatives Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan), Peter Adolphson (R-Minnetonka), Laura Brod (R-New Prague), Karen Klinzing (R-Woodbury), Greg Blaine (R-Little Falls), Ron Abrams (R-Minnetonka), and Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm).

“We have been predicting this would happen,” said Paul Sobocinski, a Wabasso, Minn., hog farmer and Land Stewardship Project organizer. “The Agri-Growth Council, Minnesota Department of Ag officials and other proponents of corporate ag have been saying that they want township powers weakened. But in America, we believe in the right of local people to have a say in what goes on in their community.”

A recent report by the Agri-Growth Council on Minnesota’s livestock industry suggested that the corporate farm law and township powers are a barrier to increasing the growth of large corporate feedlots. In addition, a Minnesota Department of Agriculture official told a November gathering of the Minnesota Association of Cooperatives that local governments should be “reined in” when it comes to decisions affecting large livestock operations.

“I’m concerned about the thinking going on at the Capitol and the Minnesota Department of Ag that says bureaucrats in St. Paul know better than local people how to run their townships,” said Alan Perish, a township official in Todd County and Land Stewardship Project member. “Township officials are in touch with their community. We need the power to protect our areas and House File 2021 undermines this keystone of local democracy.”

A related bill, House File 2057, will be heard the same day. This bill appears to allow the expansion of existing developments that have been “grandfathered” in but do not conform to current ordinances. Non-conforming uses occur when municipalities pass zoning restrictions that affect an existing use. Under current law, grandfathered uses are allowed to continue but cannot expand. H.F. 2057 could open the door to expansion.

The authors of H.F. 2057 are Representatives Abrams, Buesgens, Adolphson, Brod, Klinzing and Blaine, as well as Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) and John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul).

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