CONTACT: Bobby King, LSP, 612-722-6377
9/21/06
An updated edition of a popular guide for Minnesota township supervisors and residents interested in understanding their township zoning powers is now available. First published by the Land Stewardship Project in 1997, the guide is designed to help townships begin the process of creating zoning ordinances that reflect their local values and land use needs. An increasing number of townships are creating local zoning ordinances to protect the health, safety and welfare of their residents.
The 52-page guide, When a Factory Farm Comes to Town: Protecting Your Township From Unwanted Development, was developed using input from some of Minnesota’s foremost experts on township zoning. It focuses on how township supervisors and residents can use an interim ordinance to promote responsible development. An interim ordinance allows a township to apply a temporary ban or moratorium on major development while the citizens consider creating or amending zoning ordinances and a comprehensive plan. The manual includes examples of interim ordinances enacted by Minnesota townships in recent years, as well as a list of resources.
The updated manual also features a new opinion from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office that supports an important principle of township rights. The Attorney General’s opinion affirms that when a township enacts an interim ordinance in good faith, the ordinance is valid even if it immediately affects only a single proposed development.
The 2006 edition of the manual reflects changes that have been made to state laws over the past several years. These changes have not weakened township powers but do affect the process of adopting an interim ordinance.
When a Factory Farm Comes to Town is available at no charge on the Land Stewardship Project website at www.landstewardshipproject.org/pdf/township_manual06.pdf. Copies can also be purchased for $8.00 (that price includes the 6.5 percent Minnesota state sales tax) by calling the Land Stewardship Project at 612-722-6377.
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