Comprehensive and Statewide Planning
APA Minnesota supports:
Fundamental planning principles which incorporate intergovernmental cooperation, effective planning tools, and excellence in citizen involvement.
- Continued regional planning in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
- Local autonomy in the development and approval of comprehensive plans and official controls for all local jurisdictions outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
- Strengthened comprehensive planning outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, including:
- A more clearly defined role for comprehensive planning in guiding public investments and private development.
- Incentives to prepare comprehensive plans that are linked to potential funding mechanisms for infrastructure and other improvements.
- Defining of the required elements of comprehensive plans for all local jurisdictions, including:
- Land Use
- Housing and Economic Development
- Parks and Trails
- Transportation
- Community Facilities
- Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources
- Energy, Sustainability and Resiliency
- Health and Active Living
- Intergovernmental Collaboration
- Implementation
- A requirement that zoning and other official controls be in accordance with an up-to-date comprehensive plan.
- A requirement of planning and zoning certification training for all current and newly appointed planning commissioners and zoning board of adjustment members.
- Study of increased resources, involvement and coordination at the State level with planning for Minnesota communities.
- Changes to Minnesota’s planning and zoning enabling laws (Minnesota Statutes Chapters 394 and 462) creating coordinated and updated planning and zoning statutes following principles outlined in Minnesota’s Planning and Zoning Enabling Laws: Analysis and Options for Reform (APA MN, 2015).
- Changes to statutes and rules which ensure aviation safety and land use compatibility through effective integration of airport zoning with the municipal and county planning and zoning laws