CCP 10-28-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I . Clearly define and differentiate between urban and rural development and restrict 2 urban growth outside city boundaries. 3 . Facilitate the annexation of urban land to cities by amending state statutes that regulate . 4 annexation to make it easier for cities to annex developed or developing land within 5 unincorporated areas. 6 . Oppose legislation that would reinstate the election requirement in contested 7 annexations. 8 . Encourage ideas consistent with the long-term goal of allowing urban development only 9 in urban areas. Density incentives such as sprawl reduction aid programs are more 10 straightforward methods of rewarding and encouraging compact urban development 11 than using LGA or HACA for another new purpose. 12 13 LE-2. Electric Service Extension (AH) 14 15 Issue: Minnesota law currently protects the right of municipally-owned utilities to 16 extend electric services to annexed areas. Electric cooperatives have announced their intention to 17 seek legislation that would eliminate the right of municipally-owned utilities to extend electric 18 services to annexed areas. Eliminating municipal authority to extend services would interfere 19 with cities' natural growth and with the ability of municipally-owned utilities to serve the entire 20 community. 21 22 Response: The League opposes any statutory change that would impede or 23 eliminate the ability of municipally-owned utilities to extend electric services to any portion 24 of their respective cities, including annexed areas. 25 26 LE-3. Statutory Approval Timelines (RS) 27 28 Issue: Since 1995, cities have been required to act on written requests relating 29 to zoning, septic systems, the expansion of Metropolitan Urban Service Areas (MUSA) and other 30 land-use applications in accordance to a statutory time period generally referred to as the 60-day 31 rule. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. S 15.99, state and local government agencies must approve or deny 32 a permit within a statutory time frame, and failure by the agency to issue a specific denial of the 33 application with contemporaneous written findings offact shall be deemed an approval. Recent 34 court decisions have made it clear the law needs to be clarified, making it more efficienl and to 35 assist cities in providing accurate and timely responses to applicants. 36 37 Response: The Legislature should repeal or amend Minn. Stat. S 15.99. If repeal is 38 unlikely, amendments should: 39 40 . Allow government agencies to provide final written findings of fact at the next official 41 meeting of the governing body. 42 . Allow an automatic 60-day extension of the time limit if the agency votes down a 43 resolution granting the request, but does not vote on a resolution denying the request. 8 . . .