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9 <br />LeFevere <br />Le[ler <br />Kennedy <br />O'Brien K <br />Drawz <br />a Professional <br />Association <br />2000 First Bank Piece West September 22, 1987 <br />Minneapolis <br />Minnesota 55402 <br />Telephone (612) 333-0543 <br />Telecopier (612) 333-0540 <br />Clayton L. LeFevere <br />Herbert P. Lefler <br />J. Dennis O'Brien <br />John E. Drowz <br />David J. Kennedy <br />Joseph E. Hamilton <br />John B. Dean <br />Glenn E. Purdue <br />Richard J. Schieffer <br />Charles L. LeFevere <br />Herbert P. Lefler III <br />James J. Thomson, Jr. <br />Thomas R. Galt <br />Doyle Nolan <br />John G. Kressel <br />Steven B. Schmidt <br />Jaynes M. Strommen <br />Ronald H. Batty <br />William P. Jordan <br />William R. Skallerud <br />Rodney D. Anderson <br />Corrine A. Heine <br />David D. Beaudoin <br />Paul E. Rasmussen <br />Steven M. Tallen <br />Mary Frances Skala <br />Christopher J. Harristhal <br />Timothy J. Pawlenty <br />Rolf A. Sponheim <br />Julie A. Bergh <br />Mr. James Andre <br />City Manager <br />City of Roseville <br />2660 Civic Center Drive <br />Roseville, MN 55113 <br />Re: Kehr v. City of Roseville <br />PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL <br />Dear Jim: <br />In its executive session of September 21, 1987, the City <br />Council raised the question whether the rule which shifts <br />the burden of proof to the City upon failure by the City <br />to make findings in denials of variances and conditional <br />use permits also applies to rezoning cases. <br />The Minnesota courts have addressed this issue in several <br />cases. For your information, I have attached copies of <br />each of the cases to which I refer in this letter. <br />The case of Honn v. City of Coon Rapids, 313 NW2d 409, <br />(Minn. 1981), involved an application to rezone property <br />to allow multifamily residential development. The courts <br />stated that the city council must, at a minimum, have <br />reasons for its decision reduced to writing in more than <br />just a conclusory fashion. "By failing to do so, it runs <br />the risk of not having its decision sustained." (PP. <br />416). <br />Later, in Amcon Corp. V. City of Eagan, 348 NW2d 66 <br />(Minn. 1984), the Court further addressed this issue. <br />Although the effect of the failure by the city council to <br />a,iopt findings was not a central issue in the case, the <br />court did note that in denying a rezoning application, <br />"failure to articulate any legally sufficient basis for <br />its determination made a prima facie showing of <br />arbitrariness inevitable" (quoting at page 75, from an <br />earlier Minnesota case). <br />