HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-23 Supporting Retention of City Zoning AuthorityRESOLUTION NO. 2025-23
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING RETENTION OF CITY ZONING AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, decisions about local zoning and land use that best fit community needs are best
left to city residents and their locally elected officials; and
WHEREAS, cities use zoning and land use regulations to balance property usage, plan for
community growth, dedicate space and capacity for public infrastructure to support development (roads,
parks and trails, transportation, sewer, stormwater, water, etc.), mitigate flooding and erosion, and
preserve natural resources among others; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature, in an attempt to address housing availability and
affordability challenges, is considering measures that would preempt city authority to regulate land use
and zoning and assign that authority to state government; and
WHEREAS, the elements of the current bills reflect what appears to be a well-intentioned but
misdirected effort to address affordable housing concerns, and passage of those measures would
inadequately address such housing availability and affordability challenges; and
WHEREAS, a rigid framework for land use and zoning mandated by the state, without keeping
local land use decisions local, makes little sense and cities require flexibility to address their own
unique circumstances; and
WHEREAS, decades of infrastructure planning and investment have been guided by the city
comprehensive planning process as required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, resulting in
existing sewer/water/stornwater/roadway systems sized for current and planned densities; and
WHEREAS, provisions of the proposed state measures would place the fiscal burden for
infrastructure cost of new residential development on the shoulders of current property owners and
renters in our local communities who have already paid for existing, appropriately sized infrastructure;
and
WHEREAS, prohibiting or drastically limiting cities' authority to prescribe parking
requirements necessary to accommodate and serve a given land use and density - especially for cities
which are not actively served by public transportation - would result in severely inadequate parking
(whether private, public lots, or public on -street) and limited mobility as that housing density increases;
and
WHEREAS, the building of multiple housing units on a single residential lot with inadequate
spacing - whether within existing/historic neighborhoods or new subdivsions - as allowed in the
proposed zoning preemption measures, could result in service delivery problems such as limiting
emergency medical services and fire department access to city neighborhoods, and would irreversibly
change the fabric of Minnesota neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, provisions would also silence local residents from their concerns regarding
proposed developments during public comment periods of city council and other public meetings and
disincentivize public participation by residents; and
WHEREAS, cities across the state have already put in decades of work to encourage and allow
for affordable housing and address zoning issues, and continue to do so, with the help of community
engagement.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Corcoran as follows:
1. The City of Corcoran opposes state proposals that seek to preempt local zoning and land
use decision -making when it comes to residential development;
2. Supports constructive policy alternatives to incentivize and bolster city efforts for addressing
housing challenges;
3. And, advocates for a city-state partnership to consider reforms that are proven to address housing
availability and affordability and that ensure efforts can be locally led and shaped.
4. That the City of Corcoran authorizes the Mayor, City Administrator and relevant staff to
communicate this resolution to state legislators, the Governor's office, the League of Minnesota
Cities, and other advocacy groups, and to actively advocate for intentional ways to expand
housing supply appropriately throughout Hennepin County, the Metro and Greater Minnesota
without eliminating local control, disregarding community input, or dramatically scaling back -
or even eliminating - important development standards;
5. And strongly recommends the state legislature consider granting cities statutory authority to
implement a transportation area charge to allow for transportation network improvements needed
to support new development to be equitably shared among benefiting developments and reduce
instances where infrastructure costs become prohibitive for a single development project.
VOTING AYE
® McKee, Tom
® Friedrich, Michelle
® Lanterman, Mark
® Nichols, Jeremy
® Vehrenkamp, Dean
VOTING NAY
❑ McKee, Tom
❑ Friedrich, Michelle
❑ Lanterman, Mark
❑ Nichols, Jeremy
❑ Vehrenkamp, Dean
Whereupon, said Resolution is hereby declared adopted on this 13th day of March 2025.
Tom cKee ayor
ATTEST:
��m/a YL/ City Seal
Debra Johnson — City C rk