3/11/2026 - City Council - Regular - Joint Meeting w/PC - Agendas
CITY OF SPRING PARK
JOINT MEETING:
PLANNING COMMISSION & CITY
COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA
MARCH 11, 2026 – 5:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL
1. MEET AND GREET/SELF INTRODUCTIONS (5-pm)
2. CALL TO ORDER (Approx 5:30 pm: PC Chair)
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
a. Ord. 26-01: ADU’s
b. Ord. 26-03: Parking
c. Tree Preservation Ordinance
d. Comprehensive Plan Update
e. City Events/ Holiday Lighting
5. MISCELLANEOUS
6. ADJOURNMENT
1.1 Senator .................... moves to amend S.F. No. ..... as follows:
1.2 Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:
1.3 "Section 1. [462.3572] CERTAIN HOUSING AUTHORIZED.
1.4 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
1.5 the meanings given.
1.6 (b) "Accessory dwelling unit" means any building that contains one residential unit that
1.7 is used, occupied, intended for use, or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let, or hired
1.8 out to be occupied for living purposes, regardless of familial status, and is located on the
1.9 same lot as an existing residential building and built to the standards in the Minnesota
1.10 Residential Code, Minnesota Rules, chapter 1309. An accessory dwelling unit may be
1.11 attached or detached from the existing residential building. Accessory dwelling unit does
1.12 not include sacred communities and micro-unit dwellings under section 327.30, and
1.13 temporary family health care dwellings under section 462.3593.
1.14 (c) "Applicant" has the meaning provided in section 15.99.
1.15 (d) "Bulk control" means a regulation or ordinance that governs the size, shape, and
1.16 placement of buildings within a specific area.
1.17 (e) "Commercially zoned district" means an area in a municipality that is zoned to allow
1.18 the use of land for buildings that are primarily engaged in the sale, lease, rental, or trade of
1.19 products, goods, and services, excluding any area used for industrial production or processing.
1.20 (f) "Greenfield lot" means land zoned or guided for residential use that is either previously
1.21 undeveloped and vacant or newly platted on or after June 1, 2026.
1.22 (g) "Lot" means any contiguous parcel of land in the possession of, owned by, or recorded
1.23 as the property of the same claimant or person.
1.24 (h) "Metropolitan area" has the meaning given under section 473.121, subdivision 2.
1.25 (i) "Mixed housing" means the following types of dwellings:
1.26 (1) duplexes, defined as a single building sited on a single lot that contains two separate
1.27 dwelling units;
1.28 (2) triplexes, defined as a single building sited on a single lot that contains three separate
1.29 dwelling units;
1.30 (3) quadplexes or fourplexes, defined as a single building sited on a single lot that
1.31 contains four separate dwelling units; and
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2.1 (4) townhouses.
2.2 (j) "Multifamily affordable housing development" means a multifamily residential
2.3 development in which the residential units are:
2.4 (1) owner-occupied units that are income restricted to households that, at the time of
2.5 initial occupancy, have an income at or below 115 percent of state or area median income,
2.6 whichever is greater, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
2.7 Development; or
2.8 (2) leased units that satisfy the definition of a qualified low-income housing project
2.9 under section 42(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, with a deed or declaration for the leased
2.10 residential units containing a restrictive covenant requiring the property to remain affordable
2.11 housing for 30 years.
2.12 (k) "Multifamily residential development" means a single residential building with at
2.13 least ten residential units or a mixed-use building with commercial use on the ground floor
2.14 and at least five residential units.
2.15 (l) "Municipality" has the meaning given in section 462.352, subdivision 2.
2.16 (m) "Request" has the meaning provided in section 15.99, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
2.17 (n) "Residential unit" means a building or part of a building used or intended to be used
2.18 for dwelling purposes by a single owner or tenant.
2.19 (o) "Single-family home" means a detached building containing one residential unit.
2.20 (p) "Townhouse" means a single residential unit constructed in a group of two or more
2.21 attached units in which each unit extends from the foundation to the roof and having open
2.22 space on at least two sides of each unit. Each single residential unit shall be considered to
2.23 be a separate building. Separate building service utilities shall be provided to each single
2.24 residential unit when required by the State Building Code.
2.25 Subd. 2.Applicability.(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), the requirements
2.26 of this section do not apply to municipalities with less than 5,000 in population.
2.27 (b) The requirements of this section apply to municipalities with greater than 2,500 in
2.28 population which are within the metropolitan area.
2.29 (c) The requirements of subdivisions 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, and 13 apply to all municipalities.
2.30 Subd. 3.Administrative approvals.(a) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or ordinance to
2.31 the contrary, a municipality must establish an administrative review process subject to the
2.32 time constraints and process in section 15.99 for approving requests related to multifamily
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3.1 residential developments in areas zoned for multifamily residential developments or in
3.2 commercial areas that permit multifamily residential developments as required by subdivision
3.3 8.
3.4 (b) In zoning districts that permit mixed housing as required in subdivision 6, a
3.5 municipality must apply the same administrative approval process to requests related to any
3.6 type of mixed housing that would apply to a single-family home being developed on the
3.7 same lot. A municipality may require a site development plan or similar documents for
3.8 mixed housing, provided the time period for the administrative approval process is the same
3.9 or similar to that for a single-family home.
3.10 (c) Conditions in development agreements for housing types covered in this section must
3.11 comply with this section.
3.12 (d) A municipality must process a request in paragraph (a) or (b) as a permitted use, as
3.13 required by subdivisions 6, 7, and 8.
3.14 Subd. 4.Residential design standards.(a) A municipality must not impose any of the
3.15 following requirements, by ordinance or as a condition of approval of any request, related
3.16 to residential buildings with four or fewer residential units:
3.17 (1) a minimum number or type of exterior finish materials, including siding;
3.18 (2) the presence of gables, shutters, columns, decks, balconies, or porches;
3.19 (3) minimum garage square footage, size, width, or depth;
3.20 (4) roof pitch exceeding 4:12;
3.21 (5) the orientation of the primary structure, except that a municipality may require an
3.22 entrance point on a street-facing side of the structure on a street designated by the
3.23 municipality; or
3.24 (6) a requirement that the dwelling have more than one above ground floor.
3.25 (b) Properties in a historic district under sections 138.73 and 471.193, are exempt from
3.26 this section.
3.27 Subd. 5.Homeowners associations.(a) Except as required by state or federal law or
3.28 rule, a municipality must not condition approval of a residential building permit or conditional
3.29 use permit, residential subdivision development or residential planned unit development,
3.30 or any other permit related to residential development, on the:
3.31 (1) creation of a homeowners association;
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4.1 (2) inclusion of any service, feature, or common property necessitating a homeowners
4.2 association, unless requested by the developer;
4.3 (3) inclusion of any terms in a homeowners association declaration, bylaws, articles of
4.4 incorporation, or any other governing document; or
4.5 (4) adoption or revocation of, or amendment to, a rule or regulation governing the
4.6 homeowners association or its members.
4.7 (b) Nothing in this subdivision prohibits a municipality from adopting or enforcing
4.8 ordinances relating to the maintenance or insurance of common elements.
4.9 Subd. 6.Mixed housing districts; greenfield development.(a) A municipality must
4.10 adopt zoning ordinances and rules that allow mixed housing as a permitted use on at least
4.11 33 percent of the buildable area within the municipality that is zoned to permit single family
4.12 housing.
4.13 (b) When determining where to site zoning districts that permit mixed housing as required
4.14 by paragraph (a), a municipality must prioritize lots that are in close proximity to transit,
4.15 schools and parks, and commercial areas.
4.16 (c) A municipality must not impose a minimum lot size on a greenfield lot that is larger
4.17 than one-eighth of an acre. A municipality must not impose a minimum lot size larger than
4.18 1,500 square feet on a townhouse developed on a greenfield lot or in a zoning district that
4.19 permits mixed housing.
4.20 (d) A municipality must not impose requirements related to the bulk and size of buildings
4.21 that prevent the type of housing or number of residential units authorized by paragraphs (a)
4.22 and (c) from being constructed with at least 1,500 square feet of habitable floor space per
4.23 residential unit, including requirements related to lot coverage, setbacks, maximum height,
4.24 minimum unit size, dimensions, minimum square footage on a structure foundation, or floor
4.25 area ratio. The foregoing does not prevent the developer from building residential units with
4.26 less than 1,500 square feet of habitable space.
4.27 (e) A municipality may impose larger lot size requirements than those required in this
4.28 subdivision on a lot that is not connected to municipal water or sewer.
4.29 Subd. 7.Accessory dwelling units.(a) A municipality must allow at minimum one
4.30 accessory dwelling unit to be built as a permitted use on any residential lot containing a
4.31 single-family home in a municipality, regardless of total lot size, street frontage, and
4.32 connectivity between the accessory dwelling unit and the primary dwelling unit on the lot,
4.33 so long as the accessory dwelling unit is built in conformance with:
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5.1 (1) minimum spacing requirements for emergency services access; and
5.2 (2) the smallest residential setback in the zoning district where the accessory dwelling
5.3 unit is constructed.
5.4 (b) A municipality may require an accessory dwelling unit to remain part of the same
5.5 parcel as the primary dwelling and prohibit the accessory dwelling unit from being sold
5.6 separately from the primary dwelling on the lot.
5.7 Subd. 8.Multifamily residential developments in commercial districts.(a) A
5.8 municipality must adopt zoning ordinances and rules that allow multifamily residential
5.9 developments as a permitted use on at least 33 percent of the buildable area within the
5.10 municipality that are commercially zoned districts.
5.11 (b) A municipality may require the developments permitted by paragraph (a) to include
5.12 ground floor commercial space, except a municipality must not require commercial space
5.13 in a multifamily affordable housing development.
5.14 (c) A municipality must not impose a height limitation on the developments allowed by
5.15 paragraph (a) that is less than the tallest commercial building or multifamily residential
5.16 development that zoning standards in effect on January 1, 2026, authorize in the same zoning
5.17 district.
5.18 (d) A municipality must not impose setback, lot coverage, or other bulk control
5.19 requirements on the developments allowed by paragraph (a) more restrictive than those
5.20 allowed for a commercial building in the same zoning district.
5.21 (e) Nothing in this section prohibits a municipality from adopting an ordinance mandating
5.22 multifamily residential developments comply with a height restriction that is equal to or
5.23 greater than the maximum height of an existing primary structure in a residential zoning
5.24 district which:
5.25 (1) contains four or fewer residential units; and
5.26 (2) shares a lot line with a proposed multifamily residential development.
5.27 Such an ordinance must not reduce the maximum height of a proposed multifamily residential
5.28 development below 35 feet.
5.29 Subd. 9.Additional requirements.(a) A city's zoning code must satisfy the criteria in
5.30 this subdivision based on its classification:
5.31 (1) the code of a city of the first class must satisfy at least six criteria listed in paragraph
5.32 (b);
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6.1 (2) the code of a city of the second class must satisfy at least four criteria listed in
6.2 paragraph (b); and
6.3 (3) the code of a city of the third class must satisfy at least three of the policies listed in
6.4 paragraph (b).
6.5 (b) A city may select from the following criteria to fulfill the requirements of paragraph
6.6 (a):
6.7 (1) 50 percent or more of the land zoned for single family housing allows mixed housing
6.8 as a permitted use;
6.9 (2) 100 percent of the land zoned for single family housing allows mixed housing as a
6.10 permitted use;
6.11 (3) 50 percent or more of the land zoned for commercial use allows multifamily residential
6.12 developments as a permitted use;
6.13 (4) 100 percent of the land zoned for commercial use allows multifamily residential
6.14 developments as a permitted use;
6.15 (5) no more than one parking spot per residential unit is required in all multifamily
6.16 residential developments;
6.17 (6) no more than one parking spot per residential unit is required in areas that permit
6.18 mixed housing;
6.19 (7) the allowed floor area ratio is increased by 25 percent or maximum height by 25
6.20 percent or one additional story, whichever is greater, for at least two of the following types
6.21 of developments:
6.22 (i) workforce housing projects, as defined in section 469.002;
6.23 (ii) multifamily affordable housing developments; and
6.24 (iii) senior housing, as defined in section 462A.37;
6.25 (8) the number of residential units permitted per lot in a mixed housing development is
6.26 increased to at least eight residential units in 15 percent of the land in the city zoned for
6.27 single family housing;
6.28 (9) elimination of all parking minimums in the city;
6.29 (10) creation of a housing trust fund financed by the city under section 462C.16, and
6.30 which has reported eligible expenditures in its annual report as required by section 462C.16,
6.31 subdivision 5; or
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7.1 (11) establishment of a program which:
7.2 (i) provides upfront subsidy for development of single-family detached homes with a
7.3 purchase price of up to $500,000;
7.4 (ii) provides upfront subsidy for development of duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes, of
7.5 up to $500,000 per residential housing unit; or
7.6 (iii) reimburses city fees assessed on development of single-family detached homes,
7.7 duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes.
7.8 (c) A city does not satisfy a criterion when it adopts the criterion described in paragraph
7.9 (b), clause (7), but also modifies other bulk controls or regulations for the chosen type of
7.10 development in a way that reduces the floor area of the permitted development or limits the
7.11 number of additional residential units that could otherwise be built.
7.12 Subd. 10.Public information.(a) A municipality must publicly post on its website a
7.13 summary of its compliance with subdivisions 6, 8, and 9.
7.14 (b) The summary required under paragraph (a) must include, at a minimum:
7.15 (1) a zoning map depicting compliance with subdivisions 6 and 8;
7.16 (2) a description of how the municipality complied with the siting prioritization
7.17 requirements of subdivision 6, paragraph (b); and
7.18 (3) a list of ordinances adopted by the municipality demonstrating compliance with
7.19 subdivision 9.
7.20 Subd. 11.Infrastructure.(a) A municipality may require a development permitted
7.21 under this section to comply with any standards, performance conditions, or requirements,
7.22 including the adequacy of existing public infrastructure, imposed by the municipality to
7.23 promote public health, safety, and general welfare.
7.24 (b) Nothing in this section authorizes a municipality to permit a development that is
7.25 prohibited by state or federal law or rule, or is prohibited under an ordinance adopted
7.26 pursuant to such a state or federal law or rule, that protects floodplains, areas of critical or
7.27 historic concern, wild and scenic rivers, or shoreland, or that otherwise restrict residential
7.28 units to protect and preserve the public health, the environment, or scenic areas.
7.29 Subd. 12.Official controls; limitations.(a) A municipality must not use official controls
7.30 to prohibit the application of this section.
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8.1 (b) Nothing in this section prevents a municipality from exercising its authority to impose
8.2 requirements authorized in section 462.358 or session law, provided all exactions,
8.3 dedications, and fees comply with state and federal law.
8.4 (c) Nothing in this section is intended to conflict with chapter 473, except that the
8.5 provisions of this section relating to minimum residential density requirements shall control
8.6 over any conflicting provisions in chapter 473 if the requirements of this section would
8.7 result in increased residential density.
8.8 Subd. 13.Interim ordinance prevention.No municipality shall enact an interim
8.9 ordinance as provided under section 462.355, subdivision 4, to prohibit or delay the
8.10 application of this section.
8.11 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective on January 1, 2028."
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: March 5, 2026
Regarding: Proposed (draft) Housing Legislation
As we will be discussing ADU’s at our upcoming joint session of the Planning
Commission and City Council, I thought it would be prudent to provide a simple bulleted
list of the issues presented in the proposed housing legislation that might affect Spring
Park. Representative Andrew Myers sent an email to you last week regarding this
legislation and the hearing on March 3rd. On March 11th can then have a more general
discussion about these issues at the joint session.
• While there was a public hearing on the 3rd of March, this bill has many other
reviews that need to occur before it goes for a final vote. There will still be
opportunities to comment if you feel the need.
• You will notice a comment in Section 1(b) about ADU’s being allowed without
regard to familial status. If this bill is enacted I’m not sure if the City could restrict
ADU’s to family members only.
• The law would require municipalities to have an administrative approval process
for multi-family residential developments in zoning districts that allow multi-family
uses, or in commercial areas that permit multi-family uses. This would affect the
R-2, R-3, C-1 and C-4 districts. This means that multi-family development would
need to be changed to permitted uses in these districts and no public hearings
could be required.
• For multi-family developments, the City would not be able to regulate exterior
finishes, architectural elements, minimum garage sizes, roof pitches, building
orientation, and number of floors.
• The City would not be able to require that a homeowner’s association be
established for residential subdivisions or developments.
• A change to the zoning ordinance would need to be processed that allows mixed
housing districts (different types of units) as permitted uses on 33% of the
building area within the city that is zoned for single family uses. Essentially,
single family districts would no longer only be used for single family homes.
ADU Memo
July 24, 2025
Page 2
• New minimum lot sizes (for new lots) cannot be bigger than 1/8 of an acre.
Townhome minimum lot sizes could not be larger than 1,500 sf.
• Minimum floor space sizes of greater than 1,500 square feet would not be
allowed.
• If a lot is not connected to sewer and water, larger lot sizes are allowed.
• ADU’s would be required to be permitted uses but the development would need
to meet minimum spacing requirements for emergency services access, the
smallest residential setback would apply to the ADUs, and the city could prohibit
the unit from being sold separately from the primary dwelling.
• Multi-family developments would need to be allowed in the commercial districts
that permit residential development (C-1 and C-4) on at least 33% of the building
area within the city that are zoned as such.
• Cities can require that multi-family developments in commercial districts have
ground floor commercial space, unless it is an affordable housing development.
• The height of multi-family developments in commercial districts cannot have a
height limitation less than that of commercial buildings nor can it have setbacks,
lot coverage or other controls that are more restrictive than that of the
commercial buildings.
• Different classes of cities have different options/requirements for increasing
residential density in the city. I will research which class Spring Park falls into
and report back on the 11th.
• Parking requirements for residential development may be impacted by this bill in
that parking minimums may be required to be eliminated under certain
conditions.
• Some options/requirements that cities could pick from include subsidies for the
development of housing types that cost $500,000 or more per housing unit. Or
the city could reduce assessments on these projects.
• Public posting requirements would be incorporated that requires cities to post
that they are in compliance with specific provisions of the law.
• Official controls could not prohibit the compliance with the state statute nor could
a city enact interim ordinances to prohibit or delay the application of the statute.
• This bill would take effect on January 1, 2028.
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
Spring Park City Council
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: February 24, 2026 for the March 2, 2026 City Council Discussion
Regarding: Proposed ADU Ordinance Discussion
In January the City Council discussed a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance
that was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. The memo for that
agenda item is below in italics. Prior to approving the proposed ordinance, the City
Council asked that the ordinance include requirements for the ADU application that
would allow staff to determine eligibility for tenancy at the ADU, and requirements for
renewals every year or when tenancy changes.
The ordinance has been revised to include the following language:
An administrative permit for the accessory dwelling unit shall be applied for concurrently
with the application for a building permit. The applicant will be required to submit
information that proves the tenant is a family member of the owner of the principal
residence. A form will be provided by the city to prove this relationship. An
administrative permit must be renewed yearly along with a new form as previously
mentioned. If there is a change of tenancy at any time, a new administrative permit will
be required.
In summary:
• School districts and universities require family member proof of residency letters
to confirm district residency, and the city will provide a template for this letter, with
staff and the City Attorney finalizing the language in the template. This method
addresses concerns about verifying who lives in an ADU.
• The ordinance now requires annual renewal of both the administrative permit and
residency form.
• Any change in ADU tenancy will require a new administrative permit.
MEMO LANGUAGE FROM JANUARY
The Planning Commission initiated a conversation about creating an Accessory Dwelling
Unit Ordinance (ADU) at their August 2025 meeting. Following a thorough evaluation, I
provided recommendations regarding possible amendments to the ordinance.
ADU Memo
February 24, 2026
Page 2
Subsequent discussions by the Planning Commission on these proposed changes
occurred in October, and in November, the Commission voted to adopt the attached
ADU ordinance for the city. The memos for these specific meetings are included in the
packet of information for this item.
Background
The city’s current zoning ordinance allows for single and two-family dwelling units in the
R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts. The R-3 zoning district only allows townhouses,
quads and apartments.
Scenario: If someone in the R-1 or R-2 district owns a lot with an existing single-family
home on the property, they could construct a second attached unit on that home if the
addition meets all standards in the governing zoning district.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) are typically defined as a secondary dwelling unit
located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit, either physically attached to,
within, or detached from the single-family dwelling unit. Many cities have adopted
specific ADU ordinances due to the growing demand for such units.
According to the scenario above, Spring Park allows two attached units on one lot in the
R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. There is no provision, however, in the current ordinance
that allows for two separate dwelling units on one lot in these zoning districts.
The Planning Commission requested that staff provide an ADU ordinance that required
the following elements:
• Allowance of detached units.
• ADU must be occupied by a family member.
• The property must be homesteaded.
• Impervious surface requirements must be met.
• ADU’s can be over detached garages.
Staff has prepared an ordinance establishing the allowance of ADU’s within the city as
follows:
• Amendment to Article II, General Provisions by establishing Section 42-78.
(ADU standards)
• Amendment to Article II, General Provisions, Section 42-64, referencing Section
42-78.
• Amendment to Article III, Establishment of Zoning Provisions, Division 2. R-1,
Single and Two-Family Residential District, allowing ADU’s as accessory uses
with an administrative permit.
It is recommended that the City Council adopt/approve the proposed ordinances
regarding the allowance of detached ADU’s within the city.
Page 1 of 5
CITY OF SPRING PARK
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 26-01
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 42: ZONING AND SHORELAND
ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 11: GENERAL PROVISIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRING PARK, MINNESOTA ORDAINS
AS FOLLOWS:
Chapter 42 of the Spring Park City Code is hereby amended by removing the stricken and inserting
the underlined language as follows:
ARTICLE VIII
DIVISION 2—R-1 SINGLE AND TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
Section 42-277. Permitted accessory uses.
The following are permitted accessory uses in an R-1 district:
(1) Accessory Dwelling Units with an administrative permit and subject to standards in Sec.
42-78.
(1)(2)Private garages, parking spaces and carports for licensed and operable passenger cars and
trucks not to exceed a gross weight of 12,000 pounds, as regulated by section 42-67 (Off-
street parking). Private garages may be used to store the private passenger vehicles of the
family or families resident upon the premises only, and no business, service or industry
may be carried on therein. Such garage may also be used for the storage of one
commercial vehicle per dwelling unit, provided that such vehicle is owned or operated by
a resident of the dwelling unit to which the garage is accessory;
(2)(3)Recreational vehicles and equipment.
(3)(4)Noncommercial greenhouses and conservatories.
(4)(5)Swimming pool, tennis courts and other recreational facilities which are operated for the
enjoyment and convenience of the residents of the principal use and their guests.
(5)(6)Tool houses, sheds, and similar buildings for storage of domestic supplies and
noncommercial recreational equipment.
(6)(7)Animal shelters for no more than two domestic animals belonging to the property owner
or the property tenant.
Page 2 of 5
(7)(8)Residential docks. Private docks and boat lifts are permitted accessory uses or permitted
accessory equipment in the R-1 district subject to the following rules, regulations and
conditions:
a. Docks and lifts must comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Lake
Minnetonka Conservation District ("LMCD"), including, but not limited to, rules and
regulations regarding the number of restricted watercraft permitted at a dock;
b. Docks may be used for the mooring or storing of boats for the personal recreational
use of the boat owners and their guests only; the mooring or storing of a boat or boats
used in a commercial or business enterprise of any kind (including, but not limited to,
guide services, fishing charters or other charter services, boat clubs, water taxis,
docking services for boats stored off-site, or boat repair services) is not permitted at
any dock accessory to a property located in a residential district; and
c. If a dock is used to moor or store a boat owned by persons other than the owner(s) or
occupant(s) of the property, there must be sufficient off-street parking located on the
property available for parking the cars of the owners and users of each such boat.
d. Violation of the rules, regulations and conditions contained in subsections a. through
c. above may result in the imposition of administrative fines as set forth in chapter 11
of the Spring Park City Code.
(8)(9)Ground source heat pump systems as regulated by section 42-76 of this article.
(9)(10)Wind energy systems as regulated by section 42-76 of this article.
(10)(11)Solar energy systems as regulated by section 42-76 of this article.
AND
ARTICLE II
Section 42-64 Accessory buildings, uses and equipment.
(a) [Construction time frame.] No accessory building or use shall be constructed or developed on a lot
prior to the time of construction of the principal building to which it is accessory.
(b) Within the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts, accessory buildings(except for those allowed in Sec. 42.78) shall meet
the following standards:
(1) Accessory building size.
a. Detached accessory buildings. The total area as measured by foundation size of all detached
accessory buildings shall not exceed 1,200 square feet.
b. Attached garage. The foundation size of an attached garage shall not be larger than 80
percent of the foundation size of the principal building or 1,200 square feet, whichever is
larger. The floor area of the attached garage is not counted against the 1,200 square feet
of eligible detached accessory building allowance.
(2) Building heights. Within the R-1, R-2, R-3, and C-3 districts, detached accessory buildings
and garages shall not exceed 16 feet in height, except for those buildings allowed in Sec.
42-78.
Page 3 of 5
(3) Number of accessory buildings. The number of accessory buildings in the R-1 and R-2 districts
shall be limited to one of the following:
a. One attached garage, one detached accessory building, plus one detached accessory
building not to exceed 100 square feet or eight feet in height; or
b. Two detached accessory buildings plus one detached accessory building not to exceed
100 square feet or eight feet in height.
(4) Exterior materials. Residential accessory buildings shall utilize complimentary exterior
materials and colors to that of the principal structure on the lot. Non-decorative concrete
block, corrugated or flat metal panels, or unfinished metal may comprise no more than
thirty percent of each wall area. Buildings allowed in Sec. 42-78 are exempt from this
criteria.
(5) Plumbing. Shower and bath facilities are prohibited in accessory buildings, except for those
allowed in Sec. 42.78. A toilet, wash sink, or water connection are allowed in an accessory
building provided:
a. Water connection must meet all city standards and be metered.
b. Connection can be made to the municipal sanitary sewer.
c. Payment of any applicable utility fees and sewer availability charge.
(6) Prohibited uses. Accessory buildings may not be used for the following:
a. Home occupation.
b. Dwelling unit.
cb. Commercial business.
AND
ARTICLE II
Section 42-78
Secs. 42-78—42-99. Reserved.
Secs. 42-78. Accessory Dwelling Units.
(a) Accessory dwelling units may be allowed on residential lots with a detached, single -
family home within the R-1 zoning district. Accessory dwelling units are not allowed on
properties with apartment buildings or attached townhomes.
(b) An accessory dwelling unit may be allowed provided if all of the following conditions are
met:
(1) An accessory dwelling unit may be located above a detached garage that is accessory
to a single-family detached home; internal to a single-family home; or detached as a
standalone structure.
(2) An administrative permit for the accessory dwelling unit shall be applied for
concurrently with the application for a building permit. The applicant will be
required to submit information that proves the tenant is a family member of the
owner of the principal residence. A form will be provided by the city to prove this
Page 4 of 5
relationship. An administrative permit must be renewed yearly along with a new
form as previously mentioned. If there is a change of tenancy at any time, a new
administrative permit will be required.
(3) Not more than one accessory dwelling unit shall be allowed per single-family
detached lot.
(4) Any accessory dwelling unit shall comply with the same minimum building setback
requirements as required for the living portion of the principal dwelling unit.
(5) A detached accessory dwelling unit shall be subject to the same regulations as
provided for in the R-1 Zoning District Chapter unless otherwise noted in this
section.
(6) An accessory dwelling unit shall be a clearly incidental and subordinate use. Any
accessory dwelling unit shall be a minimum of 400 square feet with a maximum of
no more than 50% of the principal structure on the lot.
(7) The owner of the property shall reside in the principal dwelling unit or in the
accessory dwelling unit. The property must be have a homestead status with
Hennepin County.
(8) There shall be no separate ownership of the accessory dwelling unit.
(9) One off-street parking space shall be provided for an accessory dwelling unit.
Adequate parking shall be shown on the permit application and shall comply with
the requirements of this Chapter.
(10) The accessory dwelling unit shall be addressed as a separate unit with the same
numerical address as the principal structure pursuant to Chapter 10 (Buildings and
Building Regulations and Signs) of the City Code.
(11) The principal dwelling unit and accessory dwelling unit shall be connected to
municipal sewer and water.
(12) The accessory dwelling unit shall have a foundation and shall be a permanent
structure.
(13) Any exterior entrance for the accessory dwelling unit shall be on the side or rear of
the home.
(14) The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed new construction or
modifications to existing construction comply with the building code.
(15) Accessory dwelling units must meet any applicable shoreland or structural coverage
regulations.
(16) The maximum height for accessory dwelling units shall be 35 feet.
(17) The accessory dwelling unit shall not be used by anyone that is not considered
family to the owners of the principal structure.
Secs. 42-79—42-99. Reserved.
Page 5 of 5
Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the city of Spring Park this 2nd of March 2026.
CITY OF SPRING PARK
By: _______________________________
Mark Chase, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: _______________________________
Jamie Hoffman, City Clerk
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
Spring Park City Council
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: February 24, 2026 for March 2 City Council Meeting
Regarding: Parking Requirements – Proposed Ordinance
The Planning Commission initiated a review of the city's parking requirements outlined in
the existing ordinance for consideration at their August 2025 meeting. Following a
thorough evaluation, I provided recommendations regarding possible amendments to the
ordinance. Subsequent discussions by the Planning Commission on these proposed
changes occurred in October, and in November, the Commission voted to adopt specific
modifications to the parking requirements within the city’s zoning ordinance. The
memos for these specific meetings are included in the packet of information for this item.
The Planning Commission reviewed surrounding city ordinances and the concept of
performance-based parking requirements (letting business owners determine their
parking needs.) Ultimately, the Commission has recommended changes to the required
number of parking spaces for health clubs and personal services. The Commission
recommended a definition of personal services. They chose to leave the current parking
requirements in place for bars and restaurants.
This memo provides more context about the proposed changes to the parking
ordinance.
The parking requirements for health clubs have been changed as follows:
(4) Community centers, health or exercise club, libraries, private clubs, lodges,
museums, art galleries. Ten spaces plus one for each 150 square feet in
excess of 2,000 square feet of floor area in the principal structure.
(5) Convalescent home, rest home, nursing home or day nurseries. One for each
three beds, plus one for each two employees, plus one for staff or visiting
physician.
(6) Elderly (senior citizen) housing. Reservation of area equal to one parking
space per unit. Upon initial development only one-half the reserved area shall
be required to be developed for parking. Said number of parking spaces shall
continue until such time as the city council determines that a need for
additional parking spaces has been demonstrated.
(7) Health Clubs. One space per 300 square feet.
Parking Memo
December 29, 2025
Page 2
A parking requirement and a definition of personal services has been added to the
ordinance as follows:
(9) Personal Services. One space for each 200 square feet of floor area.
Personal Services. The selling of services that involve personal health and beauty
care and treatment to clients on a walk in or appointment basis. These services
include, but are not limited to: barbershops, beauty salons, nail salons, weight loss
services, and tanning salons.
It is recommended that the City Council approve of the proposed ordinance changes to
Section 42-67 (k) and Section 42-50 (P) of the Zoning Ordinance.
Page 1 of 3
CITY OF SPRING PARK
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 26-03
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 42: ZONING AND SHORELAND
ORDINANCE, ARTICLE 11: GENERAL PROVISIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRING PARK, MINNESOTA ORDAINS
AS FOLLOWS:
Chapter 42 of the Spring Park City Code is hereby amended by removing the stricken and inserting
the underlined language as follows:
ARTICLE II
Section 42-50 (P)
Parks and playgrounds. Public land and open space in the city dedicated or reserved for
recreational purposes.
Parking ramp. An accessory structure, other than a private garage, designed and used for the
storage of motor vehicles at, below, and/or above grade.
Parking space/stall. An area enclosed in the main building, in an accessory building, or
unenclosed, sufficient in size to store one automobile, which has adequate access to a public street
or alley permitting satisfactory ingress and egress of an automobile.
Permitted use. A use which may be lawfully established in a particular district or districts,
provided it conforms with all requirements, regulations, and performance standards (if any) of such
districts.
Person. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or organization of any kind.
Personal Services. The selling of services that involve personal health and beauty care and
treatment to clients on a walk in or appointment basis. These services include, but are not limited to:
barbershops, beauty salons, nail salons, weight loss services, and tanning salons.
Planned unit development. A development procedure whereby internal site design standards are
allowed to deviate from this chapter in order to accommodate two or more principal structures,
and/or facilitate improved site design and operation.
Planning commission. The Planning Commission of Spring Park, Minnesota.
Principal (or main) building. The building located on a lot, the use of which building is the primary
use or purpose of the lot (e.g. for a lot located in a Residential district, a dwelling unit is the primary
purpose of the lot and, therefore, a dwelling unit would be the principal building for that lot).
Principal use. The main use of land or buildings as distinguished from subordinate or accessory
uses. A "principal use" may be either permitted or conditional.
Page 2 of 3
Protective (restrictive) covenants. Contracts or deed restrictions relating to the manner in which land
may be used, with the view to protecting and preserving the physical and economic integrity of any
given area.
Public improvements. Any drainage ditch, roadway, parkway, sidewalk, pedestrian way, tree, lawn,
off-street parking area, lot improvement, or other facility for which the city has assumed
responsibility for maintenance and operation, or which may affect an improvement for which local
government responsibility is established.
Public structure. An edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or
composed of parts joined together in some definite manner which is owned or rented, and operated
by a federal, state, or local government.
Public uses. Uses owned or operated by municipal, school district, county, state, or other
governmental units.
Public waters. Any waters as defined in Minn. Stat. § 103G.005, subd. 15 and 16.
AND
Section 42-67(k)
Number of spaces required. The following minimum number of off-street parking spaces shall be
provided and maintained by ownership, easement and/or lease for and during the life of the
respective uses hereinafter set forth:
(1) Single-family, two-family, townhouse and quadraminium units. Two spaces per unit.
(2) Boarding house. At least one parking space for each person for whom accommodations are
provided for sleeping.
(3) Townhomes and multiple-family dwellings. Two spaces per unit, plus one visible and accessible
space per four units designated as parking for residents' guests and visitors.
(4) Community centers, health or exercise club, libraries, private clubs, lodges, museums, art galleries. Ten
spaces plus one for each 150 square feet in excess of 2,000 square feet of floor area in the
principal structure.
(5) Convalescent home, rest home, nursing home or day nurseries. One for each three beds, plus one for
each two employees, plus one for staff or visiting physician.
(6) Elderly (senior citizen) housing. Reservation of area equal to one parking space per unit. Upon
initial development only one-half the reserved area shall be required to be developed for
parking. Said number of parking spaces shall continue until such time as the city council
determines that a need for additional parking spaces has been demonstrated.
(7) Health Clubs. One space per 300 square feet.
(78) Office buildings, medical and dental clinics, veterinary clinics and hospitals, and professional offices. One
space for each 200 square feet of floor area.
(9) Personal Services. One space for each 200 square feet of floor area.
Page 3 of 3
(810) Retail store and service establishment. At least one off-street parking space for each 200
square feet of floor area.
(911) Retail sales and service business with fifty (50) percent or more of gross floor area devoted to storage
and/or warehouses. At least five spaces or one space for each 200 square feet devoted to
public sales or service, whichever is greater, plus one space for each 500 square feet of
storage area.
(1012)Restaurants, cafes, private clubs serving food and/or drinks, bars, taverns, nightclubs.: At least one
space for each three seats in the establishment.
(1113)Shopping centers. Five and one-half spaces per each 1,000 square feet of gross leasable floor
area (exclusive of common area).
(1214)Motor fuel station or auto repair. At least four off-street parking spaces plus two off-street
parking spaces for each service stall. Those facilities designed for sale of other items than
strictly automotive products, parts or service shall be required to provide additional
parking in compliance with other applicable sections of this chapter.
(1315)Manufacturing, fabricating or processing of a product or material. One space for each five hundred
(500) square feet of floor area, or one space for each two employees on maximum shift,
whichever is greater, plus one space for each truck based at the facility and operated by or
for the owner or operator of the use (if not stored inside principal building).
(1416)Warehousing, storage or handling of bulk goods. That space which is solely used as office shall
comply with the office use requirements and one space per each 2,000 square feet of floor
area, plus one space for each two employees on maximum shift and one space for each
truck based at the facility and operated by or for the owner or operator of the use (if not
stored inside principal building).
(1517)Other uses. Other uses not specifically mentioned herein shall be determined on an
individual basis by the city council. Factors to be considered in such determinations shall
include (without limitation) size of building, type of use, number of employees, expected
volume and turnover of customer traffic and expected frequency of delivery of service
vehicles.
Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the city of Spring Park this 2nd day of March, 2026.
CITY OF SPRING PARK
By: _______________________________
Mark Chase, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: _______________________________
Jamie Hoffman, City Clerk
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: July 24, 2025
Regarding: Current Parking Requirements in the City
This memo is being used to provide an assessment of the City’s current off-street
parking requirements. Without knowing specific questions being proposed, I offer an
analysis and a few recommendations below. The ordinance that is in place now was
adopted in 1993 with ordinance amendments adopted in 2006 and 2007.
The current parking ordinance covers the following issues:
• Stall, aisle and driveway design
• Maintenance
• Location
• Number of spaces required
• Off-site parking
The following types of uses have parking calculations attached to them in the ordinance:
• Single-family, two-family, townhouse and quadrominium units
• Boarding house
• Townhomes and multiple family dwellings
• Community centers, health or exercise clubs, libraries, private clubs, lodges,
museums, art galleries
• Convalescent home, rest home, nursing home, or day nurseries
• Elderly (senior citizen housing)
• Office buildings, medical and dental clinics, veterinary clinics and hospitals, and
professional offices
• Retail store and service establishments
• Retail sales and service business with fifty (50) percent or more of gross floor
area devoted to storage and/or warehouses.
• Restaurants, cafés, private clubs serving food and/or drinks, bars, taverns,
nightclubs
• Shopping centers
• Motor fuel station or auto repair
• Manufacturing, fabricating or processing of a product or material
• Warehousing, storage or handling bulk goods
• Other uses
Parking Memo
July 24, 2025
Page 2
Although this list is detailed, newer city ordinances more clearly define permitted uses in
communities. Most include parking requirements for facilities like churches, schools,
hotels, motels, and recreational venues. Some ordinances specify unique parking needs
for certain retail uses such as movie theaters, furniture stores, and vehicle dealerships.
The zoning ordinance could expand to cover more specific uses.
You will see that townhomes and multiple family dwellings are listed twice in the
ordinance, and this is redundant and should be cleaned up.
Most ordinances separate office buildings from medical/dental and veterinary services
because they have different parking needs.
“Shopping Centers” is likely a term no longer needed as parking would be calculated for
these types of uses based on what is going in the building. For instance, a shopping
center could include restaurants, retail stores, furniture stores, offices, etc., so each
individual use would be calculated separately for parking needs.
Typically bars or nightclubs will have different parking requirements than restaurants, not
including bar areas. For these types of establishments, the ordinance should take into
account standing room as well as seats and tables.
Motor fuel station and auto repair likely should be separated because there may be more
of a parking concern with auto repair given that automobiles could be on site for a long
period of time waiting for repair.
Parking Stall—Number Required
Without doing a full review of the off-street parking ordinance, the following items are
what stand out as questionable or needing revision:
• Community centers, health or exercise clubs, libraries, private clubs, lodges,
museums, and art galleries—require ten spaces plus one for each 150 square
feet over 2,000 square feet. These uses may have varied parking requirements,
and there is limited evidence to indicate that a single parking standard is suitable
for all of them. Researching the parking needs of these facilities in line with
ordinances from other municipalities could provide more accurate requirements,
potentially using smaller square footage thresholds or seating capacities as
criteria.
• Restaurants, cafés, private clubs serving food and/or drinks, bars, taverns, and
nightclubs: At least one parking space is generally required for every three seats
in the establishment. For restaurants, most cities determine parking requirements
based on square footage, typically mandating 1 space per 100 square feet, while
bar areas may require as much as 1 space per 40 square feet of bar area. It is
recommended to assess current restaurant capacities and parking provisions to
determine if existing arrangements are suitable.
Off Site Parking
Parking Memo
July 24, 2025
Page 3
The current ordinance permits off-site parking to be counted toward meeting
parking stall requirements. Approval for such arrangements must be granted by
the City Council, subject to certain conditions. However, the ordinance does not
specify the approval process, leaving the type of application, fee, or escrow
required unclear. It is also not designated as either conditional or administrative;
the ordinance simply states that City Council approval is necessary, without
clarification on whether a public hearing is needed or if involvement from the
Planning Commission is required. Including additional details about this approval
process in the ordinance could help clarify these procedures.
The site to be used for off-site parking must have reasonable public street access
and the site used for the off-site parking must be owned by the same individual
who is proposing to utilize these off-site allowances for the principal site.
If the off-site parking is used for multi-family residential uses, the off-site parking
can’t be more than 100 feet from the entrance to the principal use. If the off-site
parking is for nonresidential uses, the off-site parking can’t be more than 300 feet
from the entrance of the principal use.
Considering the city's configuration of primarily small commercial and residential
lots, it is beneficial that an ordinance exists to address this type of issue.
Nonetheless, as noted above, I recommend a thorough review of the current
parking stall requirements for restaurant and bar areas, given their status as high-
traffic generators, to determine whether permitting off-site parking remains an
appropriate policy.
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: October 2, 2025
Regarding: Parking Requirements Analysis
At the Planning Commission meeting in August, the Planning Commission
recommended that staff research parking requirements used by other cities in the
following categories:
• Health clubs
• Bars/restaurants
• Personal Services
The Planning Commission also asked to review potential language regarding the
concept of performance-based parking requirements, which could include letting
business owners determine their own parking needs.
Northfield Example:
The City of Northfield provides a good example of a performance-based parking
ordinance that allows business owners to take part in the determination of required
parking spaces. The City does not have a “minimum” number of parking stall
requirements but rather a “maximum” number of parking stall requirements. By allowing
a maximum rather than a minimum, the City believes it can combat overparking for
specific uses.
At the request of the Community Development Department, businesses must, however,
submit a parking analysis that addresses how they will provide “adequate parking for the
proposed use without negatively impacting adjacent properties or creating or
compounding a dangerous traffic situation.” If businesses wish to construct more
parking than is allowed, a similar submission of a parking analysis is required. This type
of ordinance gives the Community Development Department a lot of discretion on when
to ask for a parking analysis, and the planners typically do this on a case-by-case basis
when they know a site could potentially be under-parked given location constraints. For
instance, if a restaurant wants to only install 5 parking stalls, this would be considered a
red flag for the planners, who would then request an analysis.
Parking Memo
October 2, 2025
Page 2
Parking Requirements--Comparison
The following table provides the parking requirements of adjacent cities for these types
of uses. It also includes Spring Park’s current parking requirements for each use.
Spring Park Wayzata Orono Mound
Health Clubs 10 spaces plus
1 for each 150
sq. ft. in excess
of 2,000 sq. ft.
of floor area of
the principal
structure
Personal
fitness club:
1 stall per
300 sq. ft.,
health club:
1 stall per
100 sq. ft.
none 1 space
per 300
square
feet
Bars/Restaurants 1 space per 3
seats
Seating
area: 1
space per
75 square
feet, bar
area: one
space per
40 square
feet, all
other areas
1 space for
150 sq. ft.
1 space
per 80
square
feet
1 space
per 3
seats
Personal
Services
None listed—
so it is then
determined by
the City
Council
1 space for
200 sq. ft.
of floor
area
1 space
per 150
sq. feet of
floor area
1 space
per 300
square
feet
Note: Wayzata’s ordinance distinguishes between personal fitness club and health
clubs. A personal fitness club is defined as a facility that provides personal fitness
classes with a floor area of under 3,000 square feet. These facilities include yoga and
Pilates studios, small gym facilities and similar boutique classes. A health club is
defined as a facility of over 3,000 square feet which provides athletic activities such as
tennis, handball, racquetball, track, basketball, exercise devices, etc., and such
incidental amenities and services such as a whirlpool, sauna or massage service for
members and guests.
The Planning Commission should discuss if they believe the existing ordinance is
adequate or if they want to change the parking requirements for these uses. It is my
recommendation that it would be reasonable to use the Wayzata requirements and
definitions for all three categories.
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: October 29, 2025
Regarding: Parking Requirements – Proposed Ordinance
At the Planning Commission meeting in October, the Planning Commission directed staff
to propose ordinance amendments to change the required number of parking spaces for
health clubs and personal services (a definition of personal services was also
requested.) The Commission chose to leave the current parking requirements for bars
and restaurants as is in the ordinance.
Please see the attached sections of the code that are proposed for amendments. The
parking requirements for health clubs have been changed as follows:
(4) Community centers, health or exercise club, libraries, private clubs, lodges,
museums, art galleries. Ten spaces plus one for each 150 square feet in
excess of 2,000 square feet of floor area in the principal structure.
(5) Convalescent home, rest home, nursing home or day nurseries. One for each
three beds, plus one for each two employees, plus one for staff or visiting
physician.
(6) Elderly (senior citizen) housing. Reservation of area equal to one parking
space per unit. Upon initial development only one-half the reserved area shall
be required to be developed for parking. Said number of parking spaces shall
continue until such time as the city council determines that a need for
additional parking spaces has been demonstrated.
(7) Health Clubs. One space per 300 square feet.
A parking requirement and a definition of personal services has been added to the
ordinance as follows:
(9) Personal Services. One space for each 200 square feet of floor area.
Personal Services. The selling of services that involve personal health and beauty
care and treatment to clients on a walk in or appointment basis. These services
include, but are not limited to: barbershops, beauty salons, nail salons, weight loss
services, and tanning salons.
Parking Memo
October 29, 2025
Page 2
It is recommended that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the
proposed ordinance changes to the City Council.
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: February 5, 2026 for the February 11 Joint Session
Regarding: Proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance Discussion
In recent months, the Planning Commission has reviewed proposed tree preservation
ordinance language for possible inclusion in the zoning ordinance on two occasions.
Through their exploration of what such an ordinance can achieve for the city, they have
engaged in thoughtful discussions about its potential benefits. In November 2025, the
Commission provided guidance to city staff regarding the creation of a new tree
preservation ordinance, outlining the following priorities:
• The ordinance should include a provision to protect heritage trees.
• It must specify penalties for property owners who remove trees before receiving
city approval for development.
• Establishing a diverse tree canopy is viewed as essential.
Additional topics discussed included establishing a tree preservation fund to support
cases where developers cannot replace trees on-site due to development constraints, as
well as reviewing the city's landscape ordinance to determine how it could align with or
complement the proposed tree preservation plan.
When reviewing the city’s current zoning ordinance, it was determined that the ordinance
does not address landscaping requirements for new development, whether it be
commercial or residential development. Because of this issue, I added a requirement in
the tree preservation ordinance that no more than 50% of the replacement trees can be
of the same species. This would allow for the diversification of new trees added
because of tree removal.
Attached is a proposed ordinance that was drafted based on Excelsior’s tree
preservation ordinance. I believe that it accomplishes all of the priorities bulleted above.
Page 1 of 3
Tree preservation and protection.
Existing significant and heritage trees shall be preserved to the extent reasonably possible.
Street, buildings and lot layouts shall be designed to minimize the disturbance to significant
existing trees.
(a) Applicability. This section applies to all lots in Spring Park.
(b) Exemptions. The following activities are exempt from the requirements of this
subchapter with approval from the City Zoning Administrator:
(1) Removal of invasive species of trees as defined by the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources and the control of pioneering tree species such as Boxelder;
(2) Removal of a tree that has been determined to be diseased or dying;
(3) Removal of trees that pose an immediate danger to life or property that cannot be
corrected by pruning, transplanting, or other treatments;
(4) Removal of a tree that's aesthetic values are so low or negative that the site is
visually enhanced by the tree's removal;
(5) Removal of a tree that poses an extreme public nuisance because of its species,
size, location, or condition. The nuisance could be caused by fruit or seed drop,
harboring of insects, or excessive twig or limb breakage;
(6) Removal of trees that are significantly damaged by storms or natural disasters.
(c) Protected individual trees. The following trees are protected, and shall be preserved
and maintained according to the standards of this section:
(1) Significant trees, which are any tree (except box elders, poplar, willow, silver
maple, black locust and mulberry) with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of eight
inches or more.
(2) Heritage trees, which are any tree (except box elders, poplar, willow, silver
maple, black locust and mulberry) with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 30
inches or more.
(3) Any tree that is shown on an approved landscape plan that is necessary to meet
a condition of approval of the development to which the landscape plan applies.
(d) Tree survey required.
(1) A tree survey performed by a certified arborist, registered landscape architect, or
a registered land surveyor shall be submitted prior to removal of any protected
tree.
(2) The tree survey shall address the location, species, size, and condition of all
protected trees.
(3) The city may accept a partial tree survey in lieu of a full tree survey if the Zoning
Administrator finds that protected trees only exist on a portion of the site.
(f) Limitation on tree removal.
(1) No Heritage tree shall be removed unless the Zoning Administrator has
determined the tree poses an immediate danger to life or property that cannot be
corrected by pruning, transplanting, or other treatments.
Page 2 of 3
(2) No significant tree or tree required by this ordinance shall be removed unless no
reasonable alternative site design at the same density and intensity could be
approved and the tree replacement standards in subsection (g) are met.
(g) Tree replacement standards.
Tree Replacement
Standards for Deciduous
Trees
DBH of Tree to be Removed Number of Required Four
and Half-Inch Caliper
Replacements
Min. DBH Up to, But Not Including
8 inches 15 inches 2
15 inches 20 inches 4
20 inches 30 inches 6
Tree Replacement Standards for Coniferous Trees
Height of Tree to be Removed Number of Required Eight-
Foot Replacements
Min. Height Up to, But Not Including>
8 feet 20 feet 2
20 feet No limit 4
(h) Diversification in replacement: No more than 50% of the replacement trees can be of
the same species.
(i) Replacement off-site. If it is physically impractical to replant all replacement trees on
site, then the applicant shall mitigate the loss of trees by either planting the required
replacement trees on public property within the city as approved by the public works
superintendent and/or paying a mitigation fee into the city's tree mitigation in-lieu fund.
This fee shall be set forth in the city's fee resolution, and equal the cost of purchasing
and planting the trees.
(j) Timing of replacement.
(1) For activities that do not require a certificate of occupancy, replacement trees
that are required by this section shall be installed within 60 days of removal, or if
such date is not within a growing season, within the first 60 days of the next
growing season.
(2) For developments requiring a certificate of occupancy, replacement trees shall be
planted before issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
(k) Tree protection specifications. The following tree protection specifications should be
followed to the maximum extent feasible for all projects with protected existing trees.
(1) No clearing shall be allowed on a site until approval of a building permit. A tree
removal, retention and replacement plan shall be approved by the Zoning
Administrator prior to issuance of a building permit;
(2) An area of prohibited disturbance, generally corresponding to the dripline of the
protected tree shall be protected during construction with a temporary five-foot-
Page 3 of 3
high chain link or plastic net fence. The fencing shall be installed prior to
issuance of buliding permits for the site;
(3) No fill, excavation, or storage of construction materials shall be permitted within
the area defined by such fencing;
(4) Where vehicular/equipment access is required within the drip line of a tree, the
soil, and incidentally the tree's roots, shall be protected with 10 inches of
woodchips and/or plywood placed over the path of the vehicle to limit soil
compaction and subsequent root;
(5) A rock well shall be constructed if the grade level around the tree is to be raised
by more than one foot. The inside diameter of the well shall be equal to the
diameter of the dripline of the tree;
(6) The grade level shall not be lowered within the larger of the two areas defined as
follows:
a. The dripline of the tree(s); or
b. An area around the tree equal to one (1) foot diameter for each inch of tree
trunk diameter measured four (4) feet above the ground;
(7) When construction is complete, all trees to remain must have the soil out to their
drop line aerated and de-compacted.
(8) Alternative protection methods may be used if determined by the Zoning
Administrator to provide equal or greater tree protection.
(l) Removal without Permit: All significant or heritage trees removed or damaged
through development activities that have not received the appropriate permits must
be replaced on-site with approval of the Zoning Administrator, or in the form of
payment of a fee to the City reforestation fund in an amount established by the City
Council.
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City of Spring Park Memorandum
To: Mike Anderson, City Administrator
From: Lori Johnson, City Planner
Date: February 5, 2026 for Joint Session on February 11, 2026
Regarding: Spring Park Comprehensive Plan Update/Documents
The Metropolitan Land Planning Act of 1976 gave the Metropolitan Council the power to
create a long-term development plan every ten years. It also requires local governments
to create their own comprehensive plans, ensuring these align with the regional plan, on
the same ten-year schedule.
Around ten years ago, the city updated its 2030 Comprehensive Plan to comply with
Metropolitan Council requirements. The 2040 Plan was adopted in 2019–2020, with
preparation led by Northwest Associated Consultants (now consolidated with WSB). The
city is now set to develop a 2050 plan aligned with the Metropolitan Council's Imagine
2050 framework.
Imagine 2050 is the regional development guide for the seven-county metro area. This
guide assists local governments to create compatible, and coordinated comprehensive
plans and it includes:
2 Foundational Chapters:
• Vision, Values, and Goals chapter
o This introductory chapter describes the existing conditions and emerging
changes that generated the vision, values, and goals that guide the
regional planning process
• Land Use Policy Plan
o The Land Use plan lays the groundwork for managing growth and
development for the region. Land use policy is the foundation of the local
comprehensive planning process.
3 Statutory Metropolitan System Plans:
• Transportation Policy Plan
• Water Policy Plan
• Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
1 additional policy plan:
• Housing
o The Housing Policy Plan provides an expanded policy framework to
inform the Met Council’s review of the housing elements and housing
implementation programs of local comprehensive plans required in
Comprehensive Plan Memo
February 5, 2026
Page 2
statute (Minn. Stat. 473.859, subd. 2 and subd. 4) as well as direction for
our housing-related programs.
The city must be mindful of several important dates during the planning process for its
2050 Comprehensive Plan Update. The plan update is required to be submitted to the
Metropolitan Council by December 31, 2028. This deadline gives the Metropolitan
Council enough time to review the proposed update and complete the adoption process
before 2030. Additionally, the city cannot submit any amendments to its 2040 Plan after
September 2028.
Local governments must complete the following steps before submitting the plan to the
Metropolitan Council.
1. Hold a public hearing
2. Obtain approval from local governing body
3. Allow adjacent and affected jurisdictions to review
o Before submitting the comprehensive plan update, the city must allow
adjacent and affected jurisdictions to review and comment. These may
include school districts, watershed organizations, state and federal
agencies, park agencies, transit providers, commissions, and neighboring
communities.
o All affected jurisdictions must submit comments, and they have six
months to review the document, though most jurisdictions will complete
this in much less time.
The process can be quite extensive, making it essential for councils to evaluate both the
timeline and associated costs. While some municipalities choose to undertake this work
internally with existing staff, others opt to engage external consultants.
Public engagement should be part of this process, with options such as forming a
steering committee, hosting open houses, launching a website, or organizing pop-up
events. A plan that is shaped by city residents leads to better results overall.
The Metropolitan Council provides two other documents, along with the regional
development guide, to assist cities in preparing their comprehensive plan updates.
These documents are the 2025 System Statement for Spring Park and the other is the
2050 Comprehensive Plan Minimum Requirements Checklist. These documents are
summarized below and attached to this report.
Spring Park System Statement 2050
System Statements explain the implications of metropolitan system plans for each
community in the region, and they are intended to help communities prepare or update
their comprehensive plan.
The System Statements include the following:
Comprehensive Plan Memo
February 5, 2026
Page 3
• Community designation
• Forecasted population, households, and employment through the year 2050
• Guidance on appropriate densities to ensure that regional services and costly
regional infrastructure can be provided as efficiently as possible
• Affordable Housing need allocation.
This guide provides an overview of key changes and updates to the policies and plans
from the 2040 plan.
Key details from Spring Park’s System Statement are outlined below:
• Increase in all above categories between 2040 and 2050
• The 2040 Plan for the city indicated the Metropolitan Council’s requirement for
affordable housing at that time was 23 units. Imagine 2050 only requires 15
units.
• The City of Spring Park has a “Suburban” community designation. This
designation indicates the city is primarily residential, featuring auto-oriented,
medium density housing developments. Please see the attached System
Statement for more information on this designation. It should be noted that in
2040, the “Suburban” designation required the city to plan for a density of 5 units
per acre. Imagine 2050 requires “Suburban” communities to plan for a density of
7 units per acre, which is a substantial change for the city. Part of the upcoming
planning process will be understanding and planning for increased density within
the city.
• The following sections in the System Statement contain an overview of key
changes and updates to policies and plans from the previous 2040 regional
development guide and specific system changes that affect Spring Park:
Comprehensive Plan Memo
February 5, 2026
Page 4
o Transportation, including metropolitan highways, aviation, and transit
o Water Resources, including wastewater, surface water, and water supply
planning.
Spring Park Checklist
This document comprises the minimum requirements each community must address in
its comprehensive plan to align with the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and regional
policies.
The required plan elements are:
1. Land Use
2. Housing
3. Transportation
4. Wastewater
5. Water Supply
6. Surface Water
7. Parks and Trails
8. Climate
9. Natural Systems
10. Implementation
Essentially this document tells the city what information is required in the plan but it does
not include specifics on what is different in the 2050 requirements versus what was
required for the 2040 Plan, as did the System Statement.
Summary
This presentation provides a high-level overview of the City's comprehensive plan
update requirements for the Planning Commission and City Council and emphasizes the
need to budget for this effort, in either staff time or consultant time. The submission
deadline is December 31, 2028. While planning may take over a year, the process could
be shorter due to the city's small size.
Metropolitan Council Sector Rep Shawn James is available to meet with the cities he
serves to explain the process and answer City Council and Planning Commission
questions. If interested, we could plan for a meeting in the spring or summer 2026. Staff
should review the System Statement and Spring Park Checklist to identify relevant
issues for discussion at the meeting with Shawn.
Key considerations:
• Budget: WSB can provide a cost estimate if so desired.
• Timeline
• Staff time
• Meeting with Met Council Sector Rep
2025
SYSTEM
STATEMENT
SPRING PARKCITY OF
2025 SYSTEMS STATEMENT
CITY OF SPRING PARK
Regional Development Plan Adoption
On February 12, 2025, the Met Council adopted Imagine 2050 as a comprehensive
development guide for the Twin Cities metro region. Imagine 2050 includes regional systems
plans, including the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan, the 2050 Water Policy Plan, the 2050
Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan, and the 2050 Housing Policy Plan. The development
guide also outlines land use policies and community designations important for local
comprehensive planning updates.
The Metropolitan Council is now issuing systems statements pursuant to State statute.
Systems Statements
Metropolitan systems plans are long-range comprehensive plans for the regional systems –
transit, highways, and airports; wastewater services; and parks and open space – along with
the capital budgets for those systems. Systems statements explain the implications of
metropolitan system plans for each community in the region. They are intended to help
communities prepare or update their comprehensive plan, as required by the Metropolitan
Land Planning Act:
Within nine months after receiving a system statement for an amendment to a
metropolitan system plan, and within three years after receiving a system statement
issued in conjunction with the decennial review required under section 473.864,
subdivision 2, each affected local governmental unit shall review its comprehensive plan
to determine if an amendment is necessary to ensure continued conformity with
metropolitan system plans. If an amendment is necessary, the governmental unit shall
prepare the amendment and submit it to the council for review.
The system statement includes information specific to a community, including:
• community designation or designation(s)
• forecasted population, households, and employment through the year 2050
• guidance on appropriate densities to ensure that regional services and costly
regional infrastructure can be provided as efficiently as possible
• affordable housing need allocation.
In the following sections, this systems statement contains an overview of key changes and
updates to the policies and plans from the previous 2040 regional development guide and
specific system changes that affect your community:
• Transportation, including metropolitan highways, aviation, and transit
• Water Resources, including wastewater, surface water, and water supply planning
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 1
•Regional parks and trails
Regional Development Guide
The development guide adopted in February 2025 reflects the vision and plans adopted by
communities for a prosperous, equitable, and resilient region with abundant opportunities for
all to live, work, play, and thrive.
Regional values are shared core beliefs or principles that guide the work of developing and
implementing Imagine 2050. The values build on those identified in Thrive MSP 2040 and
incorporate what we’ve learned over the last ten years as well as the common values
expressed by local governments and partners across the region. These values guide the Met
Council in building partnerships and developing policies and programs to support Imagine
2050.
The Met Council has endorsed the following goals for our region to achieve through our
policies, practices, programs, and partnerships:
•Our region is equitable and inclusive.
•Our communities are healthy and safe.
•Our region is dynamic and resilient.
•We lead on addressing climate change.
•We protect and restore natural systems.
Dispute Process
If your community disagrees with elements of this systems statement or has any questions
about the process, please contact your Sector Representative, Shawn James, at 651-602-
1233, to review and discuss potential issues or concerns. The Council and local government
units and districts have usually resolved issues relating to the system statement through
discussion.
Request for Hearing
If a local governmental unit and the Met Council are unable to resolve disagreements over the
content of a system statement, the unit or district may, by resolution, request that a hearing be
conducted by the Met Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee or by the State Office of
Administrative Hearings to consider amendments to the system statement. According to
Minnesota Statutes section 473.857, the request shall be made by the local governmental unit
or school district within 60 days after receiving the system statement. If the Met Council does
not receive a hearing request within 60 days, the statement becomes final.
Next Steps in the Regional Planning Cycle
Receipt of this system statement and the metropolitan system plans triggers a community’s
obligation to review and amend its comprehensive plan by December 2028. Local
comprehensive plans and amendments will be reviewed by the Met Council for conformance to
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 2
metropolitan system plans, consistency with Met Council policies, and compatibility with
adjacent and affected governmental units. Updated local comprehensive plans are due to the
Met Council for review by Dec. 31, 2028.
Forecasts
The Met Council uses the forecasts developed as part of Imagine 2050 to plan for regional
systems. Communities should base their planning work on these forecasts. Given the nature of
long-range forecasts and the planning timeline undertaken by most communities, the Met
Council will maintain on-going dialogue with communities to consider any changes in growth
that may have an impact on regional systems.
Imagine Forecasts for the City of Spring Park
2020 (actual) 2030 2040 2050
Population 1,734 1,750 1,860 2,060
Households 1,040 1,070 1,130 1,250
Employment 678 1,000 1,020 1,090
Housing Policy
The purpose of the Housing Policy Plan, adopted by the Metropolitan Council in February
2025, is to provide leadership and guidance on regional housing needs and challenges and to
support Imagine 2050. The Housing Policy Plan provides an integrated policy framework that
unifies our existing roles in housing and identifies opportunities to expand our role in
supporting safe, affordable and dignified housing in the region.
Consistent with state statute (Minn. Stat. 473.859, subd. 2(c) and subd. 4), cities and
townships must include a housing element and implementation program in their local
comprehensive plans that address existing and projected housing needs.
The Met Council has determined the regional need for low-income housing for the decade of
2031-2040 (see Appendix B in the Housing Policy Plan).
Based on regional forecasts, the regional need for future affordable housing units is 39,700.
Spring Lake’s share of the region’s future need for low-income housing is 15 new units of
affordable housing. Of these new units, the need is for 9 affordable to households earning at or
below 30% of AMI, 3 affordable to households earning 31% to 50% of AMI, and 3 affordable to
households earning 51% to 60% of AMI.
Affordable Housing Need Allocation for the City of Spring Park
Units
At or below 30% AMI 9
31 to 50% AMI 3
51 to 60% AMI 3
Total Units 15
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 3
Future Affordable Housing Need allocations may be updated throughout the decade if local
projected sewered growth changes.
Spring Lake should consult the complete Housing Policy Plan when preparing its local
comprehensive plan. In addition, Spring Lake should consult Imagine 2050 and the Local
Planning Handbook for specific requirements necessary for the housing element and housing
implementation programs of local comprehensive plans.
Climate Policy
In 2023, the State legislature amended the Metropolitan Land Planning Act (Minn Stat. §
473.859, subd. 2 and 7) to include new requirements that comprehensive plans address
climate mitigation and adaptation. In climate policy, mitigation strategies focus on minimizing
contributions to climate change through efficiency measures and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. Adaptation strategies focus on how to change policies and practices to adjust to
ongoing and future impacts of climate change.
The Met Council will assist communities in addressing climate mitigation and adaptation
elements by providing communities with greenhouse gas inventories and technical assistance
for identifying appropriate strategies.
Community Designation
Community designations group jurisdictions with similar characteristics for the application of
regional policies. The Council uses community designations to guide regional growth and
development; establish land use expectations including overall development densities and
patterns; and outline the respective roles of the Council and individual communities, along with
strategies for planning for forecasted growth. If there are discrepancies between the Imagine
2050 Community Designations Map and the Community Designation map contained within this
systems statement, communities should follow the specific guidance contained in this
document. Imagine identifies the City of Spring Lake with the community designation of
Suburban on the Community Designation map.
Suburban areas are primarily residential, featuring auto-oriented, medium-density housing
developments. Many Suburban jurisdictions have a downtown or core area with a more urban
development pattern, reflecting their initial phase of development; however, all of these
municipalities experienced most of their growth in the 1980s and early 1990s. This has
resulted in an overall development pattern of expansive subdivisions that prioritize vehicle
access and exhibit limited intersection density, which affects the efficiency of public transit.
Many Suburban areas also feature park-and-ride facilities to enhance connectivity to larger
transit networks, supporting commuter needs. Unlike Urban and Urban Edge cities, these
jurisdictions often include small amounts of undeveloped land, providing opportunities for
future development or green space conservation. Additionally, as the last of their greenfield
areas are developed and their earlier developments age, these municipalities are experiencing
opportunities for infill and redevelopment, often at higher densities than the prevailing
development pattern. As these areas continue to grow, they face challenges such as rising
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 4
surface temperatures and strains on local water supplies, emphasizing the importance of
integrated resource management strategies.
Specific strategies for Spring Lake can be found on your Community Page in the Local
Planning Handbook.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 5
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 6
2025 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM STATEMENT
CITY OF SPRING PARK
Transportation Policy Plan Overview
The 2050 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) is the metropolitan system plan for transportation –
including highways, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, aviation, and travel demand
management – to which local comprehensive plans must conform. It also includes regional
transportation objectives, supporting policies and actions, and regional performance measures.
The full TPP can be found at the following url:
https://imagine2050.metrocouncil.org/chapters/transportation.
This system statement summarizes the regional systems and any significant changes to them,
other important regional transportation considerations, and changes made to the 2050 TPP
since the 2040 TPP was adopted in 2015. Additionally, this system statement highlights those
elements of the system plan that apply to your community. The TPP incorporates the policy
direction and the new 2050 socioeconomic forecasts adopted by the Met Council in the
regional development guide, Imagine 2050, and extends the planning horizon from 2040 to
2050.
Federal and State Requirements
The TPP meets both state requirements outlined in statute for a metropolitan system plan, and
federal requirements as a fiscally constrained long-range investment plan for surface
transportation. As the region has recently received a significant number of new and increased
sources of transportation revenue, the 2050 TPP does not include an increased revenue
scenario, but it does include additional opportunities for investment. The plan also continues to
assume competitive transportation funding (e.g., state and federal discretionary programs like
INFRA and Corridors of Commerce) will be sought and amended into the plan as awarded.
Under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, local comprehensive plans are expected to conform
to the projects currently identified as funded in the fiscally constrained plan, which is the official
metropolitan system plan. The additional opportunities for investment may be identified
separately in local plans as unfunded proposals.
Federal requirements also call for metropolitan transportation plans to be performance based,
so the TPP includes objectives, policies, and actions for the regional transportation system.
These objectives, policies, and actions guide the Met Council and regional partners in planning
and investment in the surface transportation system.
In addition to reviewing this system statement, consult the TPP to ensure that your
community’s local comprehensive plan and plan amendments conform to the metropolitan
transportation system plan. Communities should also review the Imagine 2050 Land Use
Policy for land use considerations near certain transportation infrastructure. The format of this
plan is different than past TPPs. The plan is no longer separated by chapter, rather each
modal plan is distinguished from each other as individual investment or system plans. If the
Met Council has a role in the funding of a regional system, the plan is identified as an
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 7
investment plan. If not, then it is identified as a system plan. There is no appendix in the 2050
TPP, supporting documentation is combined directly with the specific investment or system
plan and identified as support documentation.
2050 Transportation Policy Plan Regional Systems
Adopted by the Met Council in February 2025, the TPP identifies the regional transportation
systems, regional transportation objectives and policies, and other regional transportation
issues communities should consider when producing their own comprehensive plans. This
section will cover descriptions of each system and key changes made to these systems.
Regional Transportation Policies and Actions
In addition to identifying regional systems and investment needs, the TPP includes a set of
policies and related actions to guide investments, planning and priorities for the regional
transportation system. The policies and actions cover many topics including safety, highway
planning priorities, complete streets, non-motorized transportation, equity, climate, and natural
systems. Communities are encouraged to incorporate regional policies in their local plans.
Regional Highway System
The Metropolitan Highway System is made up of principal arterials, shown in Figure 1 of the
Highway Investment Plan and included with this system statement. This system is federally
known as the National Highway System. The Metropolitan Highway System is a vital element
of the regional transportation system; while minor arterials are lower order roadways that
provide connectivity and relieve congestion in the principal arterial system. Principal and minor
arterials combined represent the Regional Highway System.
Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
• A major shift from the previous TPP is that potential new revenues are no longer
considered a means to resolve unmet needs on the system. The 2050 TPP does not
have a current and increased revenue scenario as a result. Instead, it identifies funded
projects in the fiscally constrained plan and additional opportunities beyond what is
funded. Multiple studies completed since the 2040 TPP identified additional
opportunities for investment, shown in figures 8 and 10.
• The 2050 TPP identifies highway investments in five major categories:
o Safety: Figure 7 in the Highway Investment Plan shows regionally significant
safety investments.
o Spot mobility: Figure 8 in the Highway Investment Plan shows funded regionally
significant spot mobility projects alongside identified additional opportunities for
investment.
o Interchanges: Figure 9 in the Highway Investment Plan shows funded and
planned regionally significant interchange investments.
o Managed lanes: Figure 10 in the Highway Investment Plan shows the existing,
under construction, and planned E-ZPass system. It also includes managed lane
corridors which are identified as additional opportunities for investment.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 8
o Targeted regional capacity: Figure 11 in the Highway Investment Plan shows
funded and planned regionally significant highway capacity investments. It also
includes potential future capacity enhancements identified in studies.
• Modifications were made to the 2050 TPP that removed appendix naming found in
previous plans and reworks previous chapters. Support documents for the Highway
Investment Plan include Functional Classification, Preliminary Interchange Approval
Process, and Congestion Management Process. The project list appendix item is now a
separate section of the TPP, titled Long Range Highway and Transit Capital Project
List. This updated list identifies projects from 2025 to 2050.
Regional Transit System
The regional transit system comprises the region’s transitways, regular route bus services,
demand response services, transit centers and park and rides, and transit advantages. This
system is operated by six different service providers in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic
upended transit, and some services vary dramatically from pre-pandemic levels. Many routes
were suspended in the region and are still in the process of restructuring.
Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
• A major shift from the previous TPP is from new revenues raised to fill budget gaps in
the system. A new source of revenue for transit was created in 2023 to fund operations
and maintenance for the region. Similar to highways, the Transit Investment Plan no
longer contains a current and increased revenue scenario. The projects shown in the
2050 TPP are those in the fiscally constrained plan. Additional opportunities for
investment are also identified in the plan and these may be incorporated into local
comprehensive plans.
• Several transitways have been implemented and opened, and additional transitways
have been identified in the region. Multiple arterial bus rapid transit (BRT) routes are
completed and operational, while more alignments have been identified in studies for
future implementation. The Transit Investment Plan identifies investments planned to be
implemented in the 2050 TPP:
o Two light rail extensions (Green Line Extension, Blue Line Extension)
o Two dedicated BRT routes (Gold Line, Purple Line)
o Five arterial BRT routes (B Line, E Line, F Line, G Line, H Line)
• Modifications were made to the 2050 TPP that removed appendix naming found in
previous plans and reworks previous chapters. Support documents for the Transit
Investment Plan include Transit Design and Performance Guidelines.
Regional Aviation System
The regional aviation system includes Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, eight
publicly owned regional airports, and two privately owned seaplane bases. These regional
airports are owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and local
communities.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 9
Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
• The MAC completed an update to the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan (LTCP) for the
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in 2024. This update moves the planning
horizon to 2040 with new operation forecasts, anticipated noise impacts, and capital
project needs.
• The Aviation System Plan now identifies all facilities beyond regional airports with
aviation activity. These facilities may be incorporated into and considered in local
planning. Aviation appendix items of the TPP are now included as a single support
document titled Aviation Supporting Information.
Regional Bicycle System
The regional bicycle system is identified through the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network
(RBTN). It is made up of alignments and corridors. Corridors are shown where more specific
alignments within those corridors have not yet been designated. The process used to develop
the RBTN, the general principles and analysis factors used in its development, and studies
done to analyze and update the network can be found in the Bicycle Investment Plan. The
RBTN was established in the 2040 TPP to achieve the following goals:
• Establish an integrated and seamless network of on-street bikeways and off-road trails.
• Provide the vision for a “backbone” arterial network to serve daily bicycle trips by
connecting regional destinations and local bicycle networks.
• Encourage cities, counties, park agencies, and the state to plan and implement future
bikeways in support of the network vision.
The RBTN also incorporates regional bicycle barriers which are established in the TPP as the
region’s most significant physical barriers to everyday bicycle travel. These barriers include
freeways and expressways, railroad corridors, and secondary rivers and streams. They were
developed and analyzed through the Regional Bicycle Barrier Study. The barriers are included
on the Regional Bicycle Barriers Map.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
• The RBTN has been refined and expanded since it was first implemented in the 2040
TPP. Requests from local governments to add and revise RBTN corridors and
alignments prompted the Regional Bicycle Guidelines and Measures Study, which
developed specific measures to review updates and requests from local agencies.
• The RBTN undergoes a formal update of alignments and corridors about every two
years. The next formal update will take place in 2025 prior to the 2026 Regional
Solicitation.
Regional Freight System
The regional freight system includes interconnecting transportation modes, some of which are
unique to freight, and some which overlap with passenger travel modes. There are five distinct
modes of freight transportation: highway trucks, railroads, river barges, air freight, and
pipelines. Combined with intermodal or warehouse/distribution terminals and supporting
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 10
infrastructure, these modes of transportation comprise the regional freight system, known as
the Metropolitan Freight System.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
• E-commerce has become an increasingly important segment of freight movements and
deliveries of goods to homes. The Urban Freight Distribution Study focused on e-
commerce trends and impacts or opportunities of last-mile parcel deliveries in regional
communities. The study notes that as urban deliveries become more common, local
communities are encouraged to create curb management policies, consider delivery
needs in their complete streets planning, and identify microhubs for last-mile parcel
distribution.
Pedestrian System
The Met Council coordinates with local partners on pedestrian issues and trends, and aids in
funding for pedestrian needs.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
• In the previous TPP pedestrian and bicycle travel were combined into one chapter and
discussed together. The pedestrian system is now discussed and considered as an
independent investment section.
• To address rising pedestrian danger on our streets, the Met Council developed the
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan in 2022. It includes analysis of crash trends in the region,
recommended actions to increase pedestrian safety, and a weighted crash score on
every road to aid in future safety planning and project prioritization. Communities are
encouraged to incorporate the plan’s findings into the pedestrian elements of their
comprehensive plans.
Travel Demand Management
Travel demand management (TDM) is the application of strategies, programs, and policies to
increase the efficiency of transportation systems by reducing travel demand, or redistributing
this demand in space or in time. These initiatives are intended to inspire new travel habits to
support infrastructure investments while reducing the demand for personal vehicle trips.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
• TDM has its own dedicated investment plan and discussion in the 2050 TPP. The
section identifies key regional partners in TDM as well as their roles and
responsibilities. Local communities are being asked to discuss how they include travel
demand management strategies in their local plans, since some of them have
relationships to land use controls and ordinances.
• The Met Council conducted the Regional Travel Demand Management Study in 2023. It
concluded with the Regional Travel Demand Management Action Plan. The action plan
outlines structure for a regional TDM program to implement strategies, programs, and
incentives to change travel behaviors and reduce single-occupant vehicle trips, vehicle-
miles traveled, and greenhouse gas emissions. The action plan is summarized in the
2050 TPP Travel Demand Management Investment Plan.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 11
System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community
Your community should consult the complete TPP in preparing your local comprehensive plan.
In addition, your community should consult Imagine 2050 and the current version of the Met
Council’s Local Planning Handbook (LPH) for specific comprehensive plan requirements.
Specific system plan considerations affecting your community are detailed below.
Regional Highway System
There are no principal arterials located within your community.
Regional Transit System
Your community is located within the following Transit Market Area: TMA 3 Emerging.
• TMA 3 Emerging market areas are locations with significant pockets of higher density,
but conditions in the surrounding area still limit the success of local transit. These areas
should be a focus for future development that will connect them with areas of higher
transit intensity, specifically looking at extensions of existing routes or connections.
Your community is located within the Transit Capital Levy District.
Regional Aviation System
All communities must include an aviation element in the transportation sections of their
comprehensive plans. The degree of aviation planning and development considerations that
need to be included in the comprehensive plan varies by community. Even those communities
not impacted directly by an airport have a responsibility to include airspace protection in their
comprehensive plan. The protection element should include potential hazards to air navigation
including electronic interference. Local comprehensive plans can also begin to consider other
aviation uses which do not take place at airports, like drones.
Local communities should also consider other facilities which may generate aviation activity,
such as heliports or private air facilities. To see all aviation facilities in the region including
those that are not defined as a part of the regional aviation system, refer to Figure 6 of the
Aviation System Plan.
Regional Bicycle Planning
The RBTN is depicted on Figure 2 of the Bicycle Investment Plan. The network consists of Tier
1 and Tier 2 corridors and alignments. These are not intended to be the only bicycle facilities in
the region. Local units should also include local network plans in their communities.
In your community there is one RBTN alignment. Your community should incorporate the
RBTN map within your local bicycle plan maps and use your comprehensive planning process
to identify suitable alignments within and along the RBTN corridors for future incorporation into
the TPP. In addition, agencies should plan their local on and off-road bikeway networks to
connect to the designated Tier 1 and Tier 2 alignments, as well as any new network
alignments within RBTN corridors to be proposed in local comprehensive plans. Bikeway
projects that complete segments of, or connect to, the RBTN are given priority for federal
transportation funds through the Transportation Advisory Board’s biannual regional solicitation.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 12
In your community there are one or more identified bicycle barrier crossings. Please review the
Regional Bicycle Barriers Online Map to determine which regional bicycle barriers and
prioritized barrier crossing improvement locations are in your community. The tiered crossing
improvement locations are used as one alternative criterion in the Regional Solicitation to
distribute federal transportation funds. Communities are encouraged to analyze and address
the need for new bicycle barrier crossings or improved bicycle facilities at existing barrier
crossings.
Regional Freight Planning
The Met Council encourages all local governments to plan for freight movement in their
communities. Trucks are the major mode of freight movement in the region and across the
nation to distribute consumer goods as well as move manufactured goods and commodities,
and they operate in every community.
The Metropolitan Freight System and the National Highway Freight Network are shown in
Figures 1 and 5 of the Freight Investment Plan, respectively. There are no regional freight
facilities in your community. The local plan should plan for compatible adjacent land uses with
freight generators, consider last-mile freight delivery needs and curb management strategies
for local deliveries, if applicable. Refer to the Urban Freight Distribution Study for specific
guidance on how to consider e-commerce and local deliveries on the local transportation
system.
Other Transportation Policy Plan Considerations
Pedestrian Planning
The Met Council encourages local governments to address pedestrian needs for transportation
in their local comprehensive plans. An adopted pedestrian, active transportation, or multimodal
plan can be included as an addendum to or in addition to the comprehensive plan. This
planning should also include ensuring your local community has a current Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) self-evaluation that covers the public rights-of-way for transportation.
Agencies with 50 or more employees must also have an adopted ADA transition plan, not just
a self-evaluation.
Travel Demand Management
The Met Council encourages local governments to address travel demand management needs
for areas which experience traffic congestion. Your community is served by Metro Transit
Commuter Services. Local governments should identify the transportation management
organization which serves their community and describe any policies, ordinances, practices or
programs in place which would aid in regional TDM work in their local comprehensive plans.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
State law directs the Minnesota Department of Transportation to establish targets to meet
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction for the seven-county metro region to reach net-
zero emissions in the transportation sector by 2050. Your community must include plans or
strategies to limit GHG emissions on the surface transportation system in your comprehensive
plan to meet the designated regional targets.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 13
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 14
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 15
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 16
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 17
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT TRANSPORTATION 18
2025 WATER RESOURCES SYSTEM STATEMENT
CITY OF SPRING PARK
Water Policy Plan Overview
The 2050 Water Policy Plan includes policies and strategies to achieve four objectives that
support our regional goals:
• CLIMATE: The region’s waters and water services are protected from and made
resilient to the ongoing and future effects of climate change.
• INVESTMENTS: Water protection, planning, management, and infrastructure
investments are optimized to ensure public and ecosystem health are fully protected
now and for future generations.
• HEALTH: Natural waters, source waters, water services, and infrastructure are
managed, restored, and enhanced to protect public and ecosystem health that ensures
a high quality of life in the region.
• EQUITY: The benefits of clean and abundant water and water services are defined by
local needs and environmental context, accessible, and justly shared by all residents
and communities.
These objectives help to protect our region’s groundwater and surface water, ensure the
sustainability of water sources and utility service providers, support public and ecosystem
health, and promote a thriving economy, sound development decisions, and a high quality of
life for all who call this region home.
The Water Policy Plan strives to generate innovative actions, including water reuse, resource
recovery, and nature-based approaches, that have multiple benefits at both the local and
regional scales. Additionally, the plan includes policies and strategies to address the impacts
of climate change, equitable access to water benefits, and water sector workforce concerns.
The region has a strong history of water planning and management, and the 2050 Water
Policy Plan continues this tradition. It progresses our organization and the region to ensure
clean and abundant water for current and future generations.
Key Concepts
Adopted by the Metropolitan Council in February 2025, the 2050 Water Policy Plan - including
the regional water policies, Wastewater System Plan, and the Metro Area Water Supply Plan -
outline the conditions for regional wastewater service, surface water management, and water
supply planning. Local comprehensive plans shall conform to these conditions. The Policy Plan
incorporates the following changes:
2025 SYSTEM STAT(MENT WATER RESOURCES 19
Integrated Planning (next steps)
The Water Policy Plan is a guide for managing wastewater, water supply, surface waters, and
groundwater. It takes an integrated approach to water planning and management from local to
federal and Tribal levels, which helps to ensure a clean and plentiful water future. Water
planning organizations need to work together to address issues that transcend political
boundaries to achieve holistic water management.
Subregional Approach to Planning
The Met Council is committed to continuing and broadening the subregional approach to
integrated water planning. Subregional groups will be expanded to include stakeholders from
Tribal Nations, state agencies, county planning staff, municipal public works and planning staff,
watershed organizations, non-governmental organizations, and others who want to participate
in discussions about localized, integrated water concerns.
Water Equity
The Water Policy Plan prioritizes equitable access to clean water and water services,
especially for historically marginalized communities. Reaching these outcomes requires
initiatives such as prioritizing investments in overburdened communities, addressing historical
harms, creating accessible information and communications, and including diverse
perspectives of community members in water planning and management decisions.
Climate and Natural Systems
The Water Policy Plan includes climate and natural systems objectives, policies, and
actions, which guide the Met Council and communities to employ approaches that lead
to sustainable water and water services. This includes building water resiliency, limiting
risks, and benefiting a growing and a thriving economy through convening partners, new
tools and technologies, water conservation and protection efforts, and water planning
and technical assistance.
Considerations Affecting Your Community
Regional Sewer Service
The treatment of wastewater is foundational to ensure public health and protect the region’s
natural environments. Reclamation of water and byproducts from the wastewater treatment
process can help our region meet sustainability and climate goals. To operate and steward the
regional wastewater system, it is essential for the Met Council to understand local conditions,
identify current and future needs, and take innovative approaches to address the region’s
water sustainability challenges.
Local governments are required to submit both a wastewater plan element to their
comprehensive plan and a comprehensive sewer plan describing service needs from the Met
Council (Minnesota Statutes 473.513). A complete list of requirements for the comprehensive
sewer plan, depending on wastewater service methods in your community, can be found in the
Water Resources section of the Local Planning Handbook.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 20
Forecasts
The forecasts of population, households, employment, and wastewater flows for Spring Park
can be found on your Community Page in the Local Planning Handbook. These forecasts are
for sewered development. The sewered forecasts were estimated using Met Council’s census
block forecast data, individual and communal sewage treatment system data, Sewer
Availability Charge (SAC) data, annual city reports, current trends, existing and future local
wastewater service areas and other municipal information. The wastewater flows are based on
historical wastewater flow data, future wastewater generation rates, and the sewered
population and employment forecast data.
The Met Council will use these growth and wastewater flow forecasts to plan future regional
wastewater conveyance and treatment system improvements needed to serve your
community.
Spring Park, through its comprehensive planning process, must decide the location and
staging of development, and then plan and design its local wastewater collection system to
serve this development.
Wastewater Service
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (Environmental Services) designs, constructs,
and operates the regional wastewater system (Metropolitan Disposal System): a publicly
owned system of regional sanitary sewers and water resource recovery facilities (wastewater
treatment plants), for the conveyance, treatment and disposal of domestic waste, industrial
waste and other waste from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial users in the
metropolitan area. The regional wastewater system currently serves 111 communities and
through its work it protects public health, protects the environment, and fosters the economic
growth of the seven-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
A Regional Sanitary Sewer System map is provided to assist in the completion of your
community’s comprehensive sewer plan. The map shows Environmental Services’ wastewater
infrastructure located within your community’s boundaries, if your community is provided
regional wastewater service.
A complete list of items required for inclusion in your community’s comprehensive sewer plan,
depending on wastewater service methods in your community, can be found in the Local
Planning Handbook. A comprehensive plan will be found incomplete for review if all submittal
requirements are not met.
If your community has multiple methods of wastewater service (including regional service, local
(municipal) wastewater treatment system, private communal systems, and/or subsurface
sewage treatment systems), review the information in each corresponding section and refer to
the Local Planning Handbook for a complete list of requirements that must be included in the
comprehensive sewer plan for these systems. We strongly encourage you to include this
information in a water chapter of your comprehensive plan.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 21
Areas Served by the Regional System
Wastewater generated within the City is conveyed by Met Council Interceptor 6-MO-650 and
treated at the Blue Lake Water Resource Recovery Facility in Shakopee.
Regional Inflow and Infiltration Program
The Met Council is continuing implementation of its inflow and infiltration (I/I) reduction
program and will continue to establish I/I goals for all communities discharging wastewater to
the regional wastewater system. Communities that have excessive I/I in their sanitary sewer
systems will be required to eliminate the excessive I/I. Those communities will be required to
submit a work plan that details work activities to identify and eliminate I/I sources from both
municipal and private sources. The Met Council will not design future regional sanitary sewer
improvements or water resource recovery facilities to handle peak hourly flows in excess of the
allowable rate for your community. Increases in service may be limited in communities that do
not demonstrate progress in reducing excess I/I.
Two grant programs are currently available for communities with excessive I/I in their sanitary
sewer systems: The Municipal Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program and the Private Property
Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program. It is recommended that communities review these
programs and determine if participation fits into their I/I work plan. The Municipal Inflow and
Infiltration Grant Program is based on annual legislative action and funding amount and
availability may vary year to year.
Areas Served by Local Wastewater Treatment System
The requirements of this element do not apply because Spring Park does not have a local
wastewater treatment system.
Areas Served by Private Communal Treatment Systems and/or Subsurface
Sewage Treatment Systems
The Met Council’s position is that private communal wastewater treatment systems should only
be permitted in areas not programmed for regional sewer service in the foreseeable future and
they are provided for in a community’s comprehensive plan. The community is responsible for
permitting all private communal or cluster wastewater treatment systems consistent with
current Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080-7083).
The Met Council will not provide financial support to assist communities if these systems fail.
Communities with individual subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS), commonly known
as septic systems, must adopt a management program consistent with current Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency regulations (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080-7083). A description of
the management plan and current SSTS ordinance must be included in the community’s
comprehensive sewer plan.
Surface Water Management
The metro region consists of hundreds of miles of rivers, streams, thousands of acres of
wetlands, and nearly a thousand lakes. These surface waters define our region. They are
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 22
where we play, exercise, find peace, and celebrate with friends and family. They support the
region’s ecosystems and biodiversity. They provide drinking water for the region’s residents
and energy for industry. They are critical transportation corridors and places to recreate,
fueling local economies. Yet these waters are threatened by complex issues like ongoing
pollution stress, climate change, and unsustainable development pressures. Comprehensive
community planning includes surface water planning to ensure the region’s residents,
businesses, and ecosystems can benefit from clean and abundant water.
In 1995, Minnesota Statutes Section 473.859, subd. 2 was amended to make the local water
plan (often referred to as local surface water management plans) required by Section 103B.
235 a part of the land use plan of the local comprehensive plan. Minnesota Rules Chapter
8410, updated in July of 2015, includes the requirements for local water management plans.
All communities in the metro region must update their local water plan between Jan. 1, 2027
and Dec. 31, 2028. This means that Spring Park must update its local water plan as part of the
comprehensive plan update. The community’s updated local water plan should be submitted
to the Met Council for its review concurrent with the review by the local watershed
management organization.
The Surface Water Features map shows the watershed management organization, Minnehaha
Creek WD, that has jurisdiction in Spring Park.
Failure to have an updated local water plan approved by your watershed management
organization will result in the comprehensive plan being incomplete for review. Local water
plans shall be submitted to the Met Council for review in the timeframe described above,
comments are sent from the Met Council to the appropriate watershed for inclusion in their
review and approval of the plan, and finally the plan is approved by the appropriate watershed.
Local water plans must meet the requirements for local water plans in Minnesota Statutes,
section 103B.235 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 8410. In general, local water plans need to
include a summary of the priorities and problems in the community; structural, nonstructural
and programmatic actions to take to address the priorities and problems; and clearly identified
funding mechanisms to fix the problems.
More detailed guidance for the local water plans can be found in Appendix A of the 2050 Water
Policy Plan and in the Met Council’s current Local Planning Handbook.
Priority Waters List
The Met Council updated its Priority Waters List (formerly Priority Lakes List) in July 2022. This
new version includes rivers, lakes, and streams. With more than 950 lakes and hundreds of
miles of rivers and streams in the region, waterbodies needed to be prioritized to adequately
dedicate staff and financial resources. The Met Council uses the Priority Waters List to focus
its limited resources. The list is also used in the environmental review process. The Surface
Water Features map and Priority Waters List table show the priority waters for Spring Park.
When using this Priority Waters List, for projects near a specific waterbody, we recommend
you connect with local residents to understand how they value and interact with the waterbody.
The Twin Cities region is home to many diverse communities with different cultural and
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 23
personal relationships to water, so it’s important to incorporate those perspectives in addition
to the Priority Waters List when working on local-scale projects. Communities should identify
the Priority Waters and the projects and/or programs that will protect or restore these waters.
The Water Contamination and Impaired Waters map includes any water bodies that are on the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s 303d Impaired Waters List.
Table of Priority Waters for the City of Spring Park
Waterbody Type Name DNR Lake ID DNR Kittle Number
Lake Minnetonka 27013300 ---
Water Supply
Water supply is not a regional system. However, water supply information is required for local
comprehensive plan updates to meet statutory requirements and for consistency with regional
policy.
To ensure that there is a safe and plentiful supply of water–for a wide range of residential,
commercial, institutional, industrial, recreational, and other purposes–it is important to make
sure local water supply sources, infrastructure, and planned investments are aligned with
planned land use changes.
The Met Council recognizes the local responsibility and authority for water supply planning.
However, a regional perspective is also valuable, because the effects of local water supply
decisions do not stop at community boundaries. The Met Council provides regional planning,
guidance, and resources to support communities and help safeguard our shared water
resources.
Water supply plan-related requirements generally include:
• Clearly identifying the locations of water sources and amount of water that is currently
used and is planned to be used for things like agriculture, homes, businesses,
industries, and other public and private purposes. This includes areas that affect those
water sources, such as source water protection areas.
• Creating a program for how to implement local rules and regulations about water
supply, including when and how these rules will be developed, adopted, and
administered.
Communities served by a municipal community public water supply system must fulfill part of
these requirements by attaching a local water supply plan approved by the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources as an appendix to the comprehensive plan.
The Water Supply Considerations map illustrates some key content for your community,
including Drinking Water Supply Management Areas, Special Well and Boring Construction
Areas, and Priority Waters qualifying as drinking water sources.
We strongly encourage you to include any required information that isn’t in the local water
supply plan—such as source water protection and privately-owned wells—in a water chapter of
your comprehensive plan.
2025 SYSTEM STAT(MENT WATER RESOURCES 24
A customized checklist of minimum requirements for your community is included in the Local
Planning Handbook, along with resources to help you meet and go beyond minimum
requirements.
Source Water Protection
Your comprehensive plan should consider water use (including water supply sources) as part
of land use planning, to promote land use practices and development decisions that protect
public health for your community and the region. Include information about the location of both
groundwater and surface water source water protection areas and their vulnerability for all
community public drinking water source(s) within your community’s borders and associated
contaminant threats. Also include a commitment to collaborate with neighbors on source water
protection, when applicable.
Privately-Owned Wells and Nonmunicipal Public Water Supply Systems
Your comprehensive plan should include information about the current and planned use and
management strategies for privately-owned wells and nonmunicipal public water supply
systems, because people, institutions, and businesses in your community use those sources
for a wide range of agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and/or other nonmunicipal
purposes.
If a new municipal community public water supply system is planned by 2050, a water chapter
of the updated comprehensive plan should include details about the planned system.
Municipal Community Public Water Supply Systems
Water Supply System Information
Because people, institutions, and businesses in your community get water through a municipal
community public water supply system, you must include information about that system and an
implementation program in your comprehensive plans, to demonstrate the availability of clean,
safe drinking water to meet projected water demand consistent with the Met Council’s
forecasts.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-approved local water supply plan for
the municipal public water supplier providing service to your community must be attached as
an appendix to the comprehensive plan. To ensure that the DNR-approved local water supply
plan is consistent with regional policies and is compatible with adjacent and affected
governmental units, you should provide the Met Council and adjacent and affected jurisdictions
with the opportunity to review and comment on your draft local water supply plan update.
Failure to include an updated local water supply plan approved by the DNR will result in the
comprehensive plan being incomplete for review until the required plan is submitted to the Met
Council.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 25
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 26
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2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 27
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2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT WATER RESOURCES 29
REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS SYSTEM
STATEMENT
CITY OF SPRING PARK
Overview of the Regional Parks and Trails System
The Regional Parks and Trails System includes 66 regional parks, park reserves, and special features,
plus more than 487 miles of regional trails that showcase the unique landscapes of the region and
provide year-round recreation. The Regional Parks and Trails System is well-loved by our region’s
residents and attracted over 69 million visits in 2023.
The organizational structure of the Regional Parks and Trails System is unique, built upon a strong
partnership between the Met Council and the ten regional park implementing agencies that own and
operate Regional Parks and Trails System units. The regional park implementing agencies are:
Anoka County Ramsey County
City of Bloomington City of Saint Paul
Carver County Scott County
Dakota County Three Rivers Park District
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Washington County
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan advances the Imagine 2050 regional goals and core
values including Equity, Leadership, Accountability, and Stewardship by striving to:
• Foster equity and belonging: Connect people with nature, community, and cultural
landscapes to better support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being
• Take care of what we have: Reinvest in existing regional parks and trails to maintain and
enhance visitor experiences
• Protect and restore: Protect and restore natural systems to safeguard the well-being of all
living things
• Adapt and mitigate: Increase the region’s resilience to climate change through land
stewardship practices that mitigate greenhouse gases and adapt to future climates
• Meet future needs: Meet the growing demand for regional parks and trails through strategic
and timely land acquisition and development.
Key Concepts in the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan includes the following policies, each with specific
associated strategies:
• System Plan policy: Maintain a robust and current set of data, maps, plans, processes, and
applications to support regional parks and trails planning.
• Natural Systems policy: Identify lands with high-quality natural features and/or with high
restoration potential that are desirable for Regional Parks and Trails System activities and put
these lands in a protected status so they will be available for recreational uses and preservation
purposes in perpetuity.
• Climate Resilience policy: Adapt and enhance the Regional Parks and Trails System to
promote resilience to climate change, including the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 30
• Planning policy: Promote long-range planning and help provide integrated resource planning
across jurisdictions in order to create a seamless system that connects everyone to the
outdoors.
• System Protection policy: Protect public investments in acquisition and development by
assuring that every component in the system is able to fully carry out its designated role.
• Recreation, Facilities, and Programming policy: Foster a sense of belonging by providing a
wide spectrum of leisure and play opportunities while connecting people, places, and the natural
world.
• Finance policy: The Met Council administers, provides financial oversight, and collaborates
with a range of partners to fund the ten regional park implementing agencies in support of the
Regional Parks and Trails System.
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan is the metropolitan system plan for regional recreation
open space with which local comprehensive plans must conform. This system statement highlights the
elements of the system plan which apply specifically to your community. Find the complete text of the
2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan at the following url:
https://imagine2050.metrocouncil.org/chapters/regional-parks-and-trails.
Key Changes in the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
Adopted by the Met Council in February 2025, the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
incorporates the following changes:
• Unit name changes o Anoka County
“Northwest Search Area” changed to “Sugar Hills Search Area”
o Dakota County
“Lebanon Hills-Big Rivers Greenway Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Lebanon
Hills-Minnesota River Greenway Trail Search Corridor”
“Lebanon Hills-Mendota Greenway Regional Trail, Highway 62 segment”
changed to “Lebanon Hills Greenway Regional Trail” o Scott County
“Scott West Regional Trail” changed to “Big Woods Regional Trail”
“Minnesota River Bluffs Extension and Scott County Connection Regional Trail”
changed to “Merriam Junction Regional Trail”
“Louisville Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Merriam Junction Regional Trail”
Portion of “Southern Scott Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Shallow Waters
Regional Trail”
• Trail refinements
o Three Rivers Park District’s Dakota Rail Regional Trail Search Corridor Extension
moving the trail terminus from Highway 494 to Minnetonka City Hall o Three Rivers Park District is transferring a portion of the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail
to Carver County
• Future 2028/2029 system additions process candidates o Ramsey County’s Rice Creek North Regional Trail Boundary Adjustment adding 2,407
acres to the current 792 acres at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant
o Three Rivers Park District’s 5.5-mile West Minnehaha Creek Trail Corridor Study Area o Dakota County’s 58-acre Thompson County Park Study Area in West St. Paul serving
the outdoor recreational needs of the more than 50,000 residents who live in the
northern portion of Dakota County
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 31
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Plan Map is depicted in Figure 1. Spring Lake Park should
consult the complete 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan in preparing its local comprehensive
plan. In addition, your community should consult Imagine 2050 and the current version of the Met
Council’s Local Planning Handbook for specific comprehensive plan requirements.
2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Units
The Regional Parks and Trails System comprises four main types of units: regional parks, park
reserves, special features and regional trails.
• Regional parks contain a diversity of natural features, either naturally occurring or restored,
and are typically 200-500 acres in size. Regional parks accommodate a variety of outdoor
recreation activities. In 2024, a total of 46 regional parks are open to the public.
• Park reserves, like regional parks, provide for a diversity of outdoor recreation activities. One
major distinguishing feature is that the minimum size for a park reserve is 1,000 acres.
Additionally, regional park implementing agencies are required to manage at least 80% of the
park reserve as natural lands that protect the ecological functions of the native landscape. As of
2024, a total of 12 park reserves were open to the public.
• Special features provide opportunities not generally found in the regional parks, park reserves,
or trail corridors. Special features often require a unique managing or programming effort. As of
2024, there are eight special features open to the public.
• Regional trails: The Met Council has defined two major types of trails to serve the region:
destination or greenway trails and linking trails. Destination or greenway trails typically follow
along corridors with high-quality natural features that make the trail itself a destination. Linking
trails are predominately intended to provide connections between various Regional Parks and
Trails System units. As of 2024, 56 regional trails totaling approximately 487 miles were open
for public use.
2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Components
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan identifies five components which together comprise the
vision for the Regional Parks and Trails System in 2050, as described below.
• Existing Regional Parks and Trails System facilities are open for public use and include land
that is owned by regional park implementing agencies. They may include inholding parcels
within the boundaries of these parks and trail corridors that have not yet been acquired. Existing
regional trails may include planned segments that will be developed in the future.
• Planned Regional Parks and Trails System facilities (not yet open to the public) have a
Council-approved long-range plan and may be in stages of acquisition and development but are
not yet open for public use.
• Regional Parks and Trails System boundary adjustments include general areas identified as
potential additions to existing Regional Parks and Trails System facilities to add recreational
opportunities or protect natural resources. Specific adjustments to park or trail corridor
boundaries have not yet been planned.
• Regional Park and Special Feature search areas include general areas for future regional
parks and special features to meet the recreational needs of the region by 2050 where the
regional park boundary has not yet been planned.
• Regional trail search corridors include proposed regional trails to provide connections
between Regional Parks and Trails System facilities where the trail alignment has not yet been
planned.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 32
System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community
The following Regional Parks and Trails System Components within Spring Park are identified in the
2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan:
Regional Trails
• Dakota Rail Regional Trail: This is an existing regional trail that is open to the public. The
regional trail travels through Camden Township, New Germany, Mayer, Waconia Township, and
Laketown Township in Carver County as well as St. Bonifacius, Minnetrista, Mound, Spring
Park, Minnetonka Beach, Orono and Wayzata in Hennepin County. It connects to Western
Carver County Regional Trail Search Corridor, County Road 10 Regional Trail Search Corridor,
Gale Woods Farm Special Feature, Baker-Carver Regional Trail, and the planned Diamond
Lake Regional Trail. The regional trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged
in the comprehensive plan.
Please contact Three Rivers Park District for more information regarding Regional Parks and Trails
System Components in Spring Park.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 33
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 34
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENT REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS 35
2050 Comprehensive Plan Minimum Requirements Checklist
Spring Park
This document comprises the minimum requirements each community must
address in its local comprehensive plan to align with the Metropolitan Land Planning
Act and regional policies. It serves as both a planning reference and a submission
checklist to ensure all required elements are included.
Each section corresponds with a Plan Element webpage in the Local Planning
Handbook. Requirements may change, so always refer to the website for the latest
information. During the plan review, additional details may be requested by Technical
Review staff for clarity and accuracy.
How to use this checklist
The number in the first column is a unique reference identifier for each requirement.
You may notice gaps in the numbering sequence; that simply indicates certain
requirements in the full regional list do not apply to your community (for example, if a
community is fully developed or lacks a relevant system).
Use the final column to record where, by page or section, each applicable
requirement is addressed in your comprehensive plan. Providing these cross-
references at submission will help expedite the Metropolitan Council’s review and
reduce follow-up requests. If you have any questions, please contact your Sector
Representative.
Required Plan Elements:
1.Land Use
2.Housing
3.Transportation
4.Wastewater
5.Water Supply
6.Surface Water
7.Parks and Trails
8.Climate
9.Natural Systems
10.Implementation
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL | IMAGINE 2050 | Local Planning Handbook | Checklist for Spring Park
Land Use Pg #
Forecasts and Community Designations
1 Include a table of forecasted population, households, and employment for 2030, 2040,
and 2050, consistent with the Met Council’s forecasts.
2 Met Council forecasts must be used consistently throughout your entire comprehensive
plan.
2.1 Your transportation plan needs to utilize allocated forecasts to transportation
analysis zones (TAZs) as published by the Met Council.
2.2 Your water and wastewater plans need to reflect forecasts to plan for urban
services.
2.3 Your land use plan must reflect and accommodate your forecasts.
3 Include a map acknowledging your regional Community Designation(s) and state the
overall density expectations for your Community Designation(s).
Existing Land Use
4 Provide an Existing Land Use Map with a land use legend.
4.1 Show existing regional parks, park reserves, and special features with a land use of
“Park” (or your equivalent) on your Existing Land Use Map.
5 Provide an Existing Land Use Table. Calculate total acres and percent of total acres for
each land use category.
6 Land uses categories on the map and in the table, as well as any text references must all
be consistent with one another.
Future Land Use Plan
7 Each Comprehensive Plan must contain a Future Land Use Plan which is consistent with
the Met Council’s forecasts of population, households, and employment and identify
sufficient land supply to support your community’s forecasted growth. Planned land uses
must be realistically marketable within the planning period, focusing on plausibility and
long-term viability.
8 The information developed in the land use plan must carry over to other elements of the
comprehensive plan. The areas and densities in the land use plan must be consistent
across elements including:
• forecasted growth
• wastewater
• water resources
• housing
1 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
• transportation
9 Include a description of each land use category which includes:
9.1 Allowed uses and a general description of each use and its purpose.
9.2 Minimum and maximum densities (“the allowable density range”) for all categories
that allow residential uses. (Zero is not an acceptable minimum. The maximum
value must be a whole number). The allowable density range must be inclusive of
any density bonus permitted by the underlying zoning districts.
9.3 Narrative descriptions of land use categories must be consistent with the land use
table and map.
9.4 For residential land use categories within the MUSA which include the use type of
single family detached, at least one additional use type must be permitted, which
may include, but is not limited to; Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Attached
Single-Family Housing, Duplex, Triplex, Apartments, etc.
10 Provide a Future Land Use Map and land use legend which includes all land use
categories and is consistent with the land use descriptions and land use table.
10.1 Identify all areas guided to support forecasted growth within the planning period on
the Future Land Use Map.
10.2 Acknowledge Council-approved long-range plan boundaries of regional parks, park
reserves, and special features by guiding the properties with a land use of “Park”
(or your equivalent) on your Future Land Use Map.
10.3 Identify areas enrolled or eligible for enrollment within the Metropolitan Agricultural
Preserves program on the Future Land Use Map using an agricultural land use
designation with a maximum density of 1 unit per 40 acres, as required for program
eligibility in state law.
11 Provide a Future Land Use table which includes:
11.1 All land use categories, consistent with the Future Land Use table and map.
11.2 Total net acres of all future land uses. Exclude wetlands and natural water bodies,
public parks and open space, arterial road rights-of-way, and areas protected from
development by local plans and ordinances (i.e. steep slopes, wetland buffers)
from area calculations.
11.3 Total net acres and percent of total net acres planned to support forecasted growth
for each land use category in each 10-year planning period (2030, 2040, and
2050).
2 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
11.4 Minimum and maximum densities (“the allowable density range”) for all categories
that allow residential uses.
11.5 For each “mixed use” category, define an expected share of individual land uses
and identify the permitted density range for residential uses. For example, Mixed
Use Downtown might have an expectation of 30% commercial, 40% office, and
30% residential with a density of 10-15 units per acre
11.6 The planned minimum net residential density must meet the community
designation(s) minimum density requirements within each planning decade.
Density Expectations: Urban Service Area and Rural Centers
12 Provide a table which Identifies land supply guided to support forecasted growth for each
10-year planning period (2030, 2040, and 2050).
12.1 The planned minimum net residential density must meet the community
designation(s) minimum density requirements within each planning decade (2030,
2040, and 2050).
12.2 For each residential land use category identified to support forecasted growth;
• Identify the density range for each residential land use category, which must be
consistent with the Future Land Use Table.
• Use the lowest allowed residential density from land use ranges in your
calculations. For example, a land use that permits a density range of 7-10 units per
acre must use 7 units per acre in all density calculations for this land use. This
ensures that even at the lowest permitted density, the community will be
developing at densities that meet overall density expectations.
• For each “mixed use” category, define an expected share of individual land uses
and identify the permitted density range for residential uses. For example, Mixed
Use Downtown might have an expectation of 30% commercial, 40% office, and
30% residential with a density of 10-15 units per acre. Utilize only the planned
residential acreage for your calculation.
12.3 Provide the net developable acreage for each residential land use category
identified to support forecasted growth for each planning decade (2030, 2040, and
2050). Exclude wetlands and natural water bodies, public parks and open space,
arterial road rights-of-way, and areas protected from development by local plans
and ordinances (i.e. steep slopes, wetland buffers) from area calculations.
Staged Development
17 Identify potential local infrastructure impacts for each 10-year increment and demonstrate
that the municipality is capable of providing services and facilities that accommodate its
planned growth.
17.1 The proposed staging plan or development phasing must be consistent with the
distribution of sewered and unsewered growth identified in your community’s Local
3 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Sewer Plan.
17.2 The proposed staging plan or development phasing must support and be
consistent with your community’s allocation of the region’s Future Affordable
Housing Need for 2031 - 2040.
Redevelopment and Infill
18 Identify policies that encourage redevelopment and infill in areas with existing
infrastructure and/or transit access where applicable.
19 Specify in the capital improvement plan the timing and sequence of local public facilities
updates, fiscal devices or official controls that will facilitate redevelopment in accordance
with the plan.
20 Identify and map the land areas that are available or likely to be available for
redevelopment, infill development, or new development in your community.
Redevelopment and infill areas need to be mapped when those areas are being used to
meet density and forecast requirements.
21 Provide a table of those areas identified that includes future land uses, acreages, density
ranges, and total residential units in 10-year increments. Estimate the timing of
development for areas that are uncertain or do not have plans in process.
22 Communities proposing an addition to the MUSA must demonstrate that the proposed
addition meets the following criteria:
22.1 Requests must meet system conformance requirements and maintain consistency
with regional policies and goals.
22.2 The proposed additions must demonstrate a need for additional land supply,
including the need for a change to adopted forecasts. The Met Council will review
requests to ensure a 20-year rolling land supply considering both regional and local
market demand.
22.3 For local governments already served by regional wastewater services, planned
sewer-serviced densities must be consistent with regional density policy for the
applicable community designation, including existing planned densities and the
planned densities for the new area to be served.
22.4 Any previous conditions related to Met Council authorization of comprehensive plan
or plan amendments must be fulfilled and program participation (Plat Monitoring
program, building permit survey, etc.) must be current and complete.
22.5 Past performance must meet density expectations. The Met Council will consider a
shorter look-back period for performance and/or measure performance against
rules in place at the time.
22.6 When calculating land capacity, the following will be excluded: publicly protected
areas, water bodies, wetlands, steep slopes, areas with limited depth to bedrock,
areas with limited depth to water table, and areas protected by public
4 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
ownership/easements.
Adjacent to Unincorporated Areas or with Orderly Annexation Agreements
23 Plan to accommodate growth only in areas within your municipal boundaries unless an
orderly annexation agreement (OAA) authorizes another jurisdiction to assume planning
authority.
24 Orderly annexation agreements must encompass the planning horizon and identify
needed updates that occur within the planning period.
24.1 If an adopted OAA terminates prior to the end of the planning horizon, additional
land supply within the jurisdictional authority of the local government may need to
be identified to accommodate forecasted growth or the Met Council may consider a
forecast adjustment.
25 Map stages of development in 10-year increments (existing, 2030, 2040, and 2050).
26 Provide a table of staged development in 10-year increments. The table must include
future land uses, area in acres, density ranges, and total residential units by each 10-year
time increment.
Community Composition
27 Provide a detailed demographic profile, identifying the representation of Black, American
Indian, Asian and Latine residents, non-English speakers, youth, older adults, and
individuals with disabilities in your community.
28 The demographic profile needs to include the number of households below the 200%
poverty threshold and percent of households without vehicle access.
29 Identify community engagement efforts implemented in the creation of the Comprehensive
Plan. Highlight efforts that were made to collaborate with underrepresented populations in
the planning process. (Black, American Indian, people of color, youth, older adults,
renters, etc.)
Historic and Cultural Assets
30 Identify historic and cultural assets in the community (except where Federal and State
policies protect the confidentiality of sensitive sites, such as American Indian burial
mounds). Specify any assets that are formally designated at the local level, at the state
level by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), or at the federal level by the US
Department of the Interior.
31 Identify policies to protect and preserve the community’s historic and cultural assets.
Aggregate Resources
5 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
32 Identify if aggregate resources are present (or not) within the jurisdiction’s staging areas
for new development.
33 If aggregate resources are present:
33.1 Provide a map showing the location of aggregate resources as mapped in
Minnesota Geological Survey Information Circular No. 46.
33.2 Identify your goals, intentions, and priorities concerning aggregate resources.
Provide for aggregate resource extraction prior to development where viable
deposits remain accessible and the extraction would not conflict with other
established priorities (i.e. preserving natural systems, protecting highly vulnerable
Drinking Water Supply Management Areas, etc.).
33.3 Include strategies needed to implement the identified aggregate resources policies.
Solar Resource Protection & Development
34 Include a policy or policies relating to the protection and development of access to direct
sunlight for solar energy systems.
35 Include strategies needed to implement the policy or policies.
Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA)
36 Identify if surface water or groundwater Drinking Water Supply Management Areas
(DWSMA) are located within the community.
37 If DWSMA are present:
37.1 Provide a map of all DWSMA indicated their location and vulnerability.
37.2 Include land use goals and policies to protect water quality and prevent overuse of
source waters due to development, especially in highly vulnerable DWSMAs. Refer
to existing source water protection plans, the water chapter of the comprehensive
plan, or other areas as relevant.
37.3 Include strategies needed to implement the identified policies.
6 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Housing Pg #
Existing Housing Needs
1 Complete an existing housing assessment including:
1.1 Provide the following information on existing local conditions:
• The total number of housing units.
• The number of rental housing units affordable to households with incomes at or
below 30% area median income (AMI), between 31-50% AMI, between 51-60% AMI,
and 61% AMI or greater.
• The number of ownership and co-operative housing units affordable to households
with incomes at or below 50% AMI, between 51-60% AMI, between 61-80% AMI,
between 81-115% AMI, and 116% AMI or greater.
• The share of housing units by detached townhomes, accessory dwelling units
(ADU's), manufactured housing, attached townhomes, 2-4 unit multifamily, and 5 unit
or larger multifamily housing.
• The number of households with incomes at or below 30% AMI, between 31-50%
AMI, between 51-60% AMI and between 61-80% AMI.
• The number of households that are experiencing housing cost burden with incomes
at or below 30% AMI, between 31-50% AMI, between 51-60% AMI, and between 61-
80% AMI.
• The share of households experiencing housing cost burden by racial/ethnic group.
• The homeownership rate by racial/ethnic group.
• The number of affordability-restricted housing units. Include the breakout of units by
restriction when possible such as: housing for people 55 and older, housing for
people with disabilities, and high priority homeless units.
• Include the number of low-income affordable ownership housing units needed.
1.2 Include a map of subsidized housing units.
2 Complete a narrative analysis of existing housing needs. At a minimum, address the
components of the existing housing assessment within the context of your city or township.
Plans consistent with Met Council policy will clearly identify existing housing needs and
priorities for the city or township. The existing housing assessment includes data at various
levels of affordability, therefore, the needs should be identified within levels of affordability
when applicable. In addition to the needs identified through the existing housing
assessment, a complete narrative will consider the following:
2.1 Providing affordable housing opportunities that are accessible to households of
varying abilities.
7 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
2.2 Maintenance and preservation of unsubsidized affordable housing.
2.3 Households at risk of losing housing and/or experiencing housing instability.
Projected Housing Needs
3 Discuss how the land use plan addresses the future housing need for your forecasted
growth.
4 Acknowledge the need for affordable housing units that are age-restricted and/or offer
supportive services for older people.
5 Acknowledge your city or township's 2031-2040 allocation of future affordable housing
need at three levels of affordability: 30% AMI or less, 31-50% AMI and 51-60% AMI
6 Guide residential land at densities sufficient to create opportunities for affordable housing
using one of the following options:
6.1 Option 1: Guide sufficient land at minimum residential densities of 10 units/acre to
support your city or township's total allocation of future affordable housing need for
2031-2040
6.2 Option 2: Guide sufficient land at minimum residential densities of:
• 12 units/acre to support your city or township's 2031-2040 allocation of future
affordable housing need at 30% AMI or less.
• 8 units/acre to support your city or township's allocation of future affordable housing
need at 31-60% AMI. This combines your city or township's allocation of 31-50% AMI
and 51-60% AMI.
• A city or township that chooses Option 2 and has a demonstrated history of
creating 51-60% AMI affordable units at densities lower than 8 units/acre, may guide
land at lower minimum densities (as low as 4-8 units/acre) to meet only the 51-60%
AMI allocation of future affordable housing need.
6.3 A narrative description of the steps the city or township will commit to in order to
meet their 2031-2040 allocation of future affordable housing need. (This option is
only available for cities and townships with an allocation of future affordable housing
need of 20 or less)
Housing Implementation Plan
7 Identify the top three existing housing needs for the city or township and include a
description of how these needs were selected as the top housing needs for the city or
township. Describe the tools (public programs, fiscal devices, and/or other specific actions)
that will be used to meet the top three existing housing needs identified. Include in what
circumstances and in what sequence they will be used.
• A list of accepted tools is provided. However, this list is not exhaustive. Local
governments are strongly encouraged to include any additional tools at their disposal when
8 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
identifying how they will address these housing needs.
8 Describe the tools (public programs, fiscal devices, and/or other specific actions) that your
local government will consider using to meet all other existing and projected housing needs
identified in the housing element of your comprehensive plan. Include in what
circumstances and in what sequence they would be used.
• Plans consistent with Met Council policy will clearly and directly link identified needs to
available tools.
• A list of accepted tools is provided. However, this list is not exhaustive. Local
governments are strongly encouraged to include any additional tools at their disposal when
identifying how they will address their housing needs.
9 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Transportation Pg #
Roadways
1 Describe and Map the Roadway Functional Classification in your community. Include
identification of all classifications in your community including:
• Principal Arterials
• Minor Arterials
• Major Collectors
• Minor Collectors
• Local roadways
2 Include the following information on the Principal and Minor Arterial functional
classification systems:
2.1 Describe and map the existing and proposed number of traffic lanes
2.2 Describe and map the existing and projected traffic volumes
2.3 Describe and map the following funded and planned investments outlined in the
Imagine 2050 TPP Highway Investment Plan (planned projects are within the 2050
fiscally constrained plan). The vision and under study managed lane projects and
vision targeted regional capacity projects are not required to be added, but their
inclusion should be considered general guidance.
-Figure 9: Regional Mobility Investments: Interchanges
-Figure 10. Regional Mobility Investments: Managed Lanes
-Figure 11. Regional Mobility Investments: Targeted Regional Capacity
2.4 Incorporate and describe recommendations from any corridor studies and identify
any opportunities to complete or update existing corridor studies documented as
priority tiered intersection locations in the Intersection Mobility and Safey Study.
3 Include a safety analysis that includes an analysis of crash trends, data and safety needs
by mode and crash severity from the most recent 5 years of available data to prioritize
future investments to reduce deaths and serious injuries using a Safe Systems Approach.
Identify any high priority transportation corridors and locations in your community to
reduce fatalities and serious injuries. Reference any existing local safety plans like Safe
Streets and Roads for All action plans or county road safety plans in local planning, when
applicable.
Transit
4 Identify, describe and map your local community's identified transit market area(s).
Include a discussion of your community’s relationship with the transit market area(s).
5 Identify, describe and map the transit system located in your community. Include the
following features:
• Local transit services and demand response (including dial-a-ride, mircrotransit) services
• The existing and planned transit centers and park and rides
• The existing and planned transit advantages
10 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
6 Identify areas of known planned transit service expansion, working with transit provider(s)
and identify desired transit expansion corridors or areas based on community land use
plan.
7 Describe and address multimodal access needs to transit services within your community.
• Include a description of pedestrian access routes to transitway stations, local bus stops
and other transit facilities. This may be included in the transit element or in the pedestrian
element of the plan.
Biking
10 Describe and map the full local existing and planned bike network. Ensure networks are
coordinated across jurisdictions. Include the following information:
10.1 Identify local bikeway connections to transit facilities.
10.2 Describe plans, strategies or policies to address connectivity gaps in the bike
network that improve accessibility and safety.
11 Describe and map RBTN within your community including the following:
11.1 Show all tier 1 and tier 2 RBTN corridors and alignments
11.2 Show the relationships between the RBTN and local bike network including all
existing and planned connections
11.3 Include locations of regional destinations as shown on the RBTN map within your
community. Include any locally identified activity centers in your community.
11.4 Review RBTN corridors to determine whether there is an existing or planned
bicycle facility alignment you want to designate as the RBTN alignment (to replace
the corridor). Describe and map the existing and/or planned bike facility
alignment(s) proposed for RBTN designation as a dashed line. (It is recommended
to contact Met Council MTS prior to including in the draft Comp Plan.)
12 Describe and map regional bicycle barriers (i.e., freeways, railroad corridors, rivers and
streams) and discuss how to address the need to provide new or improved crossings of
regional bicycle barriers.
Pedestrian
13 Include a full pedestrian element of your local transportation element of the
comprehensive plan. Include the following:
13.1 Community pedestrian system needs in a manner that responds to your community
designation.
13.2 Describe plans, strategies or policies to address connectivity gaps in the pedestrian
network that improve accessibility and safety. Identify if Safe Routes to School
11 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
plans have been done for schools in the community.
13.3 Map the existing pedestrian network.
13.4 Identify and map locally developed pedestrian priority networks or areas, if
applicable.
Freight
15 If available from MnDOT or other sources, include heavy commercial annual average
truck volumes on the Principal Arterial and Minor Arterial network within your community.
Link to MnDOT AADT app
16 Identify, describe and map any local roadway issues or problem areas for goods
movement, such as weight-restricted roads or bridges, bridges with insufficient height or
width clearances, locations with unprotected road crossings of active rail lines, or
intersections with inadequate turning radii.
Travel Demand Management
17 Describe and document existing local travel demand management policies, ordinances or
practices, if applicable. Include any activities or plans to collaborate with regional TDM
partners on outreach and promotional activities that support sustainable travel choices.
Aviation
18 Identify policies and ordinances that protect regional airspace from obstructions. Include
how your community will notify the FAA of proposed tall structures.
19 Identify and map any bodies of water that may be used for seaplane operations as
designated and regulated by MnDOT in your community.
Equity and Inclusion
22 Describe status of the agency’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan
(applies to agencies with 50 or more employees) or self-evaluation for public rights of way.
Identify when it was last updated, any identified target date for compliance, and strategies
used to monitor implementation progress and make updates.
Climate and Natural Systems
23 Include an acknowledgement of state designated targets for statewide vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) reduction and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions for the seven-
county metro region. Identify plans, policies or strategies to reduce per capita VMT and
total transportation-related GHG emissions in your community to meet state statutes on
reduction targets. Surface transportation GHG emissions are a portion of the total
reduction targets, see land use requirements for the total reduction targets from all sectors
and tools to calculate reduction needs and strategies for your community.
12 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Transportation Analysis Zone (TAZ)
24 Communities must confirm their Local Comprehensive plan’s use of the forecasted
population, household and employment data by TAZ published by the Met Council.
Communities may alternatively cooperate with Met Council staff to prepare a different
allocation.
24.1 If using the forecasts published by the Met Council, local comprehensive plans can
reference the published forecasts. The TAZ table does not need to be replicated in
the Comprehensive Plan Update.
24.2 Alternately, if preparing a different allocation, the sum of TAZ allocations must
equal the total forecasts by city/township. The preparation and delivery of
alternative TAZ allocations can be provided separate from the Plan Update; this
deliverable must precede Met Council’s completeness determination of the Plan
Update.
24.3 Transportation Analysis Zones allocation of the forecast is waived for cities and
townships with population and employment fully contained in one TAZ.
13 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Wastewater Pg #
GIS Requirements
1 Provide the following GIS sewer system data with the comprehensive sewer plan
submittal (GIS shape files or geodatabase feature classes):
1.1 Local sanitary lines. Include pipe size, pipe material, year built, conveyance
method (gravity and forcemain).
1.2 Local sanitary structures (for example, manholes, lift stations, etc).
1.3 Existing connections points to the MCES collection system.
1.4 Future connection points to the MCES collection system (for new growth).
1.5 Local sewershed service areas or districts by connection point.
1.6 Intercommunity connection points.
1.7 Proposed changes in government boundaries based on orderly annexation
agreements.
1.8 Location of all private and public wastewater treatment plants in the community.
1.9 Individual subsurface sewage treatment systems (as mentioned in the
Requirements for Areas Served by Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems
section).
Areas Served by the Regional System (Urban Area)
2 Table that details adopted community sewered forecasts:
2.1 10-year increments to 2050
• Households
• Employment
2.2 Forecasts shall be broken down by areas served by the Metropolitan Disposal
System, locally owned and operated wastewater treatment systems, and communal
and subsurface sewage treatment systems.
3 Copy of intercommunity service agreements entered into with an adjoining community, or
a description of the intercommunity service agreements that confirms the Met Council’s
understanding that one community reimburse the other community for the municipal
wastewater charges that it will incur by receiving flow from the adjacent community. If the
Met Council is responsible for adjusting flow for each community for the purpose of
calculating the Municipal Wastewater Charge, note that in the description of the
14 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
intercommunity agreement. Include a map of service areas covered by the agreements.
4 Table or tables that provide the following local system information:
4.1 Capacity and design flows for existing trunk sewers and lift stations.
• For local sanitary sewer lines 12” and larger that connect to the Met Council
system, provide the 2050 design flow and pipe capacity for each connecting trunk
sewer and lift station. Include the percentage of total capacity of each pipe that will
be used by 2050.
4.2 Assignment of 2050 growth forecasts by Met Council interceptor facility.
• Household and employment forecasts.
5 For new trunk sewer systems that require connection to the Metropolitan Disposal
System:
• A table that details the proposed time schedule for the construction of the new trunk
sewer system.
6 Define the community’s goals, policies, and strategies for preventing and reducing
excessive inflow and infiltration (I/I) in the local municipal (city) and private (private
property) sanitary sewer systems.
• Include a summary of activities or programs intended to mitigate I/I from both public and
private property sources.
7 Describe the requirements and standards in the community for minimizing I/I.
7.1 Include a copy of the local ordinance or resolution that prohibits discharge from
sump pumps, foundation drains, and/or rain leaders to the sanitary sewer system.
7.2 Include a copy of the local ordinance or resolution requiring the disconnection of
existing foundation drains, sump pumps, and roof leaders from the sanitary sewer
system
8 Describe the sources, extent, and significance of existing I/I in both the municipal and
private sewer systems.
8.1 Include a description of the existing sources of I/I in the municipal and private
sewer infrastructure.
8.2 Include a summary of the extent of the systems that contribute to I/I such as
locations, quantities of piping or maintenance holes, quantity of service laterals, or
other measures. If an analysis has not been completed, include a schedule and
scope of future system analysis.
8.3 Include a breakdown of residential housing stock age within the community into
pre- and post-1970 era, and what percentage of pre-1970 era private services have
been evaluated for I/I susceptibility and repair.
8.4 Include the measured or estimated amount of clearwater flow generated from the
public municipal and private sewer systems.
15 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
8.5 Include a cost summary for remediating the I/I sources identified in the community.
If previous I/I mitigation work has occurred in the community, include a summary of
flow reductions and investments completed. If costs for mitigating I/I have not been
analyzed, include the anticipated wastewater service rates or other costs attributed
to I/I.
9 Describe the implementation plan for preventing and eliminating excessive I/I from
entering both the municipal and private sewer systems.
9.1 Include the strategy for implementing projects, activities, or programs planned to
mitigate excessive I/I from entering the municipal and private sewer systems.
9.2 Include a list of priorities for I/I mitigation projects based on flow reduction, budget,
schedule, or other criteria.
9.3 Include a schedule and the related financial mechanisms planned or needed to
implement the I/I mitigation strategy.
10 Provide current community SSTS ordinances or description of community’s SSTS
management program compliant with current Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Rules
Chapters 7080-7083.
Requirements for Areas Served by Private Communal Treatment Systems
19 Table that details adopted community forecasts served by each private communal
system:
19.1 10-year increments to 2050
• Households
• Employment
20 Describe the management program for private communal treatment systems.
21 Copies of the associated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or
State Disposal System (SDS) permits.
22 Map or maps showing the following information:
22.1 Locations of private communal treatment systems including treatment facilities and
subsurface systems
22.2 Current and projected service areas for private communal treatment systems.
23 Conditions under which additional private communal treatment systems would be
allowed:
• Allowable land uses and residential densities.
• Installation requirements.
• Management requirements.
• Local government responsibilities.
16 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Requirements for Areas Served by Subsurface Sewage Treatment
Systems (SSTS)
24 Indicate in the comprehensive sewer plan the number of individual SSTSs in operation
serving residences and businesses in the community.
25 Map identifying location of individual SSTSs. Location of known nonconforming systems
or known problems should be identified. A list of addresses for SSTSs is acceptable
where mapping is unavailable.
26 Describe the conditions under which new individual SSTSs would be allowed.
27 Provide description of community’s SSTS management program compliant with current
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Rules Chapters 7080-7083.
28 Provide current community SSTS ordinance.
17 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Water Supply Pg #
Source Water Protection
1 Because surface water and/or groundwater Drinking Water Supply Management Areas
(DWSMAs) overlap your community, describe risks to water quality from development and
redevelopment through 2050, focusing on potential contaminants in those areas.
• Include a table of likely water supply quality risks by land use types, noting changes over
time, especially in highly vulnerable surface water and groundwater DWSMAs.
2 Include water resource management goals and policies to protect the quality of water
supply sources, especially in any highly vulnerable DWSMAs.
3 Include water resource strategies to implement source water protection goals and policies.
3.1 Describe any fiscal devices or official controls and a timeline for actions.
3.2 Describe planned collaboration with neighbors, watersheds, and agencies to
prevent contamination, especially in highly vulnerable DWSMAs.
4 Attach and respond to comments from neighbors whose DWSMAs extend into your
community as part of your comprehensive plan update submittal, especially regarding
shared water supply concerns and opportunities for collaboration.
Privately-owned wells and non-municipal water supply systems
5 Attach and respond to comments as part of your comprehensive plan update submittal,
especially regarding opportunities to safeguard water supplied by privately-owned wells
and non-municipal water supply systems.
Municipal community public water supply systems
9 Because your community is served by a municipal community public water supply system,
describe where and how municipal water supply is available to support forecasted growth
including new development and redevelopment consistent with the proposed staging plan.
This must be consistent with the volume of anticipated water demand identified in the
supplying community’s local water supply plan.
• Describe current and planned municipal water supply service areas.
• Include a map (optional)
10 Include goals and policies for providing municipal community public water supply service
through 2050.
11 Include strategies to implement goals and policies for providing water supply service.
• Describe any fiscal devices or official controls and a timeline for actions, to address
items not included in your local water supply plan.
12 Include the DNR-approved local water supply plan and approval letter for the municipal
community public water supply system(s) providing water to your community. To be
18 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
consistent with regional policies, the local water supply plan must:
12.1 Include water demand forecasts for all served communities, consistent with the Met
Council forecasts for 2030, 2040 and 2050.
12.2 Include the design capacity, current or typical operating capacity, limitations for
existing water supply infrastructure, and status of all water sources.
12.3 Include the difference between projected demand and existing capacity for 2030,
2040 and 2050.
12.4 Include implementation strategies to meet forecasted water demand that exceeds
existing capacity, including but not limited to water conservation and efficiency.
• Include or reference any adopted and planned local controls.
12.5 Describe implementation strategies to support emergency preparedness for
ensuring water supply.
• Include or reference any adopted and planned local controls.
12.6 Describe proposed construction of any planned new water supply infrastructure for
2030, 2040 and 2050.
13 Include in an appendix copies of any water service agreements with neighboring
communities or utilities, or a summary of the agreement. It should confirm the Met Council’
s understanding that one community or utility will provide the other with an agreed-upon
amount of water at certain locations through a set time period.
14 Attach and respond to comments from neighbors and affected jurisdictions as part of your
comprehensive plan update submittal, especially regarding how planned water supply
service aligns with neighboring plans.
15 Because your community has a water appropriation permit for water supply sources,
describe anticipated changes to water appropriation needs, especially from growth,
development or redevelopment, to inform proposed staging and water plans through 2050.
16 Include water management goals and policies to address potential impacts of changing
water appropriation needs.
17 Include strategies to implement these water appropriation-related goals and policies.
• Describe any fiscal devices or official controls and a timeline for actions, to address
items not included in your local water supply plan.
22 To support emergency preparedness and to ensure that the DNR-approved local water
supply plan is consistent with regional policies, it must:
22.1 Include information about the source, capacity and limitation of the emergency
water provided.
22.2 Include in an appendix copies of emergency water service agreements with
neighboring communities or utilities, or a summary of these agreements. It should
confirm the Met Council’s understanding that one community will provide the other
19 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
community with an agreed upon volume of drinking water at certain locations under
certain emergency conditions.
23 Attach and respond to comments from neighbors with emergency water supply
agreements as part of your comprehensive plan update submittal, especially regarding
any impacts of your plan on their water supply system.
20 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Surface Water Pg #
Surface Water
1 An executive summary that summarizes the highlights of the local water plan.
2 A summary of the appropriate water resource management-related agreements that have
Local been entered into by the local community.
3 A description of the existing and proposed physical environment and land use. Data may
be incorporated by reference for other required elements of this section as allowed by the
WMO. The community should be aware that not all WMO plans will contain the level of
detail needed for the community and, in those instances, the community will need to
provide additional information. In addition, the following must be defined in the plan:
3.1 Drainage areas
3.2 Volumes, rates, and paths of stormwater runoff (Runoff rates are recommended for a
24-hour precipitation event with a return frequency of 1 or 2 years. Communities with
known flooding issues may want to require rate control for storms with other return
frequencies such as 10, 25 or 100-year events.)
3.3 An assessment of existing or potential water resource-related problems. At a
minimum, the plan should include: A prioritized assessment of the problems related
to water quality and quantity in the community.
4 A local implementation program/plan that includes prioritized nonstructural, programmatic
and structural solutions to priority problems identified as part of the assessment completed
for number 3.3, above. Local official controls must be enacted within six months of the
approval of the local water plan. The program/plan must:
4.1 Include areas and elevations for stormwater storage adequate to meet performance
standards or official controls established in the WMO plan(s)
4.2 Define water quality protection methods adequate to meet performance standards or
official controls. At a minimum, the plan should include:
• Information on the types of best management practices to be used to improve
stormwater quality and quantity. (A five-year establishment period is recommended
for native plantings and bioengineering practices).
• The maintenance schedule for the best management practices. (The maintenance
schedule in plans submitted by regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(MSA) communities must be consistent with BMP inspection and maintenance
requirements of the MS4 Permit)
4.3 Clearly define the responsibilities of the community from that of the WMO(s) for
carrying out the implementation components
4.4 Describe official controls and any changes to official controls. At a minimum, the plan
should include:
21 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
• An erosion and sediment control ordinance consistent with NPDES Construction
Stormwater permit requirements and other applicable state requirements
• Identify ways to control runoff rates so that land-altering activities do not increase
peak stormwater flow from the site for a 24-hour precipitation event with a return
frequency of 1 or 2 years. Communities with known flooding issues may want to
require rate control for storms with other return frequencies (10-year, 25-year or 100-
year)
4.5 Include a table that briefly describes each component of the implementation program
and clearly details the schedule, estimated cost, and funding sources for each
component including annual budget totals
4.6 Include a table for a capital improvement program that sets forth by year, details of
each contemplated capital improvement that includes the schedule, estimated cost,
and funding source
4.7 A section titled “Amendments to Plan” that establishes the process by which
amendments may be made.
22 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Parks Pg #
Regional Parks and Trails
1 Describe, map, and label the Regional Parks and Trails System facilities that are located
in your community. These include any regional parks, park reserves, special features, or
regional trails that are open to the public, planned, or in a search status (i.e., regional park
search areas, special feature search areas, regional trail search corridors).
2 If no portion of the Regional Parks and Trails System falls within your community, state
that fact in your comprehensive plan.
3 Describe, map, and label the federal and state recreational lands within your community,
as shown on your System Statement.
4 Depict existing regional parkland (e.g., regional parks, park reserves, special features,
and regional trail corridor land) with a land use of “Park” (or your community’s equivalent)
on your Existing Land Use map.
5 Acknowledge the Council-approved long-range plan boundaries of regional parkland (e.g.,
regional parks, park reserves, special features, and regional trail corridor land) by guiding
the properties with a land use of “Park” (or your community’s equivalent) on your Future
Land Use map.
Local Parks and Trails
6 Describe and map your existing and proposed local parks, trails, and recreation facilities.
7 Include a capital improvement program for parks and open space facilities as part of your
implementation program.
23 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Climate Pg #
Climate Mitigation
1 Include an acknowledgement of statewide targets for GHG reductions: 50% GHG
reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050 from a 2005 baseline.
2 Include a greenhouse gas emissions inventory that includes transportation, energy use,
solid waste, and livestock and agriculture (where applicable)
3 Include at least one strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for each of the above
sectors
4 Detail the emissions impact of reduction strategies through 2050 for the above sectors
using the Met Council Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Tool or an equivalent
modeling tool.
Climate Adaptation
5 Identify social, built, and natural systems vulnerabilities to the following climate hazards:
Extreme Heat and Localized Flooding
6 Include strategies to address social, built, and natural systems vulnerabilities for the
following climate hazards: Extreme Heat and Localized Flooding
7 Include strategies that support local food systems to increase access to healthy food, food
security, and community resilience
24 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Natural Systems Pg #
Natural Systems Requirements
1 Identify existing natural systems in your community by mapping terrestrial areas and water
bodies.
2 Identify and map protected areas using the provided commonly protected areas data.
3 Identify and map significant and sensitive terrestrial and water areas in your community.
4 Identify areas within your community that present opportunities for protection or
improvement. Use the Met Council mapping tool to guide your analysis, focusing on the
provided opportunity areas data.
• Based on this analysis, map or list the areas your community considers priorities for
protection or improvement—including any areas the tool may have overlooked.
5 List specific protection and improvement goals, and issues the goals are intended to
address for your community’s terrestrial systems.
• Describe how your terrestrial systems goals and issues relate to the planned water
systems outcomes that are identified in your locally adopted surface water management,
watershed, wellhead protection, and local water supply plans.
6 Identify and list protection and improvement strategies to help achieve your community’s
overall natural systems goals for terrestrial and water systems.
7 List any planned or proposed protection or improvement initiatives for natural systems in
your community in the next 10 years.
25 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050
Implementation Pg #
Implementation Actions
1 Identify changes to local ordinances including the Zoning Code that will be needed to align
with the 2050 plan, including those necessitated by the implementation section of the local
surface water management plan and housing plan.
1.1 Define a timeline as to when actions will be taken to implement each required
element of your comprehensive plan.
1.2 Include a schedule for the preparation, adoption, and administration of needed
changes to official controls.
1.3 Describe all public programs, fiscal devices, and other actions your community will
use to implement your plan.
1.4 Include your local zoning map and zoning category descriptions. Identify what
changes are needed to ensure zoning is not in conflict with your new land use plan
and consistent with regional system plans and policies.
Capital Improvement Plan
2 Include a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for transportation, sewers, parks, water supply,
and open space facilities. Specify the timing and sequence of major local public
investments.
• Describe all relevant official controls related to zoning, subdivision, water supply, and
private sewer systems.
• The CIP must align with development staging identified in other parts of your plan and
include budgets and expenditure schedules.
Update Local Controls
3 Review and update official controls within 9 months of adopting your 2050 plan. Official
controls must not conflict with the updated plan. Copies of all revised official controls must
be provided.
26 | Metropolitan Council Checklist of Minimum Requirements 2050