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Local Planning Handbook

This handbook and related resources are intended to guide and support local municipalities in developing and amending their comprehensive plans. Sections include: Overview | Background/Foundation | Land Use Plan | Transportation | Water Resources | Parks | Implementation

Note: All sections were reviewed, and some updated, in April 2008.  Review procedures were updated to reflect recent legislative changes, particularly review of the plan by adjacent and affected governmental units.  No changes were made to substantive plan content requirements.  Throughout the Handbook legislative references and links to planning resources were updated as well.

Cover and Table of Contents (5 pg.)

Section 1: Metropolitan Planning Overview (21 pg.)

• Metropolitan Land Planning Act
• Who submits a plan?
• Content overview
• When are plan updates or amendments reviewed?
• Steps for submitting a plan
• Metropolitan Council review criteria
• Metropolitan Council can require a plan modification
• Metropolitan Council review process
• After Council reviews plan
• Optional plan elements

 

Section 2: Background: The foundation of the comprehensive plan (7 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Policies and objectives
• Regional Planning Designation
• Forecasts for growth

Section 3: Land Use Plan (11 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Existing land use
• Future land use
• Stage development
• Housing
• Resource protection (solar access, historic preservation, aggregate, Critical Area/MNRR)

Section 4: Transportation (12 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Transportation Analysis Zones (TAZ)
• Highways and roads
• Bicycles and pedestrians
• Special traffic situations
• Transit
• Aviation

Section 5: Water Resources (22 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Wastewater
• Surface water
• Water supply

Section 6: Parks and Open Space (3 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Parks, open space and trails

Section 7: Implementation (4 pg.)
Plan requirements for:

• Official controls
• Capital improvement program (CIP)
• Review and update official controls
• Submit official controls and CIP