24-020 Resolution Opposing State Preemption of Local Zoning Authority and State Mandated Zoning StandardsCITY OF SHOREWOOD
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 24-020
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING STATE PREEMPTION OF LOCAL ZONING AUTHORITY AND STATE
MANDATED ZONING STANDARDS
WHEREAS, a series of legislative bills, including HF 4009, HF 4010, HF 3168, HF 2235, SF 3964, SF
3303, SF 3080 and SF 3980, among others and hereinafter referred to as "the Bills", proposes to
preempt local zoning authority to direct the development of housing by mandating broad and blunt
State zoning standards for all cities in the metropolitan area, including Shorewood, and many cities
in greater Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the Bills remove resident participation in the democratic process by imposing
administrative approval of significant subdivision and development applications and thereby
eliminating the ability of residents to petition their local or any elected officials in a public forum
regarding the impacts of an application on them or their community; and
WHEREAS, land development has significant and wide-ranging implications on the local and
regional environment, transportation facilities, public and private utilities, schools, and public
safety operations, among many other systems; and
WHEREAS, the development standards mandated by the Bills are unreasonable, impractical, and
fail to comprehensively consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its
mandates; and
WHEREAS, Shorewood supports providing a range of housing options'for people of all incomes and
at all stages of life, as evidenced by zoning regulation amendments for elderly housing, changes to
its PUD ordinance supporting elderly housing, the allowance of Accessory Dwelling Units on any
residential parcel by conditional use permit, and considering changes to its zoning regulations and
map to facilitate high -density residential uses in alignment with its comprehensive land use plan;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Shorewood recognizes that local control and public input are critical
democratic attributes that should not be infringed upon; and
WHEREAS, zoning decisions are hyper -local and cities engage their residents to develop unique
and innovative development and infrastructure that reflect local attributes, values, conditions, and
goals, as well as comprehensively consider and plan for infrastructure investments to support
planned and managed development; and
WHEREAS, Shorewood - although a metropolitan area city - exemplifies a community where
development and infrastructure patterns limit the ability to achieve the mandates set for in the Bill,
notably municipal water serves only half the community, many roads are built to rural standards
with no shoulders, curbs, sidewalks, transit options or adequate width for on -street parking; and
WHEREAS, the Shorewood City Council finds that the broad and blunt statutory requirements in
the Bill fail to consider or address such development and public improvement patterns, and if
imposed, will result in unintended and negative outcomes for residents; and
WHEREAS, the Shorewood City Council finds that no analysis has been conducted to understand
how the Bills' mandates will impact the environment, transportation facilities, public and private
utilities, schools, local government finances, and public safety operations; and
WHEREAS, the Shorewood City Council finds the Bills infringe on the democratic rights of residents
to participate in decisions that directly impact their properties, neighborhood, and quality of life;
and
WHEREAS, the Shorewood City Council finds the Bills infringe upon resident input and engagement
which is crucial to the democratic process, and where resident access to government happens
most frequently and effectively at the local level; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SHOREWOOD CITY COUNCIL, that the City of
Shorewood opposes the Bills, any future versions of the Bills, and any bills which preempt a local
unit of government's decision -making authority, eliminates resident participation in the democratic
process, and imposes State mandated zoning standards.
Adopted by the City Council of Shorewood, Minnesota, this 11th day of March 2024.
r
J nife Labadie, Mayor
Ma4
Sandie Thone, City Clerk