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1 <br />ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD <br />AGENDA ITEM 7B <br /> <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Andy Nelson, Environmental Coordinator <br />Claire Knopf, Community Development Intern <br /> <br /> <br />MEETING DATE: August 30, 2023 <br /> <br />REQUEST: Amendment to Zoning Ordinance Regarding Managed Natural <br />Landscapes <br /> <br />APPLICANT: City of Lino Lakes <br /> <br />OWNER: N/A <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br /> <br />Effective July 1, 2023, Minnesota Statutes, section 412.925, mandates that cities allow for <br />managed natural and native landscaping on all parcels. In response, the City is amending its local <br />code and ordinances to conform with the statute. The statute states the following: <br /> <br />Minn. Stat. § 412.925 – NATIVE LANDSCAPES <br />(a) A statutory city or home rule charter city shall allow an owner, authorized agent, <br />or authorized occupant of any privately owned lands or premises to install and maintain a <br />managed natural landscape. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the <br />meanings given: <br />(1) "managed natural landscape" means a planned, intentional, and <br />maintained planting of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, <br />shrubs, or trees, including but not limited to rain gardens, meadow vegetation, and <br />ornamental plants. Managed natural landscapes does not include turf-grass lawns <br />left unattended for the purpose of returning to a natural state; <br />(2) "meadow vegetation" means grasses and flowering broad-leaf plants <br />that are native to, or adapted to, the state of Minnesota, and that are commonly <br />found in meadow and prairie plant communities, not including noxious weeds. <br />"Noxious weed" has the meaning given in section 18.77, subdivision 8; <br />(3) "ornamental plants" means grasses, perennials, annuals, and <br />groundcovers purposely planted for aesthetic reasons;