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public decisions and achieve the results Minnesotans expect: <br />1) Stewardship: Use land and natural resources wisely to sustain them for the future. <br />2) Efficiency: Make more efficient, integrated public investments intransportation, housing, schools, <br />utilities, information infrastructure, and other public services. <br />3) Choice: Give communities smart growth options and choices. <br />4) Accountability: Reinforce responsibility and accountability for development decisions. <br />Under the Stewardship principle, the Governor's initiative states that "Minnesota will protect the <br />environment and conserve agricultural land, open space and other lands that support sustainable <br />outdoor recreation, tourism, and natural- resource -based industries. This will allow for growth that <br />is sustainable for the long - term." These four principles will also guide the DNR in implementing <br />its smart growth initiative. <br />DNR's Relationship With Local Units of Government <br />DNR hA s a legitimate role in advocating the conservation and protection of natural resources for the <br />benefit of all Minnesotans, at the local level as well as at regional and statewide levels. DNR <br />recognizes, however, that state statutes clearly provide local government with the authority and <br />responsibility for local land use planning. DNR needs to respect the fact that local government <br />officials have complex decisions to make with limited information and resources to satisfy multiple <br />competing interests. Most Local land use decision makers (e.g., elected officials, zoning board <br />members) have good intentions and are trying to make the best decisions for their communities, often <br />with little or no pay. DNR needs to maintain and improve its complex relationship with local units <br />of government by focusing more effort on providing positive incentives and timely, reliable natural <br />resource information to help local officials make these complex decisions, and then respect the <br />decisions once they are made. <br />Strategies for Growing Smart in Minnesota <br />To accomplish Minnesota's smart growth goals, the Ventura administration has identified three <br />major strategic directions: <br />1) Engage citizens in planning and decision - making; <br />2) Position and align state government for smart growth; and <br />3) Provide communities with effective tools for smart growth. <br />2 <br />