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{ / • More thoughts the new law,Minnesota cities now have the city notifies the applicant within 10 60 days to make three kinds of deci- business days after receiving the on the new 60- sions:zoning,septic system and MUSA application, and only if the rejection is line decisions. (The MUSA line is the based on the applicant's failure to day it metropolitan urban service area comply with pre-existing city require- boundary in the seven-county metro- merits.An applicant may waive the new politan area. Property within this area time limits. KAREN COLE is served by metropolitan sewage To comply with the new statute,cities treatment facilities.)Cities may extend must not only take action within the the 60-day period for an additional 60 time limit, they must also not the A quick review of the days if they give written notice of the applicant within the time limit. If a city basics extension and the reason for it before denies an application, it must give By now,most cities are aware that a the initial 60-day period expires. If the written reasons for its decision"at the new state statute adopted last year- proposer's application is incomplete, time it denies the request."It is likely Minn.Stat. § 15.99-sets a time limit the city may reject the application and sufficient if the city provides formal for certain land use decisions.Under restart the 60-day time clock but only if written notice after the meeting at { Five:.questions cities should consider; .: :. i Cities should ask themselves a the League research staff or from the. information needs.A written`applica number of key' to make author " ` : tion form or checklist thaf represents sure they can comply with Minn Scat:.:2. How broadly will the city : city policy is sufficient. ' § 15.99: :;. - interpret:thed-scope of the law? The city may wish to be expansive 1. Should the c tymodify its ';' The scope of Minn.Rat:§ 15.99 is in defining its information require- >? , procedures? .'.: - not completely clear.While it is,clear ments. It is always possible-for the ` # Cities should evaluate their that the taw applies to certain = city to waive a requirement not procedures so they will comply'with ; applications such as rezonings, needed for a particular project.The the new time limits. It maybe helpful variances,-and conditional use city may not, however, restart the to map out a typical timeline for the permits,there"is room for some time clock by imposing new require- processing of an.application so that disagreement.when it comes to some ments that may be appropriate for a processing of the application fits other approvals like preliminary plat particular application but which were F within the new deadlines. Modifica and comprehensive plan approvals.A not "previously adopted." ... ' f, tions may be necessary. For example, : city that wants to be conservative In defining information require- ' a city that presently requires two or should interpret the'law expansively ments,the`city should review applica- three hearings for rezonings may' ao apply to all of these approvals =- tions that been rece'ived,over, i want to consider eliminatin 'onelof until the L•e islature or the:courts g, g � perhaps,the last five years;,Were the hearings: 'y address these amb%guities there instances where additional { Requiring a.preappl{cat{on,meet : 3.'What information will be' information was needed oc.requested ing with staff as a'requirement for a ;reequired for each'kind of affected . by the city?The city may also wish to complete application is another application?. ?':_ :take into account the impact of _ procedural change.cities may w' to = Cities may restart,the time dock project location, scale and design on consider:Such a meeting gives c{t{es within 10 business`days of a written information needs. Forexample, it i the opportun_ ityto ensure that request if an appl{cationdoes not may be appropriate to require more applications are complete and to contain "all information required by - -"or different information for.°applica ' waive application requirements that law or by a previously adopted rule tions in particular'parts of the city may not be necessary fora particular ordinance or_policy." (Emphasis,,, that involve wetlands, lakeshore or proposal.- = added.)The city may always:request . more densely developed areas. In addition, cities should also put' additional,mformetion'from the Siirtilarly,'more information;may be _fir procedures in' lace'for monitorin a I{cant once the 10-da eriod has = needed for larger ro ects._ , P P 9 PP. - y P 9 P 1 the deadlines,.so that deadlines are passed if,'for example, newissuei: ,;The'citymay wish to"require a pre r not missed inadvertently.`A log ..:arise..Once the"10-day-period passes;• application meeting with the city's should be prepared that flags the key howeyer,`the city may not restart the .:staff as a prerequisite fora'corrtplete deadlines for each application, 'statutory time clock.Cities should,. application.This will enabl'e'the city =� including the.l0-day deadline for ;_ therefore, carefull y'specify in writing to work'with'the applicant to ensure specifying additional information and all information required for each .' that all needed information is the deadlinefor city approval or;`. '-kind of application.The city need not submitted.This pre-application denial.A sample log is available from enact an ordinance specifying its -..meeting also gives the city the