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Haas Zoning Amendment <br />Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />property owners that opt into the program receive property tax credits and protection for normal <br />agricultural practices. The program also provides tax relief for agricultural and conservation land <br />by requiring the City Assessor to base any assessment on the land’s agricultural value. <br /> <br />In order to offer the benefits of agricultural preserves to property owners, a county must have an <br />approved agricultural land preservation plan. An agricultural land preservation plan is a part of a <br />comprehensive land use plan that designates land for long-term agricultural use, while providing <br />for expected growth around urbanized areas. Hugo has zoning and subdivision provisions <br />outlined in the City Code that restricts properties zoned Long Term Agricultural to agricultural <br />use and require low residential densities at one dwelling unit per 40 acres. In order to be <br />considered for the MN Agricultural Land Preservation Program, the property must be zoned <br />Long Term Agricultural. <br /> <br />The applicant would like to enter into the Agricultural Land Preservation Program and therefore <br />is requesting to be rezoned from Agricultural to Long Term Agricultural. <br /> <br />4. LEVEL OF DISCRETION IN DECISION MAKING: <br /> <br />The City has discretion in approving or denying rezoning applications, based on whether or not <br />the proposal meets the standards outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance <br />requirements. If the City finds that all the applicable standards are met, the rezoning application <br />must be approved. Alternatively, if the City finds that any of the applicable standards are not <br />met, the application may be denied. <br /> <br />5. CONTEXT: <br /> <br />A. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning <br /> <br />The subject property is zoned Term Agriculture (AG) and the land use is identified as <br />Agricultural. The properties to the north, west, and east are zoned Agricultural (AG). All <br />surrounding properties are identified as Agricultural in the 2040 Land Use Plan. <br /> <br />B. Natural Characteristics of Site <br /> <br />The 79.41 acre site has a single family home and one accessory structure located on it. The rest <br />of the property is a mix of wetland and natural vegetation. <br /> <br />6. ANALYSIS: <br /> <br />Staff has analyzed this rezoning based on the four criteria in the City ordinance under Section <br />90-40, Zoning Amendments: <br /> <br />1. The requested amendment is in compliance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br />The City’s Comprehensive Plan identifies the subject property as agricultural. The <br />requested amendment would not change the land use of the property. The property is