A plan to update a 30-year-old executive order regarding the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area is drawing opposition from riverfront owners who say the modifications could infringe upon their property rights and result in costly fees.
HF424, sponsored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), would direct the Department of Natural Resources commissioner to adopt new rules for the area, which encompasses 25 Twin Cities metropolitan area communities.
The House Environment Policy and Oversight Committee approved the bill March 24 and referred it to the House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. A companion, SF671, sponsored by Sen. Katie Sieben (DFL-Newport), awaits action by the Senate Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division.
Hansen said his bill is an opportunity to apply current science and technology, such as mapping data, to provide best management practices for the area.
One of the new rules would require cities and townships to notify the DNR in advance of public hearings for variances, conditional use permits and zoning amendments. Cities and townships would pay a fee to the DNR for reviewing variance requests and could then pass those fees on to the applicants.
Ken Ketter operates a canoe and kayak tour business along the Mississippi River. He does not favor more government restrictions and said riverfront homeowners make better stewards than legislators.
Local governments would retain authority over variance requests, but the DNR could take them or the applicant to court to halt action, said Kent Lokkesmoe, a DNR waters supervisor. To date, that hasn’t happened within the corridor, he added.
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