HRDC has helped a number of local governments complete orderly annexation and joint service delivery agreements, land use plans, comprehensive plans, and land management regulations over the past several years.  Some recent projects include:

Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning

The City of Bemidji, Bemidji Township, and Northern Township have been working together for the past three years to fundamentally change the way each entity does business when it comes to land use planning in the community.  Initially, the three jurisdictions adopted a Joint Powers Agreement and an orderly annexation and joint service delivery agreement for the area which decoupled the issues of annexation and service extensions. The Joint Powers Agreement can be viewed here and the orderly annexation can be viewed here. The orderly annexation agreement specified areas to be annexed into the City of Bemidji over a fifteen year period, along with a couple of areas to be unincorporated.  A map of the orderly annexation areas can be viewed here.

In March of 2007 the Joint Planning Board adopted a Land Use Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations and Shoreland Management Regulations for the entire 72 square mile jurisdiction.

The Greater Bemidji Area Land Use Plan can be viewed here.

The Greater Bemidji Area Zoning Ordinance can be viewed here.

The Joint Planning Commission held its first formal meeting on April 26 initiating a new era in local land use planning.  With the administration of the ordinance now underway, the real test lies ahead as the three jurisdictions respond collaboratively to the most pressing community planning issues.  HRDC staffed both phases of this innovative project.

Nancy Carroll Mayor of Park Rapids “Park Rapids and Henrietta Township have worked hard over the past couple of years to develop land use policies that will work to the long term benefit of the entire community.”

Park Rapids Comprehensive Plan Addendum and Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The City of Park Rapids and Henrietta Township developed an orderly annexation and joint service delivery agreement.  The orderly annexation can be viewed here.  Several areas within Henrietta Township will be annexed into the City of Park Rapids over a ten year period, while municipal services may be extended anywhere within that area immediately under the same terms as it were within corporate boundaries.  The City and Township worked hard over the past few months developing an addendum to the City of Park Rapids Comprehensive Plan to address land use issues in the annexation area.  The addendum can be viewed here.  The Committee also completed recommendations on amendments to the Park Rapids Zoning Ordinance which have subsequently been approved by the Henrietta Township Board and Park Rapids City Council.  The amended regulations became effective this spring after adoption and required legal publication.  HRDC staff helped the two jurisdictions create the orderly annexation agreement and the revised Plan and Ordinance.

Lake of the Woods County Shoreland Flexibility

Resort owners in Lake of the Woods County who have attempted to make improvements to their properties have often been stymied in their efforts by the County Shoreland Management regulations.  Standards which were originally adopted to bring the County into compliance with State Rules did not allow many resort owners to make improvements needed in order to keep their businesses financially viable.

Lake of the Woods County contracted with the HRDC to amend its Zoning Ordinance and obtain approval for the changes from DNR.  The request for flexibility has been approved and Lake of the Woods County adopted the ordinance amendments.