Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) "Local unit of government" means a county, statutory or home rule charter city, town, or watershed district.

(b) "Sustainable development" means development that maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Subd. 2. Planning guide. The Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning must develop and publish a planning guide for local units of government to plan for sustainable development, based on the principles of sustainable development adopted by the Environmental Quality Board with advice of the Governor's Round Table on Sustainable Development. The office must make the planning guide available to local units of government within the state.

Subd. 3. Model ordinance. The Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning, in consultation with appropriate and affected parties, must prepare a model ordinance to guide sustainable development.

Subd. 4. Specificity and distribution. The model ordinance must specify the technical and administrative procedures to guide sustainable development. When adopted by a local unit of government, the model ordinance is the minimum regulation to guide sustainable development that may be adopted. Upon completion, the Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning must notify local units of government that the model ordinance is available, and must distribute it to interested local units.

Subd. 5. Periodic review. At least once every five years, the planning office must review the model ordinance and its use with local units of government to ensure its continued applicability and relevance.

History: 1996 c 454 s 1