Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor Communities Survey: Final Report

The Mississippi River Critical Area corridor was designated approximately 30 years ago and extends approximately 72 miles, encompassing portions of some 30 governmental subdivisions. At the direction of the Minnesota State Legislature, the MNDNR must report on the status of plans and ordinances, discuss variances to the ordinances, and include options and recommendations for improving Critical Area management, especially for protecting the river corridor's visual and natural amenities. To obtain information on variances, and plan and ordinance status, the DNR conducted a survey of local government units within the Critical Area corridor to obtain first-hand infonnation on the status of Critical Area Plans and Ordinances, community perspectives on the program, and ascertain the number and types of variances sought and issued in each community. The survey was conducted in August and September of 2007. The survey consisted of an explanatory cover letter, a Questionnaire addressing the status of Critical Area plans and ordinances and community perspectives on the program, and a Variance Data Table for communities to record the number and types of variances sought and denied or granted in each community for each year since ordinance adoption. Communities were also asked to indicate whether they would be interested in participating in a stakeholder group to develop ideas and recommendations for changing the program. The DNR contacted each community to determine the appropriate contact person for survey completion. After the survey was mailed, the DNR contacted each community at least once by phone or e-mail to insure the survey was received, and to encourage the community to complete and return it. The DNR received responses from twenty-two communities. Responses for each community are discussed in this report using the original statements ( edited for readability) made by the respondents to the LGU Questionnaire. The discussion of variance activity consists of each community's listing of numbers, types, and disposition of variances by year in the Variance Data Table that was also sent to each community. Copies of each community's original responses to the survey can be found following this report.