Metropolitan Significance

 

Large development projects can greatly affect neighboring communities, cause excessive demands on regional systems such as sewers, and interfere with other projects that receive public funding. Where there is this potential, state law and supporting rules provide for the Council to carry out a “metropolitan significance review.”

The purpose of the review is to make sure all of the effects are considered before it’s too late to effectively deal with them and more generally to promote the orderly development of the metropolitan area. The metro significance review is an opportunity to bring the various parties together to identify and, if possible, resolve differences, and to coordinate major development projects with regional plans and systems. 

Legal Basis

  • MN Stat. 473.173 - provides for Metro Council review
  • MN Rules Chapter 5800 - the standards, guidelines, procedures

Purpose

Assure full consideration of a project; orderly and economic development; arrive at consensus.

The 3 Criteria to Find Metropolitan Significance

  • proposed project may impact to a regional system
  • threaten a publicly-funded facility
  • have substantial impact on another city

Review Requests can be initiated by

  •  the Council
  •  regional/state agencies
  •  resolution from affected unit of government
  •  public (petition of  5,000+ signatures or 50% of affected government’s unit last election)

Review Process 

Review not intended to stop a project.  After a request is made:

  • Chair makes preliminary finding (10 days): legitimate, meets the criteria/isn’t exempt project*
  • Chair issues Notice of Commencement - then 90 days  to complete review, or extension
  • Chair appoints “Review Committee” of 3-7 people with at least 1 CM and 1 LUAC member

Official Review

  • Criteria to find Metro Significance assessed
  • Chair can direct formal mediation to resolve issues, or/if no resolution of issues
    • Hearing held
    • Review Committee Report w/ recommendations to Met Council
    • Final determination made

History
 

16 requests, 4 were reviewed for Metropolitan Significance:

  • Renaissance Festival
  • Mall of America
  • Timberwolves/NBA arena
  • Black Dog Amphitheatre (most recent in 2000).

Major Metro projects that have not had Metro Sig review:

  • Metro Dome
  • Met Stadium
  • Twins Stadium
  • U of M Football Stadium
  • Canterbury Race Track
  • Harness Race Track Medtronic Campus
  • Hiawatha and Central Corridor Light Rail Lines
  • American Metal Recycling Plant (Mississippi Riverfront)

*Exempt projects:

  • project is consistent with approved Comp Plan,
  • project previously approved by the Met Council,
  • project which must be immediately undertaken to prevent or mitigate an emergency,
  • 4) project consisting of administrative or maintenance activity or negligible improvement.

See Metropolitan Significance Overview with Criteria for Determining Metropolitan Significance –5800.0040 and List of Metropolitan Significance Reviews/Requests (pdf)