Minnesota Session Laws - 1993, Regular Session

  
    Laws of Minnesota 1993 

                        CHAPTER 141-H.F.No. 622 
           An act relating to metropolitan government; providing 
          long-term protection of agricultural land in the 
          metropolitan area; amending Minnesota Statutes 1992, 
          sections 473H.11; and 473H.12. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 473H.11, is 
amended to read: 
    473H.11 [LIMITATION ON CERTAIN PUBLIC PROJECTS.] 
    Notwithstanding chapter 429, construction projects for 
public sanitary sewer systems and public water systems 
benefiting land or buildings in agricultural preserves shall be 
prohibited.  New connections between land or buildings in 
agricultural preserves and sanitary sewers or water systems 
shall be prohibited.  Public sanitary sewer or systems, public 
storm water sewer systems, public water systems, public roads, 
and other public improvements built on, adjacent to, or in the 
vicinity of agricultural preserves after the effective date of 
this act are deemed of no benefit to the land and buildings in 
agricultural preserves.  
    For purposes of this section, "public storm water sewer 
systems" means any wholly or partially piped system which is 
owned, operated, and maintained by the authority, that is 
designed to carry storm water runoff, surface water, or other 
drainage primarily for the benefit of land which is not in 
agricultural preserves. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 473H.12, is 
amended to read: 
    473H.12 [PROTECTION FOR NORMAL FARM PRACTICES.] 
    Local governments and counties shall be prohibited from 
enacting or enforcing ordinances or regulations within an 
agricultural preserve which would, as adopted or applied, 
unreasonably restrict or regulate normal farm structures or farm 
practices in contravention of the purpose of sections 473H.02 to 
473H.17 unless the restriction or regulation bears a direct 
relationship to an immediate and substantial threat to the 
public health and safety.  This section shall apply to the 
operation of farm vehicles and machinery in the planting, 
maintenance and harvesting of crops and in the care and feeding 
of farm animals, the type of farming, and the design of farm 
structures, exclusive of residences. 
    Sec. 3.  [APPLICATION.] 
    This act applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, 
Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 
    Presented to the governor May 11, 1993 
    Signed by the governor May 13, 1993, 2:50 p.m.