Minnesota Session Laws - 2005, Regular Session

                             CHAPTER 43-S.F.No. 467 
                  An act relating to Washington County; providing 
                  conditions for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp on Big 
                  Marine Lake; providing a property tax exemption for 
                  certain recreational property; amending Minnesota 
                  Statutes 2004, section 272.02, by adding a subdivision.
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 272.02, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 81.  [CERTAIN RECREATIONAL PROPERTY FOR DISABLED 
        VETERANS.] Real and personal property is exempt if it is located 
        in a county in the metropolitan area with a population of less 
        than 500,000 according to the 2000 federal census, and owned or 
        leased and operated by a nonprofit organization, and primarily 
        used to provide recreational opportunities for disabled veterans 
        and their families. 
           [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective for taxes 
        levied in 2005, payable in 2006, and thereafter. 
           Sec. 2.  [WASHINGTON COUNTY; DISABLED VETERANS REST CAMP.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] For the purposes of this 
        section, the "camp" means the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp on Big 
        Marine Lake. 
           Subd. 2.  [LIMITATION ON CONDEMNATION.] Washington County 
        may not, by eminent domain pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, 
        chapter 117, or other law, acquire property included in the camp.
           Subd. 3.  [ZONING CONTROLS.] The camp is a legal conforming 
        use for purposes of zoning controls.  Improvements to the 
        property shall be allowed under the terms of a planned unit 
        development permit. 
           Subd. 4.  [REGIONAL RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE SYSTEM 
        EXCLUSION.] The camp is excluded from the regional recreational 
        open space system, established under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
        473.  
           Subd. 5.  [INGRESS AND EGRESS CONTROLS.] Washington County 
        may not take any action to encumber or restrict ingress or 
        egress to the camp below levels permissible on January 1, 2005.  
           Subd. 6.  [CAMP REQUIREMENTS.] The camp must continue to 
        develop and promote camp features and amenities for veterans who 
        are disabled or have limited physical capabilities.  The camp, 
        by terms of separate agreements, must offer Washington County 
        the right of first refusal to purchase the rest camp property if 
        a sale is ever contemplated and provide an easement across the 
        main Veterans Rest Camp Road in order to provide a connection of 
        the north and south areas of the park.  The camp shall modify 
        its operating policies and procedures to include provisions for 
        the regular rotation of the use of campsites, cabins, and 
        parking spots for travel trailers, limiting the time that any 
        one veteran can use the cabin and campsites, especially when 
        there is a waiting list of veterans with service-connected 
        disabilities.  
           [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section takes effect the day after 
        the governing body of Washington County complies with Minnesota 
        Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3. 
           Subdivision 4 relates to the system maintained in the 
        counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and 
        Washington under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473. 
           Presented to the governor May 6, 2005 
           Signed by the governor May 10, 2005, 11:45 a.m.