2004 Minnesota Statutes

     473.155 Aviation planning. 

    Subdivision 1.    Assessment.  By February 15 of each 
 year, the council shall prepare a long-range assessment of air 
 transportation trends and factors that may affect major airport 
 development in the metropolitan area for a prospective 30-year 
 period.  The council shall involve the airports commission in 
 preparing the assessment and shall take into consideration the 
 airport development and operations plans and activities of the 
 commission. 

    Subd. 2.    Aviation plan.  By February 1, 1990, the 
 council shall amend the aviation chapter of the Metropolitan 
 Development Guide to incorporate policies and strategies that 
 will ensure a comprehensive, coordinated, continuing, thorough, 
 and timely investigation and evaluation of alternatives for 
 major airport development in the metropolitan area for a 
 prospective 30-year period.  The alternatives to be examined 
 must include both the airport improvements and enhancements of 
 capacity that may be necessary at the existing airport and the 
 location and development of a new airport. 

    Subd. 3.    Search area.  By January 1, 1992, the 
 council, in consultation with the airports commission, shall 
 designate a search area for a major new airport. 

    Subd. 4.    Legislative reports.  (a) Until the 
 activities required by sections 473.616, subdivision 3, and 
 473.618 are completed, the council shall report to the 
 legislature by February 15 of each year on the results of the 
 aviation planning activities of the council under this section.  
 The report must include a summary of expenditures and sources of 
 funding for the activities. 

    (b) By February 1, 1990, the council shall report to the 
 legislature recommending methods and legislative actions that 
 would be necessary to protect a new airport search area from 
 conflicting development, to protect and control development on 
 land at and around a site for a major new airport, and to 
 inhibit land speculation and reduce incentives for land 
 speculation in the airport and all surrounding areas. 

    (c) By March 1, 1990, after consulting with the airports 
 commission, the federal aviation administration, industry 
 representatives, and other persons, the council shall report to 
 the legislature on assumptions and methods that will be used by 
 the council to forecast demand related to the need for major 
 airport facilities in the metropolitan area for a prospective 
 30-year period. 

    (d) By March 1, 1990, the council shall report to the 
 legislature analyzing and making recommendations on long-range 
 aviation goals for the major airport facility in the 
 metropolitan area for a prospective 30-year period.  The report 
 must address goals for safety, environmental impact, and 
 service, including ground access and service levels to other 
 states and countries and to nonmetropolitan areas of the state.  
 In preparing the report, the council shall consider regional 
 growth patterns, economic development, economic impact, regional 
 and statewide investment, and ground transportation. 

    (e) By December 1, 1990, the council shall report to the 
 legislature on the general availability of suitable land for a 
 new airport in and in the area surrounding the metropolitan area.

    (f) By January 1, 1993, the council shall report to the 
 legislature on policies for the reuse of the existing major 
 airport site should a new major airport be developed. 

    Subd. 5.    Zoning of real property.  The council shall 
 not require a local government unit to continue a current use or 
 to adopt a comprehensive plan designation or any change in 
 zoning, zoning variance, or conditional use in order to ensure 
 or preserve the availability of land for a new major airport. 

    HIST: 1989 c 279 s 1; 1996 c 464 art 3 s 1