2006 Minnesota Statutes

473.641 NEW AIRPORT; PUBLIC HEARING.
    Subdivision 1. Considerations. In determining whether a new airport shall be acquired
or established or an existing airport expanded by the acquisition of an annexation thereto of
additional lands, the corporation shall, before taking any action thereon, hold a public hearing
in accordance with the procedure set forth in this act; and in reaching such determination, the
corporation shall take into consideration the objectives of the act as set forth in section 473.602;
and shall take into consideration the use or uses to be made of the new airport or the use or uses
to be made of the lands to be acquired and annexed to an existing airport, and shall take into
consideration the effect the acquisition or establishment of the new airport will have upon the
residents and properties in the area surrounding such new airport, or, in the case of the acquisition
and annexation of lands to an existing airport, the effect such acquisition and annexation will
have on residents and properties in the area surrounding such lands; and with respect to the new
airport to be acquired or established, the commission shall take into consideration, in addition to
the foregoing, the adequacy of present airport facilities in the area over which the corporation has
jurisdiction, the nature of the terrain at the site thereof and in the vicinity of such site, whether
there are safe areas available for expansion purposes, and whether the adjoining area is free from
obstructions based on a proper glide ratio; and to aid the commission in giving consideration to
such objectives and factors, and in reaching such determination, evidence may be offered and
shall be received as to such objectives and factors at the public hearing herein provided for.
    Subd. 2. No hearings required. Except as provided in subdivision 1, public hearings are
not required for alterations, improvements or developments, whether or not contracted for, of
any airport under the jurisdiction of the corporation, including but not limited to the addition of
structures and facilities for use of or lease to others by the corporation.
    Subd. 3. Land for new airport. The Metropolitan Airports Commission shall not initiate
land acquisition for a new major airport without explicit authorization from the legislature.
    Subd. 4. Expansion or upgrade of metro airport. Notwithstanding any other law, the
Metropolitan Airports Commission shall not use revenue from any source, as described by section
473.608, for construction of air facilities to expand or upgrade the use of an existing metropolitan
airport from minor use to intermediate use status without approval in a law. For the purposes of
this section, a minor use airport is defined as an airport with a runway or runways of length
no longer than 5,000 feet.
History: 1975 c 13 s 112; 1977 c 417 s 12; 1980 c 614 s 154; 2000 c 491 s 1