HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. 590 - Temporary MoratoriumCITY OF ANDOVER
COUNTY OF ANOKA
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 590
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING
APPROVAL OF CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PLANNING PROCESS WHILE
CONDUCTING STUDIES FOR LOCAL SEWER CAPACITY
The City Council of the City of Andover, Minnesota, ordains:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Minnesota Law and the Andover City Code, and upon a review
conducted by City staff, an interim ordinance is hereby adopted, by an affirmative
vote of a majority of the Andover City Councilmembers present, for the purpose of
allowing the City the opportunity to review current City Code regulations and
Comprehensive Plan guidelines and to consider the adoption of amendments
thereto.
SECTION 2. Definitions.
Plat means the drawing or map of a subdivision prepared for filing of record pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes Chapter 505 and containing all elements and requirements set forth in applicable Andover
city ordinances adopted pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.358 and Chapter 505.
Residential means use as a dwelling, including one -family, two-family, and multiple family
dwellings, but not including hotels, motels, institutions, bed and breakfast establishments, and
boarding houses.
Subdivision means the division of a tract of land into two (2) or more lots or parcels of land for the
purpose of transfer of ownership or building development. The term includes resubdivision and, when
appropriate to the context, shall relate to the process of subdividing or to the land subdivided, except
those subdivisions resulting from court orders, or the adjustment of a lot line by the relocation of a
common boundary.
SECTION 3. Findings.
3.01 The City of Andover (the "City") has adopted a 2040 Comprehensive Plan and official
controls to regulate development of land within the community, all in accordance with
Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.351 et sq. and 473.851 et seq.
3.02 The Metropolitan Council's Imagine 2050 regional planning document requires compliance
with increased density requirements moving from a community -wide average of 3 units
per acre in the 2040 regional planning document to 3.5 units per acre in the 2050 regional
planning document.
3.03 The City has concerns regarding the impacts of the Metropolitan Council's density
requirements and local sewer capacity relative to future development in the City.
3.04 The City wishes to evaluate the impact of the Metropolitan Council's density requirements
relative to existing sewer capacity to service additional density within existing local
sanitary sewer infrastructure.
3.05 Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 462.355, Subd. 4, the City is authorized to establish
interim ordinances to regulate, restrict, or prohibit any use or development in all or a part
of the City while the City or its planning department is conducting studies, or has
authorized a study to be conducted, or has scheduled a hearing to consider adoption or
amendment of official controls, including ordinances regulating physical development of
the City.
3.06 The City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City of Andover to
adopt an interim ordinance establishing a moratorium on the approval of certain residential
developments in the City in order that appropriate studies may be conducted, and if needed,
new amendments to the Zoning Ordinance may be considered for adoption, or amendments
to the comprehensive plan.
3.07 The study and need for an interim ordinance are intended to protect the planning process
and the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Andover in relation to the
impacts of the Metropolitan Council's density requirements.
SECTION 4. Study Authorized.
City staff, Planning Commission, and other consultants are directed to:
1. Analyze and evaluate the impact of the Metropolitan Council's density
requirements in relation to local sewer capacity.
2. Determine appropriate amendments to the zoning district and City Code as may be
necessary to mitigate any negative impacts discovered as part of the study.
Prepare recommendations for amendments to the comprehensive plan if found
appropriate, for consideration by the City Council.
SECTION 5. Effect of Moratorium.
5.01 Upon approval of this interim ordinance and pending completion of the study and the
adoption of new or amended official controls, a moratorium is hereby established on the
acceptance, review, process, or approval of any residential plat, subdivision, comprehensive
plan amendment, or rezoning request, and no applications for such approval will be accepted
within the existing MUSA ( as of June 16, 2026). This Ordinance shall not apply to the
foregoing_ applications for the following:
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(a) Properties currently outside of the MUSA as of June 16, 2026;
(b) Commercial and/or Industrial zoned properties within the MUSA as of June 16,
2026;
(c) Subdivisions which have preliminary plat approval from the City prior to the
adoption of this Ordinance;
(d) Subdivision applications for preliminary plat approval that have been deemed
complete applications by the City and any subsequent amendments to the
application for preliminary plat approval; and
(e) Properties covered under the recently adopted Alternative Urban Areawide Review
(AUAR).
SECTION 6. Enforcement.
6.01 The City may enforce this interim ordinance by mandamus, injunction, or other appropriate
civil remedy in any court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 7. Separability.
7.01 Every section and part of this interim ordinance is declared separable from every other
section, provision, and part of this interim ordinance. If any section, provision, or part of
this interim ordinance is adjudged to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
judgment shall not invalidate any other section, provision, or part of this interim ordinance.
SECTION 8. Effective Date and Duration.
8.01 This interim ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon adoption by the City Council
for a period of time not to exceed one year from the effective date, but said time may be
extended for such additional period as the City may deem appropriate, not exceeding a
total period of eighteen (18) months.
Adopted by the Andover City Council on this 16t' day of June 2026.
ATTEST:
Mich lle Hartner, City Clerk
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CITY OF ANDOVER
COUNTY OF ANOKA
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 590 SUMMARY
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING APPROVAL OF CERTAIN
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PLANNING PROCESS
WHILE CONDUCTING STUDIES FOR LOCAL SEWER CAPACITY
STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION AND POLICY
Statutory Authorization
This ordinance amendment is adopted pursuant to the authorization and policies contained in Minnesota
Statute 412.
Policy
The purpose of the Ordinance is to protect the public health, safety, morals and welfare of residents of the
City of Andover. The ordinance establishes a one year moratorium on the approval of certain residential
developments in the City in order that appropriate studies may be conducted, and if needed, new
amendments to the Zoning Ordinance may be considered for adoption, or amendments to the
comprehensive plan.
The purpose is to analyze and evaluate the impact of the local sewer capacity, determine appropriate
amendments to the zoning district and City Code as may be necessary to mitigate any negative impacts
discovered as part of the study, prepare recommendations for amendments to the comprehensive plan if
found appropriate, for consideration by the City Council.
Upon approval of this interim ordinance and pending completion of the study and the adoption of new or
amended official controls, a moratorium is hereby established on the acceptance, review, process, or
approval of any residential plat, subdivision, comprehensive plan amendment, or rezoning request, and no
applications for such approval will be accepted within the existing MUSA (as of June 16, 2026). This
Ordinance shall not apply to the foregoing applications for the following: Properties currently outside of the
MUSA as of June 16, 2026; Commercial and/or Industrial zoned properties within the MUSA as of June
16, 2026; Subdivisions which have preliminary plat approval from the City prior to the adoption of this
Ordinance; Subdivision applications for preliminary plat approval that have been deemed complete
applications by the City and any subsequent amendments to the application for preliminary plat approval;
and Properties covered under the recently adopted Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR).
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Jurisdiction
The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the City of Andover.
Enforcement
The City Administrator or his/her designee shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this
ordinance.
Interpretation
Interpretation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be held to be the minimum requirements and shall
be liberally construed in the favor of the governing body.
A printed copy of this ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular hours of the City
Clerk.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Andover on this 16th day of June, 2026.
ATTEST:
Mic le Hamner, City Clerk