The Apple Valley City Council on March 27 adopted a resolution opposing several Minnesota bills that, city staff and council members said, would sharply curtail local land-use authority and public review of residential development.

City staff described four bills under consideration at the Legislature — the Minnesota Starter Home Act, More Homes Right Places Act, Transforming Main Street Act and the People Over Parking Act — and recommended the council adopt an official position opposing them. City staff warned the proposals would require administrative approvals, restrict local design and parking standards, and could force major changes to existing single-family neighborhoods. "Many of them are — they're going too far," City staff member Tom said during his presentation.

The council approved the resolution after discussion. Councilmember Bergman moved to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Grendel seconded. The motion passed by voice vote and no opposing votes were recorded.

Why it matters

City officials said the bills would remove or limit local zoning tools Apple Valley has used to implement its adopted comprehensive plan and to manage infrastructure, traffic and neighborhood character. City staff and council members flagged specific provisions they said are common to the bills: prohibitions on minimum parking requirements, limits on local setbacks and floor‑area rules, administrative review in place of public hearings, and allowances for greater lot coverage and higher densities.

What the council heard

City staff outlined provisions that would affect Apple Valley planning if adopted. Those included a requirement under one bill to permit at least two units on any single‑family lot and to allow accessory dwelling units; a minimum lot size ceiling of one‑eighth acre (about 5,400 square feet) in other provisions (Apple Valley's current single‑family minimum lot size was reported by staff as about 11,000 square feet); and a proposal to require cities to upzone 50% of residential areas to allow townhomes, duplexes and triplexes or to meet an average density of one unit per 4,000 square feet in upzoned areas. Staff also said several bills would remove local minimum parking requirements, allow multifamily up to 75 feet in some commercial districts, and restrict use of planned-unit developments and conditional‑use permits.

Council members voiced concerns about the bills' effects on resident input, infrastructure and public safety. Councilmember Hebert said the region faces a housing shortage but argued that local planning and resident participation must remain part of the solution: "Having just 1 meeting and not even a public hearing is ridiculous and and not okay at all," Hebert said, stressing safety and maintenance implications of removing parking minimums. Former council member Tom Goodwin, a member of the public, called the proposed legislation "the worst piece of legislation for cities that I've ever seen in my 40 years as a city council member," warning residents would have little recourse if such measures passed.

Next steps

The resolution directs city staff to forward the council's position to the local legislative delegation, to provide testimony at committee hearings if scheduled, and to share information with residents so they may contact legislators. City staff encouraged residents to engage with their legislators and noted the League of Minnesota Cities and the Metropolitan Council as partners for further consultation.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution supporting retention of city zoning authority and opposing proposed legislation limiting local land‑use decision making: Motion by Councilmember Bergman; second by Councilmember Grendel. Passed by voice vote; no opposing votes recorded.

Sources and limitations

The article summarizes statements and slide material presented at the March 27 council meeting. The council and staff cited named bills by short title but did not provide complete bill numbers in the meeting transcript. Where staff provided specific numeric comparisons (example: Apple Valley minimum lot size), those figures are reported as presented by staff during the meeting.