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To: City of Waite Park, City of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Township
From: Angie Berg, Land Use Division Director
Date: 9/29/2010
Re: Orderly Annexation Agreement
For over one year the Cities of Waite Park and St. Joseph, St. Joseph Township and
Stearns County have been meeting regarding the roles and responsibilities for
zoning and subdivision activities within the respective Orderly Annexation Areas.
The goal of revisiting the Orderly Annexation Agreement and the Memoranda Of
Understanding (MOU) is to improve process, avoid duplication of efforts and
provide better service to residents living in these areas.
Since the creation of both Orderly Annexation Agreements, the Agreement and
MOU have given the final zoning and subdivision authority to Stearns County. For
example, a Conditional Use Permit would be reviewed by the joint
City/Township /County Board for a recommendation to the Stearns County Planning
Commission with the County Board of Commissioners taking final action. Under the
proposed agreement, the County would play the role of zoning administrator while
the City/Township Joint Planning Board would become the final approval authority.
On September 7, 2010, this information was presented to the County Board. It was
their consensus that the County no longer be a member of the Joint Planning Board.
In addition to the two Orderly Annexation Areas associated with St. Joseph
Township, there are four more Joint Planning Boards in Stearns County set up for
purposes of Orderly Annexation (LeSauk Township /City of Sartell; Brockway
Township /City of St. Stephen; Avon Township /City of Avon; Paynesville
Township /City of Paynesville). Stearns County is not a member of any of these
Joint Planning Boards.
The County is requesting that the Cities and Township make this change to the
proposed OAA and MOU. This change would need to be reflected on page 2 of the
Orderly Annexation Agreement and on page 2 of the MOU.
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