Morrison County staff to draft renewable‑energy moratorium; working group to review comprehensive plan language

Land services staff told the Morrison County Planning Commission on March 3 that the county board has directed staff to draft moratorium language related to renewable‑energy development and to convene a working group to review comprehensive plan policy and ordinance language.

Amy, speaking for Land Services, said the board asked staff to prepare moratorium language for a planning commission public hearing on March 31, with county board consideration April 7. She said the moratorium language would put a temporary pause in permitting in place while the working group develops policy and ordinance changes.

Amy described the expected working group composition: two county commissioners, two planning commission members and up to two additional participants — one representing the renewable‑energy community and one citizen‑at‑large, if possible. She told commissioners to consider whether they might serve on the working group; membership and appointment are expected to be acted on by the county board at the April 7 meeting.

Amy characterized the work as focused on comprehensive plan policy and ordinances that would guide future renewable‑energy siting and review; she said staff will bring a discussion item to the planning commission’s March 31 meeting to nominate two members from the commission to sit on the working group.

The moratorium is not yet in place; Amy said the board’s direction was to draft the ordinance language and move it through the public‑hearing process. The commission will have an opportunity to review the language at its March 31 meeting.