An Act to Reform Land Use Planning in the Unorganized Territory (2012)
The study commission that was authorized by LD 1534 (see 2011 North Woods summary) culminated in a report which included several objectionable provisions. This report was the basis for LD 1798. One of the most problematic provisions would have allowed counties to ‘opt out’ of oversight by the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). This would have caused a patchwork of regulations and in effect, dismantled LURC one county at a time. Another provision allowed counties to nominate their own commissioners to LURC and bypass the normal appointment process. Several moderate Republicans forged a compromise, eliminating the county “opt-out” provision but keeping the commissioner appointment provision. It sailed through both chambers without a floor fight or a roll call.
