The Prior Lake City Council offered a strong rebuke last week of a push in St. Paul to overhaul the state’s zoning laws.

Several bills have been introduced in the state legislature that would restrict an individual city’s ability to manage its own growth. The bills would allow for no public input on new construction, and could allow the construction of residential, multi-family units in commercial areas, in addition to allowing multi-family residences in single-family zoned areas.

The council unanimously passed a resolution affirming support of local control of zoning laws  and opposing “state proposals that seek to broadly limit local zoning and land use decision-making related to residential development,” during its meeting March 25.

City manager Jason Wedel recently testified in St. Paul opposing the bills on behalf of the city, and Mayor Kurt Briggs and the council are encouraging Prior Lake residents to contact their representatives to urge them to oppose the legislation.

Similar resolutions have been making the rounds at other area city council meetings, but Prior Lake has been an early and vocal proponent of local zoning control, both during this session and in past years.

“Prior Lake has been a leader on this issue thanks to city staff and Mayor Briggs,” council member Ethan Hellier said. “I think it’s about time for other cities to join us on the front lines.”

Members of the council had strong words while expressing support of local zoning control.

“I am for more affordable housing, and more people affording housing, but the efforts in St. Paul are not going to accomplish that. I would argue, in fact, that they would be counterproductive,” council member Victor Lake said. “[The bills] don’t consider the infrastructure of our city.”

Other business

In other business, the council approved moving forward with the paving project in The Wilds neighborhood. Building off last year’s work, Wilds Parkway will be the focus of the project.