A Hennepin County judge has again ruled Minneapolis must immediately cease implementation of its 2040 comprehensive plan, which has been in effect for the past three years. The city now has 60 days to revert back to its 2030 Plan, according to the order. The city has said it might appeal.
“This court finds that any ongoing implementation of the residential development portions of the City’s 2040 Plan is an ongoing violation of [the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act],” wrote Judge Joseph Klein, who has been presiding over an environmental lawsuit challenging the city’s pro-development ambitions since 2018. “Plaintiffs have outlined numerous environmental impairments that are likely to result by virtue of the full implementation of the 2040 Plan. The court finds that such damage to the environment would be an irreparable harm to the environment, the protection of which is viewed by this state as being of paramount concern.”
— Susan Du, Star Tribune