A judge in Hennepin County has dismissed a lawsuit against Minneapolis, allowing the city to move forward with its 2040 Comprehensive Plan. This plan, approved in 2018, aims to create denser and more affordable housing in the city, shifting away from traditional single-family zoning.
While many urbanists support this vision, some groups are concerned. They argue that the plan could lead to pollution and harm natural resources. This concern led Smart Growth Minneapolis, an environmental nonprofit, along with others, to file a lawsuit in 2018 to demand an environmental review of the plan.
In his ruling, Judge Joseph R. Klein pointed to a change in state law that made it difficult for Smart Growth to succeed. He stated, “The legislation quite simply makes it impossible for Smart Growth to prevail.”
Although the Star Tribune could not reach Smart Growth representatives for immediate comments, the organization noted on its website that it presented an engineering analysis in court. They claimed this analysis detailed the potential environmental harm of the plan, while also stating that the city did not deny the negative impacts of the 2040 Plan.
Following the ruling, Mayor Jacob Frey expressed that this decision allows the city to continue its growth and development. The 2040 plan represents a significant shift in how Minneapolis approaches urban planning.
