PC Meeting Date: August 21, 2025
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Preliminary Discussion of an Official Map.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission will hear a presentation from staff about the purpose of an official map and discuss development and adoption of an official map.
Summary Report:
Official maps are authorized by state statute to enable cities to acquire land for public purposes at a reasonable cost. Cities identify land to be reserved for future public purposes, including future roads and streets, street widening, street extensions, airports, and other public purposes on the official map. Building in those areas is then restricted, and the municipality is not required to provide compensation for any structure or building in those areas that is installed without a permit or in violation of the terms of a permit when acquiring that land in the future.
The official map does not give the city a right to or interest in those properties, and when the city goes to acquire those lands, they must still acquire the property through normal legal means. This can include purchase, gift, or condemnation.
When a building permit is denied to a property owner because they propose to build in an area reserved on the official map, the property owner may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The ZBA must make two findings to grant the appeal. First, the entire property cannot yield a reasonable return unless the appeal is granted, and second, the approval must be required by considerations of justice and equity.
When such an appeal is granted, the city has six (6) months to acquire the land. After that time, and future acquisition will be required to compensate the owner for the structure.
Official maps must be accurate enough to establish the lines of the reserved areas on the ground and signed by a professional surveyor. At a minimum, a centerli...
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