For the purposes of this ordinance, the unincorporated area of Meeker County, State of Minnesota, is hereby divided into the following districts, which shall be known by the following respective symbols and names:

Basic Districts

A.

A-1 - Agricultural Preservation.

B.

R-1 - Suburban Residential.

C.

R-2 - Rural Residential.

D.

C-1 - Commercial.

E.

C-2 - Neighborhood Commercial.

F.

I-1 - General Industry.

Overlay Districts

G.

UE-O - Urban Expansion.

H.

SM-O - Shoreland Management.

I.

RR-O - Recreation River.

J.

CR-O - Clearwater River.

The locations and boundaries of the districts established by this ordinance are hereby set forth on the zoning maps and also by legal description in a directory for smaller areas such as plats. These maps and directory are hereby made a part of this ordinance and shall be known as the "Meeker County Zoning Maps and Directory." Said maps and directory, consisting of sheets and all notation, references and data as shown thereon, are hereby incorporated by reference into this ordinance and shall be made as much a part of it as if all were fully described and set forth herein. The official zoning maps and directory shall be certified as such by the chairman of the county board of commissioners and attested by the county auditor. The official zoning maps and directory shall be kept on file in the zoning administrator's office.

Regardless of the existence of purported copies, the official zoning maps and directory, which may from time to time be made or published, only that copy bearing the original certification shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of the unincorporated areas of Meeker County.

Where uncertainty exists as to boundaries of districts as shown on the official zoning maps and directory, the following rules shall apply:

A.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways, alleys and other public rights-of-way shall be construed to follow such centerlines.

B.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.

C.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following section lines, quarter section lines, quarter-quarter section lines and government lines shall be construed as following such lines.

D.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following established municipal limits and county borders shall be construed as following such lines.

E.

Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the main set of tracks or at the centerline of a single set of tracks.

F.

Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow such shorelines, and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shorelines.

G.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerline of streams, rivers, ditches or other bodies of water shall be construed as following such centerlines.

H.

Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in subsections A—G above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the official zoning maps and directory shall be determined by the scale of the map.

I.

Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground, such as shorelands, are at variance with those shown on the official zoning maps and directory or in other circumstances not covered by subsections A—G above, the board of adjustment shall interpret the district boundaries.

J.

Where a district boundary line divides a lot, which was in single ownership at the time of passage of this ordinance, the planning commission shall consider the extension of the regulations for either portion of the lot in accordance with the procedure for changes and amendments.

K.

Where figures are shown on the zoning maps and directory, they indicate that the district boundary line runs parallel to a cultural or natural feature at a distance therefrom equivalent to the number of feet so indicated. In the R-1 Suburban Residential District, the district boundary line shall normally be a distance of 300 feet from the shoreline unless otherwise indicated. In the R-2 Rural Residential District, the district boundary shall normally be a distance of 400 feet from the shoreline unless otherwise indicated.

L.

Shoreland management overlay district boundaries shall include those lands defined as shorelands. Final determination of the exact location of said boundaries shall be made by the board of adjustment.

This ordinance provides for the designation of certain lands to be included within one or more management overlay districts. The management overlay district regulations are in addition to the regulations of the underlying basic zoning district. Said regulations are included so as to manage certain lands and resources in a manner consistent with state requirements, protect environmentally sensitive areas, or to provide for coordination with incorporated communities and/or special purpose districts with the county.

Where the regulations of the management overlay district impose greater restrictions than those of any other section and/or requirement of this ordinance, the provisions of said district shall apply. Where there are greater restrictions imposed by other regulations and/or sections, such provisions shall apply. The zoning administrator shall determine which provision, regulation and/or section is more restrictive and appeals from such determination may be made in the manner provided herein.

Any permitted, conditional or accessory use must also be allowed in the basic zoning district in order to be allowed in the management overlay district. Any use not allowed as a permitted, conditional or accessory use is expressly prohibited.

Shoreland district boundaries shall be construed to be those areas of land within 1,000 feet from the normal high water mark of a lake, pond or flowage and 300 feet from a river or stream, as identified in the Public Water Classification for Meeker County, as approved by the commissioner of natural resources and the Meeker County Board of Commissioners.

The public waters of Meeker County, Minnesota, have been classified by guidelines established by the department of natural resources. Specific designations for the various bodies of water within Meeker County can be found in the article in this ordinance entitled "Shoreland Management Overlay District."

Whenever the landward extent of a floodplain, as designated by this ordinance, is greater than the shoreland boundary, the greater distance shall be governing. The practical limits of shorelands may be less than the statutory limits wherever the waters involved are bounded by natural topographic divides which extend landward from the waters for lesser distances and when approved by the commissioner of natural resources.

The Clearwater River Watershed District boundaries shall be those boundaries as determined by the Clearwater River Watershed District as established pursuant to MN Statutes, sections 103D.011—103D.925. The boundaries of these lands are identified on the official zoning maps and directory.

The North Fork of the Crow River within Meeker County has been designated as a recreation river pursuant to MN Statutes, sections 103F.301—103F.345. Under the authority of MN Statutes, section 103F.355 and MN Rules, parts 6105.1000—6105.1130, certain lands along the river have been designated as being included in the North Crow River Land Use Management District. These lands have been identified on the official zoning maps and directory from legal description and land management maps (Plates 1-5) in the management plan for the North Fork of the Crow River which are hereby made a part of this ordinance by reference. In case of a conflict between the map or directory and the property description of MN Rules, part 6105.1100, the latter shall prevail.

Appeals from any administrative officer's determination of the exact location of district boundary lines shall be heard by the board of adjustment for a judgment as to the location of the district boundaries. A judgment by the commissioner of natural resources may also be sought in the event that agreement relative to precise location of shoreland and floodplain district boundaries cannot be obtained or if the question is related to the recreation river management district.

Any land detached from an incorporated municipality and placed under the jurisdiction of this ordinance in the future shall be placed in the A-1 Agricultural Preservation District until placed in another district by action of the board of county commissioners after recommendation of the county planning commission.

When any road, highway, street or other public right-of-way is vacated, the zoning classification of land abutting the centerline of the public right-of-way shall not be affected by such proceedings, nor shall the district boundary be affected thereby.

If in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, changes are made in the district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the official zoning maps and directory, the resolution number and date of said change shall be recorded by the county auditor on the official zoning maps and directory. No amendment to this ordinance which involves matter portrayed on the official zoning maps and directory shall become effective until after such change and entry has been made on said maps and directory. It shall be the responsibility of the zoning administrator to maintain said maps and directory. Any changes shall be made within 30 days of county board approval. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and punishable as provided under the provisions of this ordinance.

In the event that the official zoning maps and directory become damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the county board of commissioners may, by resolution, adopt new official zoning maps and directory which shall supersede the prior official zoning maps and directory. The new official zoning maps and directory may correct drafting and other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning maps and directory, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original official zoning ordinance or any subsequent amendment thereof. Unless destroyed, the prior maps and directory or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.