2016 Updated by: The Murray County Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee With Assistance from: The Southwest Regional Development Commission Adopted: December 27, 2016 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURPOSE The County has a responsibility to protect its cultural, economic, and natural environments. Because of this, the Murray County Comprehensive Plan will identify goals, objectives, policies, and implementation strategies designed to appropriately reflect the needs of the County’s citizens and natural environment. This plan will emphasize the importance of proper planning ensuring that decisions made are best for the citizens of the County as well as the environment. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Bill Post Larry Dahl Duane Spartz Bob Sandhurst Pam Schreier Doug Stewart Brian Hamilton Ralph Knapp Keith Hakeneis Burend Cuperus Ryan Verlinde Roger Steinman Craig Bangasser Todd Miller Gary Runkle Jamie Thomazin Tom Hey Troy Wehking Jason Schreier Kevin Vickerman Dale Bergman Dave Dorpinghaus AGENCY REPREPRESENTATIVES 2016 Cathi Fouchi, Minnesota DNR Planning Becky Balk, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Marcy Barritt, Murray County Assessor Jon Bloemendaal, Murray County Ag & Solid Waste Jean Christoffels, Murray County Planning & Zoning Randy Groves, Murray County Highway Department Amy Rucker, Murray County Economic Development Randy Hukriede, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Craig Christensen, Murray County SWCD Chris Hansen, Murray County Water Resources Heath Landsman, Murray County Emergency Management Janet Timmerman, Murray County Historical Museum Dominic Jones, Red Rock Rural Water Jason Overby, Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water Robert Nielsen, Minnesota Department of Health Lindsey Knutson, Minnesota Department of Transportation Annette Fiedler, Southwest Regional Development Commission MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2016 First District Second District Third District James Jens Robert Moline Gerald Magnus Fourth District Fifth District Glenn “Corky” Kluis Dave Thiner ii The Murray County Family of Plans, Components of the Comprehensive Plan Murray County’s Comprehensive Plan is an amalgamation of separately created plans each focused on specific topics: Land Use, County Facilities, Hazard Mitigation, Parks, Solid Waste, Water, Economic Development, Transportation, Aquatic Invasive Species have been adopted or are in the process of being developed and are referenced in the Comprehensive Plan. Land Use Aquatic Transpor- Invasive tation Species Economic County Development Facilities in progress in progress Comprehensive Plan Hazard Water Mitigation Solid Housing Waste Park Facilities Plan ii Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROCESS 8 CHAPTER 2. DEMOGRAPHICS AND HOUSING 10 CHAPTER 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 34 CHAPTER 4. HISTORIC AND CULTURAL FACILITIES 61 CHAPTER 5. CONSERVATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACES 78 CHAPTER 6. INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES 111 CHAPTER 7. LAND USE 130 CHAPTER 8. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE 150 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2007, Murray County celebrated its sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the formation of the County. There had been many changes since the prairie days of 1857. The railroads have come and gone. Horse-drawn plows broke the prairie grass into fields now worked by large farm machinery of a scale not dreamed of a century and a half past. Murray County’s residents past and present built homes and businesses, churches and schools, hopes and dreams into vibrant communities with a quality of life equal to any in Minnesota. Over the past ten years, more change has occurred which has shaped the County There are always challenges in any community. Murray County has lost population since the middle of the last century and the median age of its citizens is increasing. Meanwhile, County buildings are getting older, the number of people within most of the communities and townships is getting smaller and lakeshore development has reached a critical stage in terms of protecting the environment and water quality. Murray County, like many rural counties, is in a state of continuous change and it is this change that makes comprehensive planning so critical. From the beginning stages of this plan’s update, Murray County leaders recognized the importance of citizen involvement and the need to have broad citizen input and representation for the development of the plan. In preparation for the comprehensive planning process, the County Commissioners selected individuals from various places and organizations throughout the County to serve on the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee, ensuring a broad representation. The Murray County Comprehensive Plan is organized into key elements. Each chapter provides background information on the topic, then examines future development considerations and guidelines: Chapter Introduction Purpose for the Chapter Current Issues facing the County Current Situation Planning to Address Future Concerns One of the main functions of the Murray County Comprehensive Plan is to provide a consistent set of goals and policies that can guide decisions regarding land use by both the private and public sector. Decisions regarding growth and development that were made in the past, as well as those that will be made in the future, will have an effect on the need for public expenditures and taxes, environmental quality, the consumption of energy and land, and will have effects on other resources. Each chapter contains data that serves as the foundation on which the plan is built. This data includes reasonable projections, but since they are estimates it should be noted that they are subject to conditions of change. The Comprehensive Plan should be viewed as a dynamic document, and it should be examined and amended periodically. Murray County Comprehensive Plan -4- The following is a list of the plan’s chapters and the several key issues that were considered during the Committee meetings. Each of the following sections gives a brief overview of the issues facing the County in relation to that element. Demographics and Housing The demographics and housing section of this plan is intended to provide background on people living within Murray County. This information helps decision makers and citizens understand current conditions, evaluate proposals, and formulate policies to improve the community. Housing is typically provided within the incorporated cities where municipal services are available. However, there remain substantial numbers of rural farm and non-farm home sites in Murray County’s townships. The County has an on-going interest in promoting safe and affordable housing. Key Issues Decreasing population Aging of population Housing stock: age, condition, availability, safe and affordable Economic Development The economic base of Murray County provides jobs and income that fuel local prosperity. Economic development, then, is essential to growing the economic base of agriculture, manufacturing and exported services in a sustainable manner. It is vital for the County to ensure that its own ability to provide infrastructure and services is closely coordinated with current and future growth. One of the main themes found within the Economic Development chapter is the retention and expansion of businesses already operating within the County, as well as continued pursuit of new businesses. Key Issues Murray County Economic Development Authority Work Program Diversifying agricultural economy Marketing and funding of the County’s tourism features Broadband infrastructure Renewable energy Historic and Cultural Facilities Historic and cultural facilities occupy unique and special places in our landscape. People are beginning to understand that these structures or sites are non-renewable and once they are gone, they are not coming back. This Comprehensive Plan places an importance on designating, protecting, and preserving historic buildings and places. Each of Murray County’s communities expresses a unique character, a distinguishing sense of place. Murray County Comprehensive Plan -5- All communities and the historical significance they have should be important to Murray County and the County should work with all of its communities in order to protect this uniqueness. Through cooperation and promotion, historic properties will be further realized as the expression of a community’s heritage, and many people will be able to continue to enjoy them. Key Issues Lack of understanding of the importance of historic and cultural facilities Lack of funds for preservation and maintenance Need for systematic facilities plans Conservation, Parks, and Open Space The Conservation, Parks, and Open Space chapter provides a framework for the use, protection, preservation, and enhancement of the County’s natural resources, which include agricultural land, undeveloped natural areas, surface water and ground water, green space and open space, wildlife, and significant scenic and scientific areas. Environmental features have and will continue to play a key role in the development of Murray County. One of the primary issues here is converting marginal lands to agricultural production. This practice can lead to both loss of fertile topsoil and has the potential to cause degradation to water quality. Key Issues Natural resource base and environmentally sensitive land preservation Surface and ground water quality protection Enforcement of buffer law Need for systematic facilities plans Development and maintenance