Met Council approves Farmington plan amendment to allow technology park, flags water and wastewater risks

The Metropolitan Council on May 14, 2025 authorized the City of Farmington to place a comprehensive-plan amendment into effect that changes the land-use guidance for 344.54 acres to a mixed-use commercial/industrial designation to enable a proposed technology park and data-center campus.

Council member Wolf, who read the committee report and moved the action, said the council’s role is limited to checking conformity with regional system plans and policies rather than approving specific development decisions. “When a comp plan amendment becomes before us, the council's role is to evaluate whether the proposed amendment conforms to the regional system plans ... and that is compatible with the plans of neighboring jurisdictions,” Wolf said during the discussion.

Staff noted that no specific development proposal accompanied the amendment and that the city submitted an Alternative Urban Area-Wide Review (AUAR). Council staff reported concerns about whether the region’s water supply could support a future, high-volume industrial water user on the site and warned that the volume and chemical characteristics of potential wastewater could create impacts for regional treatment systems. The staff report also referenced a 250-foot setback with berms and vegetation included in the city’s materials as an acknowledgment of neighborhood concerns.

The council’s action authorized the city to place the amendment into effect, found that the amendment does not change the city’s population forecasts, and strongly advised Farmington to consider the full extent of advisory comments in the review record for wastewater, water supply and forecasts. The council also advised the city that the amended plan remains inconsistent with the council’s housing policy and warned it “may not draw down funds awarded by Livable Communities Act programs” unless that issue is addressed.

Council members emphasized limits on the council’s authority under state law. Wolf said she would vote for the amendment because she could not identify a substantial departure from regional system plans and because the council’s decision is constrained by statutory requirements: “If I could find a way to say that it was a substantial departure ... I would absolutely vote no. But I have to uphold state law, which is why I am going to vote yes on this item.”

The meeting record indicates the council acted within the 120-day statutory review period; staff cited a 120-day deadline that places the council’s decision date at June 20, 2025. The motion carried on voice vote.