County repeals 2004 official highway map affecting County Road 11 alignment

The Goodhue County Board of Commissioners voted April 1 to repeal Official Highway Map No. 1, a 2004 map that included a now‑abandoned alignment option for County Road 11 north of Pine Island.

Megan Smith, Goodhue County land use management director, told the board the city of Pine Island and MnDOT no longer support pursuing the 2004 alignment. "One of the letters of support in your packet is from MnDOT that does very clearly articulate that MnDOT does not see the need for a future interchange north of Pine Island," Smith said, summarizing packets that also included a city resolution and a draft ordinance.

Smith said the county's Planning Advisory Commission held a hearing March 17 and unanimously recommended repealing the map because the current alignment of County Road 11 meets current and projected county needs. She and Public Works staff also noted the repeal does not prevent the county, a city or another jurisdiction from acquiring right of way in the future if circumstances change.

Commissioners discussed the practical impact on development and financing. Smith explained that keeping the old map encumbrance can make financing and development more difficult for landowners; repealing the map would remove that layer but would not prevent future planning or acquisitions.

A motion to repeal Official Highway Map No. 1 and adopt draft ordinance 2025‑01 was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote; the chair said the motion "carries." One ministerial correction to the ordinance (a staff name) was noted and will be corrected before final signatures.

The repeal affects parcels in the Pine Island area being considered for annexation and a developer environmental review (AUAR). It removes a 2004 alignment option from the official county map but leaves future planning options open to the county, the city of Pine Island and MnDOT.