Hermantown council hears four first readings to codify environmental-review definitions, procedures and fees

Hermantown — The Hermantown City Council on Jan. 27 heard first readings of four ordinances that would update environmental-review language in the city's code, add new definitions and create a new chapter establishing procedures, fees and escrow rules for environmental documents.

City staff member Mr. Johnson told the council the package — ordinances 2025-04 through 2025-07 — adds roughly seven definitions to the city's definitions chapter (including AUAR, EAW and EIS), updates chapters on land-use and planned unit developments to align with environmental-review practice, and creates a new chapter 23 that describes when environmental documents are required and how they will be reviewed. "AUAR is an alternative urban area wide review. EAW is an environmental assessment worksheet," Johnson said, summarizing examples of the terms the ordinances would define.

Staff said the revised language will rely on state environmental rules rather than trying to reproduce technical state definitions inside the city code; that approach is intended to reduce the need for later edits if state rules change. The new chapter 23 would also set a fee schedule for environmental reviews and establish escrow requirements so the city can collect funds to cover consultant review costs rather than negotiating fees on a case-by-case basis.

Because these were first readings, the council did not vote on adoption. Councilors were given opportunity for public comment; none was received during the meeting. Staff said the ordinances are intended to provide predictable procedures and fee structures for projects that require environmental documentation under state and local rules, and to make code language less brittle when state rules are updated.