County planning staff told the Benton County Board of Commissioners that zoning is guided by the county’s comprehensive plan and that the county’s zoning ordinance was repealed and replaced in 2020 to align with that plan.

The staff presentation said the comprehensive plan—adopted June 4, 2019—sets where residential and commercial growth is intended, while the zoning ordinance (adopted April 21, 2020) implements those goals through districts and allowed uses. “Zoning is guided by the comprehensive plan,” the presenter said, adding the map reserves most of the county for agriculture and concentrates commercial development along Highway 10 and at major intersections near Rice and Sartell.

The presenter explained limits on relief for property owners. “We statutorily are not able to grant use variances,” the planning staff said, noting that legal nonconforming uses may continue but typically lapse if the use ceases for 12 months. The staff also clarified the distinction between tax classification and zoning: a property taxed at a commercial rate does not by itself authorize all types of commercial uses permitted in commercial zoning districts.

Commissioners pressed staff on the practical effect: one commissioner said property owners may not understand the difference between tax classification and allowed uses, and asked whether the county should update the comprehensive plan or code. Planning staff responded that some matters (for example, billboard rules) have been reviewed previously and that the comp plan and zoning code are periodically revisited.

The board did not take an immediate regulatory action during the presentation; the discussion focused on educating property owners and flagging potential updates for future review.