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Pine County board adopts ordinance extending county zoning to Willow River
Summary
The Pine County Board voted to amend the county zoning ordinance to include the City of Willow River and authorized execution of a memorandum of understanding so the county can administer statutorily required shoreland and scenic‑river regulations on the city’s behalf.
The Pine County Board on July 21 adopted Ordinance 2026‑27 to amend the county zoning ordinance and include the City of Willow River, authorizing the county administrator and county attorney to sign a memorandum of understanding with the city.
Kelly Schroeder, Pine County administrator, told the board that the county’s 2020 zoning ordinance includes an opt‑in provision and explained that "it only covered cities and townships when they asked us to cover them," adding that Willow River’s proposed zoning map uses primarily two zones: rural residential and commercial. Schroeder said the county reviewed shoreland and scenic river requirements that cities are statutorily responsible for and will execute those duties on the city’s behalf through the MOU.
Board members asked about staffing and capacity; Schroeder said county staff can absorb the additional workload because Willow River issues a minimal number of permits per year and the county’s zoning board will continue to handle subdivision and permit review. The public hearing opened for the item produced no testimony and the board approved the ordinance by roll call.
The ordinance includes the proposed Willow River zoning map and clarifying MOU language reflecting the city’s recently adopted 2023 floodplain ordinance, a correction Schroeder said she requested be reflected in the memorandum.
