Yesterday Governor Dayton signed a bill that essentially reversed a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that largely eliminated the ability of municipalities to grant variance requests. That ruling, known as the Krummenacher decision, made it difficult for homeowners, developers and property owners to request and receive a variance request for things like additions, decks and other changes to one's property.
"Any project requiring a variance was ground to a halt last summer,' said Rich Riemersma, a home builder and president of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.
This legislation (known as Chapter 19) was a top priority for Twin Cities home builders, who say that more than $45 million in projects was at risk.
