Excessive Control

This language appears to take control of all land sales, and require septic inspections in fields. The ordinance officially controls subdivisions of less than 5 acres, but in the Exemptions, any subdivision resulting in increased land use is included. Most land sales result in increase land use.

Subp. 3. Application of Subdivision Ordinance

A. General.

Any subdivision of land filed for recording in Otter Tail County less than five (5) acres in size must first be reviewed and approved by the Land and Resource Management department in accordance with the provisions in this Ordinance, unless otherwise provided herein…

C. Exemptions. These regulations shall not apply to the following (other County ordinances and state laws may apply):

7) Common property line adjustments as specified in this part:

c) Any transfer of a portion or portions of a platted lot between adjoining land owners where such transfer is unrelated to the purposes set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that:

iv. The transfer does not result in a substantial expansion in land use intensity.

Imagine going through all the steps below to buy a part of a field for hunting:

Subp. 6. Preliminary Plat Procedures for Major Subdivision

Applicants shall file an application for review by the Planning Commission and approval by the County Board according to the following:

A. Complete Submittal. The submittal shall include:

1) A completed application for a Preliminary Plat for a Major Subdivision on forms available from the County Land and Resource Management Department;

2) Twenty-Three (23) copies of the preliminary plat as described in Section 7 and complying in all respects with these regulations;

3) A Certificate of Exemption or an approved Wetland Replacement Plan as required by the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act;

4) Three (3) copies of the preliminary construction plans in compliance with the County specifications as described in this Ordinance and other County requirements;

5) Electronic file (AutoCAD) submitted to be used in County GIS system. The electronic file provided may only be shared with the Development Review Team, the Planning Commission, the County Board, and only be shared with the Development Review Team, the Planning Commission, the County Board, and any other entity that must review the proposed subdivision;

6) Soil testing demonstrating that each new lot has suitable soil to accommodate long-term sewage