Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area

The MRCCA is a 72-mile corridor along the Mississippi River through the Twin Cities, including Hastings. Beginning as The Critical Areas Act in 1973, there were subsequent reiterations until superseded by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017 (MN Rules, Chapter 6106) that required the development of local (i.e., City) controls to implement MRCCA development standards.

The purpose is to maintain the natural and scenic character and minimize negative impacts to riparian areas and bluffs. This is accomplished by additional development regulations beyond Zoning, Floodplain, and Shoreland Management ordinances. New permits are required for certain land alteration activities.

Impact

Site development for structures, impervious surfaces, and facilities in the MRCCA are impacted by additional restrictions related to height setbacks, and other dimensional regulations within the MRCCA vary based on the MRCCA district in which the property is located. MNDNR Summary of Rules (map links below)

Proposed Draft Ordinance

Dimensional Standards*

*Existing Zoning and Shoreland requirements also apply (whichever is most restrictive)

**Greater height may be allowed with a local Conditional Use Permit in the CA-RTC.

*** Height is determined by underlying zoning, provided the allowed height is not visible, as viewed from the OHWL of the opposite shore.

District Boundary and Conservation Area Maps

Vegetation

Property owners in a district will need to obtain a permit from the city for intensive vegetation clearing and some land alteration activities in sensitive areas (primarily along the river’s edge and bluffs) that exceed certain thresholds.

Nonconformities

All legally established nonconforming structures may remain.  All legally established nonconforming principal structures may be expanded laterally, as long as the structure is not in the bluff impact zone (20 feet to the bluff line) or Shore impact Zone (half of the river setback).