MN SF1450

Allows property abutting a municipality boundary that is rural and undeveloped to be detached through petition by all property owners (if under 40 acres) or 75 percent of owners (if over 40 acres), or through municipality resolution.

Requires petitioners to state reasons for detachment and summarize prior efforts to resolve issues; requires petition copies to be provided to the municipality, affected property owners, receiving town clerk, other abutting municipalities, and county recorder.

Allows receiving town board to submit resolution supporting, opposing, or remaining neutral on detachment petition, and becomes party to hearing if opposing municipality-supported petition or supporting municipality-opposed petition.

Establishes automatic approval if municipality and all property owners support detachment with no town opposition; establishes automatic denial if both municipality and town oppose detachment.

Requires mediation session instead of standard administrative meetings when detachment is contested; directs chief administrative law judge to apportion mediation and hearing costs equitably, with petitioning landowners responsible for at least 50 percent of costs.