Can A Regional Agency Force Growth In Local Cities?

"'Giving the Met Council the power to force development into unwilling communities could have very negative and dangerous political and legal consequences for the (agency) and undermine its important role as a planner for the region,' said Dick Nowlin, who is representing Lake Elmo.The battle, being argued before an administrative law judge during the next few days, pits regional interests against local control. The Met Council says Lake Elmo's resistance to development puts pressure on already burdened neighboring cities and townships; Lake Elmo argues the Met Council has no authority to force it to accept proposed sewer lines and, therefore, more growth."