A) Development Principles
The primary purpose of the Smiley Township Development Plan is to guide the future physical development of the township in terms of land use. The plan is intended to reflect the desires of the township’s citizens as a whole in terms of growth and land use regulation. The following development principles were defined by the township board at the start of the planning process:
1. Reduce Conflicts – Reduce the possibility of conflicting land uses.
2. Balance Quality of Living and Growth – Balance the need to protect the quality of living and the natural resources of the Township with the desire to encourage growth and the productive use of all resources in the Township.
4. Balance All Property Rights – Balance the rights of property owners to be protected from intrusive land use with the rights of property owners to use their land to its maximum potential.
5. Allow New Land Uses – Allow for new land uses which require careful control and regulation but provide benefit to the township.
6. Minimize Development Costs – Minimize the cost of new development and growth in terms of public facilities provided by the township, other units of government and private utilities.
7. Least Restrictive Approach – The least restrictive approach to solving conflicts should be the preferred approach.
There are a number of key words contained in these principles, but the term “balance” is the element which should be stressed as the central operating theme of the Plan. The Smiley Township Plan sets the overall direction for township growth with the intent of balancing the benefits of growth with the costs of that growth. The Plan will be used as the foundation for fair and consistent decision making and policy development by the Township.
Location
Smiley Township is located in the central part of Pennington County, immediately southeast and adjacent to the City of Thief River Falls and Rocksbury Township. The Township is approximately 290 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and 55 miles east of Grand Forks-East Grand Forks.
