NATURAL PRESERVATION ROUTE CONSIDERATION

Subpart 1. Commissioner approval or denial. Following receipt of the formal request, the commissioner shall approve or deny the request to designate the roadway as a natural preservation route. The commissioner shall base the decision on the criteria in subpart 2 and shall notify the political subdivision in writing of the decision. If the request is denied, a written explanation will be included with this notification. Subp. 2. Factors considered. The commissioner shall consider: A. the economic, social, safety, and environmental impacts that may result from the designation or denial of the designation; B. the magnitude of the effects on adjacent lands and the value of the characteristics identified in part 8820.4020 , subpart 2; C. the number of persons, either residents or the traveling public, affected by designation or denial of designation; D. the present and future use of adjacent lands; E. safety considerations as they apply to pedestrians; bicyclists; the motoring public; and fire, police, and emergency units; and F. other related issues as may be pertinent to the roadway that have been identified from information submitted in part 8820.4020 , subpart 2.