Set July 14, 2025, as the date of the Public Hearing for a Land Use Plan amendment to change the guided land use from Light Industrial to Medium Density Residential (1416, 1420, 1430 2nd Avenue); by request of Wrestling Brotherhood.

At the May 28, 2025, meeting, the Planning Commission recommended setting the date of hearing for the proposed Land Use Plan Amendment.

Wrestling Brotherhood, with the consent of the property owners, are requesting a land use plan amendment to reclassify the designated land use from Light Industrial to Medium Density Residential. 

In accordance with Mankato's City Charter, on April 28, 2025, the Mankato City Council referred the Land Use Plan request to the Planning Commission for review and consideration. The Commission reviewed the request at their May 28, 2025, meeting, and has provided a recommendation of approval with conditions. Following the Planning Commission's review and with their recommendation, the City Council will conduct a public hearing on July 14, 2025, before adopting the proposed plan or modifications by resolution, with or without amendments.

Land use 
The City of Mankato Land Use Plan is utilized for guiding and accomplishing the coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development of the city and its environs which will, in accordance with present and future needs, best promote health, safety, order, and general welfare. As a guideline, the Land Use Plan is not a zoning document. The policies, goals, and objectives are to be complementary to the City of Mankato Comprehensive Plan and the City of Mankato Strategic Plan. The Land Use Plan is intended to promote efficiency and economy in the process of development, including, among other things, adequate provision for traffic; the promotion and protection of environmentally sensitive areas; distribution of population; providing housing alternatives; the promotion of good civic design and arrangement; efficient expenditure of public funds; and the adequate provision of public utilities and other public requirements.

There are two components to the land use plan, which are the text and the map. The text provides the policies, goals, and objectives. In addition, the Land Use Plan includes location criteria for each of the land use classifications.
 
The proposed land use changes should address the items listed in the land use plan under the policies, goals, and objectives.  For this request, the applicant is proposing to change the property which has the land use classification from Light Industrial to Medium Density Residential. 

Proposal 
The proposed amendment seeks to change the land use to facilitate the development of a wrestling facility. According to the applicants' narrative, the proposed wrestling facility will house a gymnasium for classes and training for participants. The three subject parcels are west of 2nd Avenue, not on Maxfleld Street, and south of Spruce Street. Together, the three parcels are 0.72 acres. The intended development will have access to and from the site along Spruce Street and 2nd Avenue. 

To engage the community, the applicants hosted a neighborhood meeting on March 31 and on April 3. Meeting notices were sent out to property owners within 500 feet of the site with a 10-day notice given. In total, three attendees signed in at the meeting. According to the narrative, there was no negative feedback received. 

A traffic study was submitted showing that the proposed use of the property will have minimal impact on the surrounding road network as there is low trip generation potential and alternative routes to access the site. 
 
Moving forward 
Prior to any future development, the applicant will be required to submit zoning requests for rezoning of the subject parcels, conditional use permit requests, and any other applicable zoning requests.