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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Public Hearings 7.A.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/23/2026
Agenda Item:
Resolution approving the vacation of a portion of Lind Street located between Blocks 8 & 9, Columbia Park Addition (adjacent to 8th Avenue); by request of Brett Skilbred.
Recommendation/Action(s):
At the February 25, 2026, meeting, the Planning Commission recommended the adoption of the resolution vacating a portion of Lind Street.
Summary:
Brett Skilbred is requesting to vacate the portion of Lind Street described as: All that part of Lind Street located west of Eighth Avenue and between Block 8 & 9, Columbia Park Addition.
The applicant proposes to vacate a portion of the Lind Street right-of-way (ROW) for the purpose of constructing twin-homes within the eastern portion of the vacation area. The provided concept plans show that the applicant intends to construct 11 slab-on-grade twin-homes across an approximately 2.8-acre area, an area that includes the proposed to be vacated portion of Lind Street. Without the vacation of the portion of Lind Street, the applicant would not be able to develop the property as proposed. The proposed vacation area is the westernmost extent of Lind Street that was never developed as a roadway. The right-of-way area is currently vacant and is vegetated.
The applicant has notified utility companies and received signatures from a majority of utility companies stating that they do not have utilities within the vacation area and that maintaining the area as public ROW for utility purposes would not be needed. A condition has been proposed to ensure the applicant receives sign-off from all relevant utility companies prior to recording the vacation with Blue Earth County.
The applicant met with Xcel Energy onsite on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to discuss the overhead utility pole that was indicated in Xcel's petition response to be near the proposed vacation area. Xcel Energy and the applicant concluded that the utility pole is not within the Lind Street right-of-way and is rather within the 8th Avenue right-of-way.
The applicant proposes to vacate a portion of the Lind Street right-of-way (ROW) for the purpose of constructing twin-homes within the eastern portion of the vacation area. The provided concept plans show that the applicant intends to construct 11 slab-on-grade twin-homes across an approximately 2.8-acre area, an area that includes the proposed to be vacated portion of Lind Street. Without the vacation of the portion of Lind Street, the applicant would not be able to develop the property as proposed. The proposed vacation area is the westernmost extent of Lind Street that was never developed as a roadway. The right-of-way area is currently vacant and is vegetated.
The applicant has notified utility companies and received signatures from a majority of utility companies stating that they do not have utilities within the vacation area and that maintaining the area as public ROW for utility purposes would not be needed. A condition has been proposed to ensure the applicant receives sign-off from all relevant utility companies prior to recording the vacation with Blue Earth County.
The applicant met with Xcel Energy onsite on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to discuss the overhead utility pole that was indicated in Xcel's petition response to be near the proposed vacation area. Xcel Energy and the applicant concluded that the utility pole is not within the Lind Street right-of-way and is rather within the 8th Avenue right-of-way.