Motion approving a Preliminary Plat of The Station. The subject property is described as that part of the easterly 20 acres of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter and the North Half of the southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, all in Section 3, Township 108, Range 26, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, lying westerly of the railroad right of way; by request of Orion Development, Inc. 

At the June 26, 2024, meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the approving a preliminary plat of The Station with the following findings:

1. General Requirements
   1. The site is designed in conformance with the location and widths of streets, the general drainage situation, lot sizes and arrangement.
   2. A drainage study has been submitted to verify compliance with the City drainage requirements.
   3. The site provides storm drains and stormwater ponds that outlet into the city's stormwater facilities at the rates and volumes allowed by the MS4 permit.
   4. On-site wetlands have been delineated. 
2. Streets
   1. The street right-of-way widths conform to the standards listed in Chapter 11 of Mankato City code by meeting the right-of-way standards.
3. Easements
   1. The final plat provides the standard easements required in Chapter 11 of the Mankato City Code.
4. Block Standards
   1. The blocks within the subdivision were designed for the intended end use as industrial lots.
5. Lot Standards
   1. The lots within the subdivision are intended for industrial development. The lots are designed in conformance with the standards set forth in Chapter 10.
       
   2. The concept plans submitted for the industrial development depict areas for off-street loading and off-street parking.
6. Public Sites and Open Spaces
   1. The applicant will be making a $40,161 payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication. 

Orion Development, Inc. is requesting a preliminary plat review of "The Station". The subject property is described as that part of the easterly 20 acres of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter and the North Half of the southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, all in Section 3, Township 108, Range 26, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, lying westerly of the railroad right of way (Blue Earth County PID R430903200005).

The property is currently located in Mankato Township, and future reviews will require annexation, zoning, final plat review and consideration of the proposed uses of the property. The underlying land use plan, which guides future use of the subject property, shows the future land use of the property as, “Light Industrial.”

The proposed subdivision includes a two lot, one block subdivision that encompasses 13.387 acres. Lot 1, Block 1 encompasses 3.312 acres and Lot 2, Block 1 is depicted as 10.075 acres. A concept plan for the development shows a new, approximately 130’ X 280’ building and six-plex, industrial condo buildings being constructed on the site. Access to the subdivision will be via 227th Street. A private drive will connect the site to 227th Street.

Water and sanitary sewer will connect to the site via a connection to 227th Street. Storm water will be directed to a storm water retention pond located on the southwest corner of Lot 1 and on the south of the side of Lot 2. The retention pond outlets into a ditch that is to the west of the site. 

The site was evaluated for wetlands by the Blue Earth County Technical Evaluation Panel. A wetland was identified on the southern side of the property. The applicant's plan does not affect the wetland. The applicant will be required to provide documentation that the wetland will stay viable following modification to the site for the construction or a wetland replacement plan shall be submitted if impact is anticipated to occur.

A payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication will be required in the amount of $40,161. This is based on the values provided by the Blue Earth County Assessor's Office, which values industrial land at $60,000 per acre. Park dedication is 5% of the assessed unimproved value of the site as an industrial use.