CY34-25

Request of Bolton and Menk, with permission of the property owner, for a preliminary and final plat review of Hillside Church Addition. The subject properties are described as Outlot B, Cottages at Town Hall Acres, City of Mankato (Blue Earth County PID R010920228024).

The anticipated date of City Council action is August 11, 2025. 

The applicant is Bolton and Menk on behalf of Hillside Church.

The applicant is requesting a preliminary and final plat review of Hillside Church Addition. 

The subject properties are described as Outlot B, Cottages at Town Hall Acres, City of Mankato (Blue Earth County PID R010920228024). 

Hillside church is located on the eastern parcel.  The current parcel was previously approved for a conditional use permit to allow for a parking lot expansion in 2017. 

The subject property is zoned R-1, one-family dwelling district. 

A wetland is located on the northern portion of the property.  The property also does have significant grade changes from the south of the property to the north of the property.

The property is not currently served by public infrastructure.

The City Code pertaining to the R-1 district may be viewed at the link below:

https://library.municode.com/mn/mankato/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH10LAUSDE_ARTIIREDI_DIV3OMIDWDI
 

The Site Plan and Traffic Review Committee met on July 8th, 2025 and submitted the following comments: 

1. The applicant shall be aware there will be a recalculation of storm water charges.
2. The use of the newly platted lots will be limited to the allowable uses in the R-1 district. As a parking lot, this lot will need to remain with the church use, which is located within 500'. Accessory structures are not allowed on a lot without a primary structure, among other provisions in the R-1 district. 
3. The applicant shall make the notification fee payment in the portal, if not already complete. 

The applicant is requesting a preliminary and final plat review of Hillside Church Subdivision.

The proposed plat, Hillside Church Subdivision, is a 1-lot, 1-block subdivision with the remnant portion of the property being retained as an outlot. The applicant is requesting a preliminary and final plat review. Lot 1 encompasses 7.74 acres and is the location of the existing church and parking lot.  Proposed Outlot A encompasses 3.213 acres. The applicant does not have a proposed development for the outlot at this time. 

The applicant needs to plan accordingly for any development of Outlot A as there may be limitations to the ability to provide sanitary sewer service to the site without connecting through the Lot 1, Block 1, Hillside Church Subdivision.
 

The staff recommend the following findings:

General Requirements:

1. The site is designed in conformance with the location and width of streets, the general drainage location, 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.

Streets:

1. The street right-of-way widths conform to the standards listed in Chapter 10 of the Mankato City code by meeting the right-of-way standards.

Easements:

1. The proposed preliminary plat provides the standard easements required in Chapter 10 of the Mankato City Code.

Block Standards:

1. The blocks within the subdivision were designed for the intended end use in an R-1 district.

Lot Standards:

1. The lots within the subdivision are intended for development. The lots are designed in conformance with the standards set forth in Chapter 10.
2. The concept plan for the residential areas conforms to the minimum lot size requirements.

Public Sites and Open Spaces:

1. The applicant is not required to make a park dedication as the property was previously platted.

Staff recommends approving the preliminary and final plat with the following conditions:    

1. The applicant shall dedicate any easements or right-of-way on the final plat.
2. The applicant shall obtain a final plat prior to any construction beginning on the site.