CY09-26

Request of Brett Skilbred for the vacation of a portion of Lind Street. The subject property is described as all that part of Lind Street located west of 8th Avenue and between Block 8 & 9, Columbia Park Addition.

The applicant is Brett Skilbred.

The applicant is requesting the vacation of a portion of Lind Street.

The subject property is described as all that part of Lind Street located west of 8th Avenue and between Block 8 & 9, Columbia Park Addition.

The subject property is currently a vacant public right-of-way.

The subject property is zoned R-3, Limited Multiple Dwelling District.

The subject property was included as part of an approved Land Use Plan Amendment. City Council approved the LUPA on May 12th, 2025 (CY14-25). The LUPA amended the land use of the subject property from Light Industrial to Medium Density Residential.

The subject property contains environmentally sensitive areas, as it includes bluffs / areas of slope. The Mankato City Code defines "slopes" as areas identified on the official city environmentally sensitive areas map as having a slope of 17.6 percent or greater.
The subject property has not been evaluated for wetlands.

Public utilities will be available to the subject property following completion of the Germania Park Phase 5 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects. 

The applicant, 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. Bolton & Menk, on behalf of the applicant, prepared an exhibit and legal description of the proposed right-of-way vacation area.

The applicant proposes to vacate the Lind Street ROW for the purpose of constructing twin-homes within the vacation area. 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 partially vegetated. 

The applicant has notified utility companies and received signatures from the 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. The applicant was unable to make contact with and get sign-off from, CenterPoint Energy, Metronet, Sprint, and Zayo Group, and will continue to follow up until signatures have been provided.

Xcel Energy indicated that they had utilities within the proposed vacation area. Xcel identified a utility pole within the ROW area that supports the overhead power line running east along the north side of Lind Street. Xcel Energy indicated that an easement would need to be dedicated in order to preserve the utility condition. Xcel Energy also indicated that if this condition needs to change for the proposed development to occur, costs would be incurred for the applicant, as Xcel would charge for any relocation. If necessary for development of the vacation area, the applicant shall work with Xcel to remove/relocate these utilities, if Xcel Energy is amenable. 

Development of the proposed vacation is proposed to occur following the completion of 8th Avenue with the Germania Park Phase 5 Capital Improvement Program project. 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.