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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 5.I.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/09/2026
Agenda Item:
Motion approving the Preliminary Plat of CNP Mankato First Addition (2400 North Riverfront Drive); by request of ERM.
Recommendation/Action(s):
At the February 25, 2026, meeting, the Planning Commission recommended the City Council motion to approve the preliminary plat.
Summary:
ERM, on behalf of CenterPoint Energy, is requesting preliminary plat approval of CNP Mankato First Addition. The subdivision encompasses the existing subject property addressed as 2400 N. Riverfront Drive and currently in use as CenterPoint Energy Minnesota. The proposed subdivision area also includes a portion of agricultural land currently used for row cropping.
The subject property is legally described as part of the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, part of the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, a tract of land located in the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, part of a parcel lying within the Southeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West, all located in the City of Mankato, Blue Earth County (2400 N. Riverfront Drive / BEC PID’s R010905176004, R010905176003, R010905176002, R010905176001)
The preliminary plat proposes the creation of a one-lot, one-block subdivision containing approximately 14.83 acres. As the property is currently unplatted, subdivision approval is required to bring the parcels into conformance with City subdivision regulations and to support current and future development on the site. There are no new public dedications proposed with the plat.
As the property is currently served by public utility infrastructure, the applicant does not propose any additional public utility connections. The applicant will be required to pay Sanitary Access Connection and Water Access Connection charges. Additionally, an increase in stormwater square footage will result in increased billing, which will take effect at the time of final plat approval.
The proposed preliminary plat shows multiple wetlands located on the subject property. The applicant has received a Notice of Decision for a "no-loss" decision under Minnesota Rule 8420.0415. Subpart A. Based on this finding, the proposal will not impact existing wetlands located on the subject property.
Access to the site will not be modified, as access will continue to be provided via Riverfront Drive. Any additional or modified access points will be subject to review and approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Blue Earth County, and the City of Mankato.
The proposed preliminary plat depicts 10' standard drainage and utility easement around the subject parcel. All private easements, including access easements, shall be included on the preliminary plat. The applicant will submit an amended preliminary plat for review prior to approval of the final plat. Any amended preliminary plat must include a Minnesota Department of Transportation access control line to the plat, clarification of ownership of the southwesterly area of the parcel and clarification of the area along Riverfront Drive where the current fence/parking lot is shown.
The applicant is seeking to plat the subject property in order to further develop the property in two phases, with a solar farm and a green hydrogen production and storage facility. The hydrogen energy facility, designated as phase II, is proposed to be located just north of the existing facility and will operate as a peak power plant that will provide 1-megawatt of energy. The 1-megawatt solar farm shown in the concept plan is proposed to be constructed to the west of the existing development as part of phase I.
Because the property was never platted previously, the applicant shall be responsible for payment in lieu of parkland dedication in the amount of $45,973.
The subject property is legally described as part of the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, part of the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, a tract of land located in the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West; AND, part of a parcel lying within the Southeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter, Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 26 West, all located in the City of Mankato, Blue Earth County (2400 N. Riverfront Drive / BEC PID’s R010905176004, R010905176003, R010905176002, R010905176001)
The preliminary plat proposes the creation of a one-lot, one-block subdivision containing approximately 14.83 acres. As the property is currently unplatted, subdivision approval is required to bring the parcels into conformance with City subdivision regulations and to support current and future development on the site. There are no new public dedications proposed with the plat.
As the property is currently served by public utility infrastructure, the applicant does not propose any additional public utility connections. The applicant will be required to pay Sanitary Access Connection and Water Access Connection charges. Additionally, an increase in stormwater square footage will result in increased billing, which will take effect at the time of final plat approval.
The proposed preliminary plat shows multiple wetlands located on the subject property. The applicant has received a Notice of Decision for a "no-loss" decision under Minnesota Rule 8420.0415. Subpart A. Based on this finding, the proposal will not impact existing wetlands located on the subject property.
Access to the site will not be modified, as access will continue to be provided via Riverfront Drive. Any additional or modified access points will be subject to review and approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Blue Earth County, and the City of Mankato.
The proposed preliminary plat depicts 10' standard drainage and utility easement around the subject parcel. All private easements, including access easements, shall be included on the preliminary plat. The applicant will submit an amended preliminary plat for review prior to approval of the final plat. Any amended preliminary plat must include a Minnesota Department of Transportation access control line to the plat, clarification of ownership of the southwesterly area of the parcel and clarification of the area along Riverfront Drive where the current fence/parking lot is shown.
The applicant is seeking to plat the subject property in order to further develop the property in two phases, with a solar farm and a green hydrogen production and storage facility. The hydrogen energy facility, designated as phase II, is proposed to be located just north of the existing facility and will operate as a peak power plant that will provide 1-megawatt of energy. The 1-megawatt solar farm shown in the concept plan is proposed to be constructed to the west of the existing development as part of phase I.
Because the property was never platted previously, the applicant shall be responsible for payment in lieu of parkland dedication in the amount of $45,973.