Community Development

Community Development

Leading the way through innovative, open and responsive planning, development and housing services for a vibrant, livable and sustainable regional community.

Community Development is responsible for planning and managing Mankato’s physical growth and expansion with an emphasis on orderly growth using an Urban Service Matrix to make the community more sustainable in terms of land use and development, downtown development and neighborhood preservation. Community Development includes Housing, Inspections, Planning and Zoning, Economic Development and Technology Plus.

Greater East Mankato Infill Service District
The City of Mankato is proposing the Greater East Mankato Infill Service District, which is located south of U.S. Highway 14 and east of Trunk Highway 22 in Sections 10, 11, 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23, in Mankato Township (T108N, R26W), Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Since this area has experienced continued development pressure, this study has been prepared in order to proactively address potential environmental issues. This project includes the planning for the conversion of approximately 2,100 acres of predominantly agricultural land and open space to a mix of residential, commercial, and public land use, open space and public infrastructure utilizing sustainable design practices over the next 25 to 50 years, or more. Three land use scenarios are being prepared for this project which will require the extension of public infrastructure including water, sanitary sewer, roads, stormwater system treatment and associated utilities.
Low Income Households Market Study
A comprehensive market study of housing needs of low income households in the Mankato, North Mankato and Eagle Lake Area.
Sibley Parkway Presentation of Minnesota Senate Committee
On September 20, 2007, the Senate Bonding Committee visited the Sibley Parkway Project. The reason for the visit was to see first-hand an example of a project partially funded by a Greater Minnesota Redevelopment Grant from the State of Minnesota. The source of the grant money is State General Obligation Bonds, and it is likely that a request for more bonding for other similar projects in Greater Minnesota will be submitted. The Sibley Parkway Redevelopment Project is a two-phase redevelopment effort located in the City Center Renaissance Area of Downtown Mankato. The first phase (currently underway) has at its cornerstone the redevelopment of an approximate 64-acre former Hanson Concrete plant located along the Minnesota River. The catalyst for redevelopment is the extension of a parkway road and its associated infrastructure through the property that will provide improved access and utility servicing. The parkway will connect to Sibley Park, one of Mankato’s largest and most historic parks. The second phase will extend the parkway road from the Hanson Concrete redevelopment site to Riverfront Drive. The extension will provide improved access to an underutilized area and a similar catalyst for redevelopment and adaptive reuse of other existing facilities.
Sibley Parkway Redevelopment Plan Design Guidelines
Sibley Parkway is an extension of Mankato’s lower westside neighborhood. The Sibley Parkway Redevelopment Plan and these design guidelines draw on the lower westside neighborhood’s character, traditional neighborhood design, midwest housing traditions, the opportunity to create a special village center and the unique opportunity associated with living near Sibley Park and on the Minnesota River. There are two documents. Part one is the narrative for the redevelopment plan. The second document provides traditional neighborhood design guidelines to give direction to the public and private spaces The Sibley Parkway Redevelopment Plan, its public spaces and its buildings were created or chosen to fulfill the vision of: bring the essence of river side living to both the new area and to the existing lower westside neighborhood, capture the traditions of the small midwestern river town, extend and enhance the traditional neighborhood design found in many parts of Mankato. The guidelines set up in this book are used to accomplish the vision for this unique development and to create a lifestyle reminiscent of the small town river neighborhoods found along the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

Community Development Links