Commission recommends approval of AJK Mankato Holdings’ self‑storage PUD with conditions

Ben (Bennett) Hansen, city planning staff, presented AJK Mankato Holdings LLC’s request to develop self‑service storage buildings within the M1 Light Industrial zoning district and to establish a planned unit development over roughly 13.139 acres west of County Road 12. Hansen said the applicant revised earlier plans to replace commercial condominium units with self‑service storage units that do not require individual water or sanitary sewer hookups and described a phased development schedule and shared private utilities and roadway network.

Hansen detailed site features including 14 proposed self‑service buildings arranged around a shared drive and pond, three building types (two 6‑unit buildings, eight double‑sided multi‑entrance buildings, four single‑sided edge buildings), turning‑movement diagrams for fire access, on‑site stormwater retention, temporary private utility connections for the Rickway Carpet Building, and a requirement that certificates of occupancy be withheld until parking, utilities and stormwater facilities are completed per phase. He also noted a prior payment‑in‑lieu of parkland dedication of $40,161 associated with the project. Staff recommended approval with more than two dozen conditions covering phasing, design standards, noise limits (MPCA), FAA flight zone compliance, erosion control, drainage easement access, and recorded covenants for private roads and maintenance agreements.

No public comments were recorded. A commissioner moved approval, a second was recorded and the commission recommended approval and forwarded the item to city council for anticipated action on March 9.