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City approves phase‑1 reuse of Good Counsel campus with parking limits; sisters, housing group express support
Summary
Council approved the final plat review and a conditional use permit allowing Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership to repurpose part of the Good Counsel campus into 53 units (phase 1) with conditions on parking, stormwater and future phases; the School Sisters of Notre Dame submitted a letter urging approval.
The Mankato City Council on May 11 approved a scaled‑back Phase 1 plan to convert portions of the former Our Lady of Good Counsel campus into housing and community space, following a staff presentation and written support from the campus' former stewards.
Sister Joyce Colbit read a letter from Sister Deborah Ciano of the School Sisters of Notre Dame endorsing Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership's "mission‑driven approach" and urging the city to approve plans that preserve the site's legacy while enabling community‑serving uses.
Staff presentation and conditions: Community Development Director Kans told the council Phase 1 will reutilize existing buildings to provide 53 residential units and five guest suites across Isidore West, Isidore East and Teresa Hall, and will use the chapel as assembly space. Due to parking constraints, one previously requested building (Shide Hall) was removed from the Phase 1 scope; staff said future phases (which could add up to about 110 units including assisted living and office uses) would require separate review and additional parking, utilities and stormwater treatment. For chapel events, the developer proposed off‑site parking arrangements; staff recommended limiting that off‑site option to up to 10 events per year and conditioning approvals on verifiable parking agreements and penalties for noncompliance (staff noted a $500/day penalty or referral back to planning or council for conditional use violations).
Why it matters: The decision reuses a longstanding community campus and aims to balance preservation, community benefits and infrastructure limits. "We respectfully encourage the city of Mankato to approve the proposed plans for the Good Counsel property," the SSND letter read.
Council action: Council Member Laban moved approval of the final plat review and conditional use permit to accommodate more than one building on a single lot; Council Member Mettler seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Staff said the applicant could amend future phases if they add parking and associated stormwater infrastructure.
Next steps: The Phase 1 reuse may proceed under the conditions approved by council; any expansion or change in parking/utility configuration must return for additional review and permitting.
