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Planner says DNR conditionally approved floodplain ordinance updates; Xcel estimates 80 working days for gas-main work covering most of town
Summary
City Planner Jennifer Haskamp reported the DNR has given conditional approval to proposed floodplain ordinance updates and will return the ordinance to the council for consideration; Engineer Lucas Jones said Xcel Energy expects roughly 80 working days for right-of-way/escrow and that about 80% of town will receive new gas mains.
City Planner Jennifer Haskamp told the Mendota City Council on June 9 that the planning commission held a public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance updates focused on floodplain management and that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has given conditional approval to the draft ordinance.
Haskamp said most floodplain requirements come from the DNR and cannot be materially changed by the city; she said she will present the ordinance to the full council at the next meeting, because only three council members were at the planning commission meeting.
On property-specific matters, Haskamp said the owner at 1348 Second Street should obtain a survey for a garage project and that variances for setbacks and the bluff-impact zone will be necessary. She noted utilities run through the corridor and that new gas-line work is planned nearby, which complicates right-of-way vacation requests.
Engineer Lucas Jones said Xcel Energy reported the escrow and right-of-way permitting process will take about 80 working days and that roughly 80% of Mendota will receive new gas mains. He added that the clerk had sent an invoice to Xcel for work-related costs.
Why it matters: the floodplain ordinance and zoning clarifications can affect property owners' ability to build or alter structures near bluffs and waterways; a large gas-main installation will affect construction schedules and may create temporary disruptions.
What’s next: Haskamp will bring the DNR-conditioned ordinance to the next council meeting for formal consideration. Xcel’s timeline and the right-of-way permitting remain pending; staff will monitor escrow/permit progress and notify council when the work schedule is firm.
