North Mankato council reviews garage‑dwelling complaint and Planning Commission recommends no ADUs

At a July 6 work session the North Mankato City Council reviewed a resident complaint alleging someone was living in a garage and discussed whether to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.

Community Development Director Fischer said the Planning Commission reviewed the code and determined that while the City Code already prohibits living in a garage, it can be difficult to prove. The Commission recommended that ADUs not be permitted at this time, noting limited resident interest and that nearby Mankato and St. Peter do not allow ADUs.

Council Member Peterson asked for clarification of an ADU. City Attorney Kennedy said an ADU is defined as having "a place for sleeping, a place for eating, and a place for waste." Fischer added that an ADU can be attached or stand-alone. Fischer and Kennedy said City Code requires a minimum 320 square feet for a garage and that in Minnesota it is often difficult to sell a home without a garage.

Attorney Kennedy said staff has issued a citation in the suspected garage-dwelling case and that a court date is scheduled for October. He said staff will continue to monitor the property and may evaluate whether it qualifies as a nuisance property that could prompt additional enforcement; he also noted neighboring property owners may pursue private legal remedies that in some cases proceed more quickly than municipal enforcement.

Next steps: no code changes were recommended by the Planning Commission; staff will continue enforcement on the individual case and report back as appropriate.