City of North Mankato Provides Update on AUAR Legal Challenge

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) has voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit challenging the City of North Mankato’s Industrial Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) oversees the AUAR process and approved the process utilized by the City in connection with the adoption of the North Mankato Industrial AUAR. The City believes the voluntary dismissal vindicates the AUAR process the City followed.

An AUAR process is commonly used when landowners, developers, or industry representatives are exploring potential land options. The North Mankato Industrial AUAR was initiated and funded by Project Deacon, LLC and prepared by the consulting firm Kimley-Horn to study a future general industrial land area and better understand what types and sizes of future business development could be supported.

The North Mankato Industrial AUAR evaluated possible land uses and environmental impacts for property being considered for two scenarios: a technology park or office/warehouse space. Since the study area is currently privately owned in Belgrade Township, and North Mankato was the closest municipality, the City’s role became the Responsible Government Unit (RGU) to oversee the process and provide the information required as part of the review. It is important to understand that an AUAR is only a study. It does not approve a specific project and does not mean anything is planned or moving forward. If a future project exceeds the assumptions in the AUAR, additional environmental would be required.

There has been community speculation about a potential data center as the AUAR received broader attention. No proposal, plan, or application for a data center was ever submitted to the City, and there is no data center project currently planned.

Through Kimley-Horn, the City followed the standard AUAR process to evaluate land use and environmental impacts as required and follows all applicable city, state and federal statutes.

There is no active development proposal for the area at this time. If a project is proposed in the future, it would go through the City’s standard public review process, including City Council consideration. North Mankato continues to be open to new business and industry that may be looking to locate to the community.