(a)

The purpose of this UFD is to prevent encroachment of nonfarm uses into agricultural lands, and to allow for the orderly conversion of agricultural lands to urban type uses which are serviced by municipal water, stormwater, and sewer systems. Some of the nonfarm land uses within the underlying districts are not compatible with, and/or may interfere with, the orderly development of the area for future urban uses if allowed to develop without the limitations imposed by this UFD. Limiting the intensity of development within the UFD ensures that development occurs in a fiscally and environmentally responsible manner consistent with future development plans for the area.

(b)

Land use planning within the UFD should be a cooperative effort between the county and municipality in order to work towards the most efficient, planned and cost-effective delivery of government services. Township engagement in land use planning within the UFD will follow the specified process for land use applications according to the Blue Earth County Code of Ordinances. Planning within the UFD must also ensure compatibility of one community's development with the development of neighboring communities or jurisdictions.

(c)

The UFD standards allow for the continuation and maintenance of existing nonfarm uses in the UFD.

(Ord. of 2-21-2023)

(a)

Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted within the UFD, subject to the standards of section 24-504:

(1)

Single-family dwellings in the RR and RT zoning districts.

(2)

Single-family dwellings in the C and A zoning districts, at a density of one residence per quarter-quarter section (40 acres). Transfer of development rights may be utilized to exceed the permitted housing density of one dwelling per quarter-quarter section (40 acres), provided that the density does not exceed four dwellings in the receiving quarter-quarter section (40 acres). Lots of record may be utilized as specified in the density regulations of the A and C zoning districts. Bonus lots, as outlined in chapter 24, zoning, are not permitted within the UFD.

(3)

Agricultural and related uses in the RR, RT, A and C zoning districts, including agricultural buildings as specified in the underlying zoning districts.

(4)

Feedlots with less than 50 animal units in the A district as permitted on the UFD map.

(5)

Flood control and watershed structures in all zoning districts.

(6)

Level I home occupations as regulated in section 24-326 in the A and C districts.

(7)

Any permitted use in the GB, HB or LI districts, provided that the use meets the standards of section 24-504.

(8)

Any permitted use allowed in the LI zoning district is allowed as a permitted use in the HI zoning districts.

(9)

Railroad right-of-way, but not including railroad yards as allowed in underlying zoning districts.

(10)

Land spreading of septage and sewage sludge in the A district as regulated by the state and the Federal EPA.

(11)

Noncommercial wind energy conversion system as regulated in section 24-333 in all zoning districts.

(12)

Small solar energy systems in all zoning districts. Small solar energy systems are not allowed in any floodplain district.

(13)

Parks, recreational areas, wildlife areas, game refuges and forest preserves owned by government agencies in all zoning districts.

(14)

Seasonal produce sale stands as regulated in section 24-332.

(15)

Removing or filling zero to 50 cubic yards of fill that is not in connection with another permitted, conditional or interim use in the A, C, RT, and RR zoning districts and shall be reviewed by the planning agency.

(16)

Removing, stockpiling, or filling more than 500 cubic yards or disturbing one acre or more of land outside of a public right-of-way for township, county, state or federal road projects in the A and C zoning district shall be reviewed by the planning agency. The requirements and standards in section 6-674 shall be met.

(17)

Advertising, outdoor devices as regulated in section 24-311.

(18)

Nursing homes when served by municipal utilities in the RT district.

(19)

Offices associated with any permitted, conditional and interim uses listed in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section.

(20)

Accessory uses which are incidental to the permitted, conditional and interim uses listed in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section.

(21)

Accessory buildings which are incidental to the uses in subsection (a), (b), and (c) of this section.

(22)

Stand-alone accessory buildings as allowed in chapter 24, section 24-338 in the A and C zoning districts.

(23)

Essential services.

(b)

Conditional uses. The following uses may be allowed as conditional uses within the UFD, subject to the provisions of article II of this chapter and the standards of section 24-504:

(1)

Any conditional use in the GB, HB or LI district, provided that the use meets the standards of section 24-504.

(2)

Any conditional use allowed in the LI zoning district is allowed as a conditional use in the HI zoning districts within the UFD.

(3)

Buildings and facilities owned and operated by a governmental agency for a public purpose when served by municipal services. If not served by municipal services, a condition must be placed on the conditional use permit to adequately address the eventual connection to municipal services when they become physically possible and cost-effective.

(4)

New feedlots or the expansion of an existing feedlot to a cumulative total of 50 animal units or more in the A zoning district as permitted on the UFD map.

(5)

Manure storage structures in the A zoning district.

(6)

The proposed modification of an existing permitted feedlot in the shoreland district to mitigate an existing pollution problem.

(7)

Commercial wind energy conversion system as regulated in section 24-333 in the A, LI, and HI zoning districts.

(8)

Churches as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(9)

Cemeteries and/or memorial gardens as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(10)

Conversion of existing common interest communities, resorts, manufactured home parks, and other similar pre-zoning ordinance nonconforming developments pursuant to Minn. Stats. chs. 515A, 515B and 327C, where applicable, and requirements of sections 24-354 and 24-47(3) in the RT and RR zoning districts.

(11)

Manufactured home parks containing manufactured homes constructed and installed according to requirements of Minn. Stats. §§ 327.31—327.35 (Minnesota Manufactured Home Building Code), connected to municipal water and sewer, and as regulated in section 24-308 in the RT zoning district.

(12)

Planned unit development as regulated in article V of this chapter in the RT zoning district.

(13)

Broadcasting, cellular telecommunication and personal communication services towers and facilities, subject to performance standards contained in section 24-323, as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(c)

Interim uses. The following uses may be allowed as interim uses within the UFD, subject to the provisions of article II of this chapter and the standards of section 24-504:

(1)

Extraction of minerals, associated mining and processing activities in the C, A and HI zoning districts, subject to requirements of section 24-329.

(2)

Any interim use in the GB, HB or LI zoning districts, provided that the use meets the standards of section 24-504.

(3)

Any interim use allowed in the LI zoning district is allowed as an interim use in the HI zoning districts within the UFD.

(4)

Junkyards and salvage yards within the HI zoning district in existence at the time of adoption of this article. Existing junkyards shall obtain an interim use permit within one year of May 8, 2024

(5)

Nurseries, retail as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(6)

Greenhouses as allowed in underlying zoning districts.

(7)

Level I home occupations as regulated in section 24-326 in the RR and RT zoning districts.

(8)

Level II home occupations as regulated in section 24-326 in the A and C zoning districts.

(9)

Elder care/dependent care as regulated in section 24-324 in the A, C, or RR zoning districts.

(10)

Large solar energy systems as regulated in section 24-334 as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(11)

Campgrounds as regulated in section 24-322 as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(12)

Bed and breakfast/inns as regulated in section 24-321 as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(13)

Short-term rental units as regulated by section 24-337.

(14)

Self-service storage facilities (mini-storage) as regulated in section 24-335 as allowed in the underlying zoning districts.

(15)

Multiple-family dwellings served by municipal services in the RT zoning district.

(Ord. of 2-21-2023; Ord. of 5-8-2024, Att. 1)

(a)

General regulations. All height, yard, lot area, lot width, lot depth and lot coverage regulations in the UFD shall comply with the requirements of the underlying zoning district.

(b)

County State Aid Highway 90; front yard regulations. There shall be a front yard setback of not less than 100 feet from the right-of-way line of County State Aid Highway 90 in the UFD.

(Ord. of 2-21-2023)

The application of the UFD shall comply with the following general standards:

(a)

Every property or use shall have approved access to a public road or highway. No new use shall be established, and no expansion of an existing use shall be permitted if the property does not have access to a public road or highway. All accesses or expansions or modifications to existing accesses in the UFD shall be in accordance with approved transportation plans adopted by the road authority. The intensity of nonfarm land uses, including the expected traffic generated to the site, must be compatible, and/or not interfere with, the orderly development of the area.

(b)

The intensity of nonfarm land uses, including water usage, wastewater discharge, and stormwater management must ensure that development occurs in an environmentally responsible manner. The following characteristics of the property and the proposed use shall be reviewed before any land use development applications are considered:

1.

Water usage of the proposed use. New nonfarm uses which require the need for a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Well Construction Preliminary Assessment to obtain a water appropriations permit (10,000 gallons per day or 1,000,000 gallons per year) must be connected to municipal water service.

2.

Ability of the site to connect to municipal wastewater services or self-provide for adequate on-site wastewater treatment. New nonfarm uses which have limiting factors such as the site's soil, topography or any other factor which prevents the installation of an adequate on-site septic system meeting the requirements of article V of chapter 6 of this Code must be connected to municipal wastewater services. Expansion of existing nonfarm uses which have site factors which prevents the existing on-site system to meet this chapter's standards must be connected to municipal wastewater services. New nonfarm uses, served by on-site wastewater treatment, which have a design flow greater than 5,000 gallons per day up to 10,000 gallons per day, or if a single proposed or existing soil dispersal area receives a flow greater than 10,000 gallons per day; or when all proposed and existing SSTS soil dispersal areas that are under common ownership and within one-half mile of each other have a combined flow greater than 10,000 gallons per day, must be connected to municipal wastewater services.

3.

Stormwater management plans shall meet applicable state and local stormwater management standards and regulations to ensure erosion and sedimentation of downgradient property and bodies of water are not negatively impacted.

(c)

A map amendment to an underlying zoning district within the UFD may only be considered on land if compliant with section 24-46 and meeting all the following criteria:

1.

The purpose of the map amendment must meet the purpose and considerations of the county land use plan, the purpose of the UFD, and other standards of the County Code.

2.

The proposed map amendment must be consistent with the surrounding land uses and zoning districts. Expansion of spot zoning is prohibited.

3.

The proposed map amendment must not negatively impact the health, safety, or general welfare of the public.

4.

The purpose of the map amendment must be for a less intense land use and zoning district.

5.

The respective municipality and township shall be engaged in a rezoning process per item (f) of this section.

(d)

Nothing within the standards of this UFD shall be interpreted to allow uses not permitted in an underlying zoning district.

(e)

Existing uses of land which are not listed as permitted, conditional, or interim uses within the UFD shall be considered legally nonconforming and shall comply with section 24-309.

(f)

If an amendment or map amendment is requested to the urban fringe overlay district or the boundary of the underlying zoning district, the respective municipality and township shall be informed of the request and shall have a 30-day comment period to review and respond. The municipality's review and response shall examine whether the amendment is consistent with the goals and objectives of the municipal land use plan, how the request impacts the delivery of municipal services, and how the request impacts the planned capacity of municipal services. Township review shall be subject to section 24-45. If the township is party to an orderly annexation agreement, the township review shall be subject to section 24-526. Amendments shall not be granted indiscriminately and shall only be granted when necessary to reflect changes in the goals and policies of the community and the county land use plan.

(g)

All land divisions or combinations in the UFD must meet the standards in chapter 20 of the County Code and the following standards:

1.

In the A or C districts, dividing, subdividing, or modifying property lines for any permitted, conditional, or interim use that is identified in section 24-502 or an existing use is allowed.

2.

In the GB, HB, LI, HI, RR and RT districts, dividing or subdividing is only allowed in the following circumstances:

a.

When property lines are being modified for an existing developed property.

b.

When property lines are being modified for an undeveloped lot or lots if the overall density is not increased by adding additional buildable lots for development.

(Ord. of 1-21-2023)

(a)

The area within the Urban Fringe Overlay District is set forth on the official map delineating the boundaries of each municipality's urban fringe overlay district. Areas around the following municipalities are included: City of Mankato, City of Eagle Lake, City of Madison Lake, and the City of Skyline.

(b)

Boundaries for the UFD are based upon the purpose of the UFD as specified in section 24-501.

(c)

The setback of feedlots from municipal boundaries are represented on the Urban Fringe District Map. All feedlots must be setback from a municipality's corporate limits.

(d)

Mankato Township and Lime Township are subject to local ordinances in alignment with Minn. Stats. § 394.33.

(Ord. of 1-21-2023)