NEW ULM – The Comprehensive Plan previously approved last month received an addendum at a City Council meeting Tuesday.

The four areas covered are Downtown, East Airport, Upper Cottonwood, and Northwest New Ulm/Milford. The plans will serve as blueprints for the next 20 years of development in these areas.

City Planner John Knisley said the area plans were designed to ensure development uses existing infrastructure, is fiscally sustainable, has an efficient growth pattern, and is informed by New Ulm’s developmental history since 1858.

For Downtown, steps will be made to preserve downtown and support the existing businesses. Potential changes include adding a convenience store, expanding the housing supply through developments like Marktplatz Mall, and changing the downtown parking configuration.

With the current parking downtown, the road takes up 58 of the 80 feet of the space between buildings. An option included in the plan considers making downtown parallel parking instead of the current angled configuration. With parking lanes parallel to the road, downtown would have 20 more feet to use.

This additional space could be used for additional sidewalk space, established outdoor seating, trees, or a reserved bike-only lane. The street could also be converted from a one-way to a two-way.

The East Airport area is relatively undeveloped and has several opportunities. Housing options he identified as viable for this area include tiny homes, townhomes, single-family homes, and courtyard housing.

With an airport in the area and US Highway 14 running through the area, Knisley said new hotels and lodging are a potential developmental option. A hotel study would need to be conducted, but families traveling along the US highway and small airplane travelers were identified by the plan as potential users.

The expansive space in the area would also fit the need for a park over 25 acres long that can hold athletic activities. This development is also cited in the Park and Rec section of the comprehensive plan. Park and Rec Director Joey Schugel said at a March 13 work session there is more than double the land needed for this.

Housing is a focus in the Upper Cottonwood. While incorporating the area’s natural assets, Knisley said a spaced-out development cycle is necessary.

“There’s a major amount of infrastructure that needs to be put in place for any development to happen in this area,” he said. “We’re trying to look long term. How do we do this in a sustainable manner and in phases if this were to be developed in the future? We also want to take advantage of the natural resources that we have in this area.”

Phase one would see a signature park developed south of Dacotah Drive. This park would include a splash pad, playground, picnic shelter, and water tower supplying water for the whole area. The new amenity is meant to entice future housing development and help execute further growth phases going southward.

While the previous areas have emphasized business and recreation, Northwest New Ulm and Milford would serve as an industrial hub. With more employers moving into this area, Knisley said there would be a need and space for more housing.

“One because that’s where industrial development is occurring,” he said. “Two because we have good highway and railroad access. As they go further north toward the KC road that area was looked at largely for residential development including low, medium, and high-density residential areas.”

Councilman Les Schultz made the motion to approve adding the four area plans to the comprehensive plan. Councilman Dave Christian seconded and the plans were approved unanimously. To view the full four area plans, visit https://shorturl.at/YWXVL.