City Council Resolution 2026-28 (EAW Response - Scannell with letter)CITY OF MONTICELLO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-28
A RESOLUTION TO HOLD ON RENDERING A DETERMINATION REGARDING CITIZEN PETITION
FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET (EAW) FOR SCANNELL TECHNOLOGY
PARK
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2026, the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB)
received a citizen petition requesting the preparation of an Environmental Assessment
Worksheet (EAW) for what the petition deems the "Monticello Tech LLC/Scannell Data Center
Project"; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2026, the EQB forwarded the petition to the City of Monticello
(the "City"), having determined the City is the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) for
purposes of determining the need for an EAW regarding the project described in the petition;
and
WHEREAS, the Monticello Tech LLC/Scannell Data Center Project, as identified in the
petition, includes what is identified as the Scannell Technology Park Project (the "Scannell Site")
and described as a technology park totaling approximately 1.3 million square feet, located in an
approximately 106-acre area; and
WHEREAS, the Scannell Site is located in Monticello Township within the Monticello
Orderly Annexation Area, the Monticello Orderly Annexation Agreement specifies the City
becomes the RGU upon receiving a Petition for Annexation, and the City has not received an
annexation petition regarding the Scannell Site; and
WHEREAS, Scannell Properties, LLC submitted an application to amend the City 's
Comprehensive Plan to reguide an area of approximately 76 acres within the Scannell Site to
Light Industrial Park, and the remaining approximately 30 acres of the Scannell Site are
currently guided as Light Industrial Park; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the requested amendment to the Comprehensive
Plan on May 27, 2025, but on January 12, 2026, voted to re -analyze the Comprehensive Plan's
land -use guide for an area that contains the Scannell Site, and directed the Planning Commission
to hold a public hearing on the matter; and
WHEREAS, to date no specific project proposal or application has been submitted to the
City regarding the use or development of the Scannell Site, and an area containing the Scannell
Site is undergoing re -analysis regarding its land -use guiding under the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9, provides that if an RGU "cannot act on a
petition because no permit application has been filed ... the petition remains in effect for no
more than one year from the date on which it is filed with the EQB"; and
WHEREAS, City Staff have reviewed the petition and applicable state regulations and
have determined that without a specific proposed project or application, and considering the
ongoing re -analysis of the Comprehensive Plan's land -use guide for an area that contains the
Scannell Site, the City is unable to act on the petition as provided in Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Monticello, Minnesota:
1. Hold on Petition. The City Council hereby affirms that at this time it is unable to act on the
EAW petition for the Scannell Site received on March 9, 2026.
2. Findings of Fact. The City Council adopts the findings in the letter attached hereto as
Exhibit A in support of its determination that it is unable to act on the petition at this time,
including but not limited to the following:
a. The City is engaged in the process of re -analyzing the Comprehensive Plan's land -
use guide for an area that includes the Scannell Site, and the outcome of that
process could be determinative of what proposed project may be permitted at the
Scannell Site.
b. No specific project proposal or application has been submitted to the City regarding
the Scannell Site, and any specific future use or development at the Scannell Site
subject to City approval is indeterminable at this time. As such, there is insufficient
information to determine whether the nature or location of a proposed project at
the Scannell Site will have the potential for significant environmental effects.
c. Pursuant to Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9, the City is unable to act on the petition
in the absence of a specific project proposal or application, therefore the
petition remains in effect for no more than one year from the date it was filed
with the EQB.
3. Direction to Staff. The City Administrator is directed to provide the written notification
of this decision, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and resolution to the petitioner's representative,
the project proposer, and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) within five (5) working days,
in accordance with Minnesota Rules 4410.1100. The City Administrator is also directed to
maintain the petition on file with the City in the event a project application is received requiring
action on the petition consistent with Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Monticello, Minnesota this 13th day of April,
2026.
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
ATTEST:
UAB z w
en fifer Sc r ' er, City Clerk
EXHIBIT A
March , 2026
Petitioner's Representative
Andrew Sopher
5944 Badger Street
Monticello, MN 55362
Sarah Lerohl
Environmental Review Program
Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155
sarah.lerohl@state.mn.us
RE: Notice — Hold on Issuing Decision on Petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet
(EAW) regarding Scannell Properties, LLC Projects
Dear Mr. Sopher,
The City of Monticello ("City") acknowledges receipt of the citizen petition requesting an
Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the development referred to as the Scannell
Technology Park Project (the "Scannell Site"). The petition was received by the Environmental
Quality Board (EQB) on March 9, 2026, and subsequently forwarded to the City, designated as the
Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU), on the same date.
This letter serves as the City's formal notice regarding the citizen petition for an Environmental
Assessment Worksheet (EAW). This decision was affirmed by resolution of the City of Monticello
City Council, a council that meets only on a periodic basis, on April 13, 2026.
After a thorough review of the petition, the procedural history of the subject area, and applicable
state regulations, the City has determined it is unable to act on the petition at this time. The City's
decision is based on the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law below.
Findings of Fact
1. The Scannell Site identified in the petition is described as a technology park totaling
approximately 1.3 million square feet, located in an approximately 106-acre area.
2. The Scannell Site is located in Monticello Township within the Monticello Orderly
Annexation Area, and the City has not received an annexation petition regarding the
Scannell Site.
3. Scannell Properties, LLC submitted an application to amend the City's Comprehensive Plan
to reguide an area of approximately 76 acres within the Scannell Site to Light Industrial
Park, and the remaining approximately 30 acres of the Scannell Site are currently guided as
Light Industrial Park.
4. The City Council approved the requested amendment to the Comprehensive Plan on May
27, 2025, but on January 12, 2026, voted to re -analyze the Comprehensive Plan's land -use
guide for an area that contains the Scannell Site, and directed the Planning Commission to
hold a public hearing on the matter.
5. The City is engaged in the process of re -analyzing the Comprehensive Plan's land -use guide
for an area that includes the Scannell Site, and the outcome of that process could be
determinative of what proposed project may be permitted at the Scannell Site. As such, there
is insufficient information to determine whether the nature or location of a proposed project
at the Scannell Site will have the potential for significant environmental effects.
6. No specific project proposal or application has been submitted to the City regarding the
Scannell Site, and any specific future use or development at the Scannell Site subject to City
approval is indeterminable at this time.
Ley,al Basis
Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9, provides that if an RGU "cannot act on a petition because no permit
application has been filed ... the petition remains in effect for no more than one year from the date
on which it was filed with the EQB." Here, the City is unable to act on the petition because a
specific project application has not been submitted or even proposed. Also, the nature of any
potential project could be determined by the current re -analysis of land -guiding for the area.
Because the City is unable to act on the petition at this time, the petition will remain on file with the
City, in the event a project application is received requiring action, as provided in Minn. R.
4410.1100, subp. 9, at that time.
Conclusion
The City has reviewed the petition and applicable state regulations and determined based on the
reasons outlined above that it is unable to act on the petition at this time. The City will maintain the
petition on file in the event action becomes necessary pursuant to Minn. R. 4410.1100, subp. 9.
Sincerely,
Rachel Leonard
City Administrator
City of Monticello