The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on July 21 for a public hearing to consider an application for a conditional use permit for a sand and gravel pit, located in section 19 of Spring Valley Township.
Mitch Froehlich spoke for Ulland Brothers, Inc., a local paving and excavation contractor (founded in 1920). The employee-owned company has a three-year lease agreement for seven acres from landowner Thomas Warren in order to operate the existing gravel pit.
Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained neighboring property owners had been notified. There was no comment from the township or the public prior to the meeting or during the meeting concerning the application.
Froehlich noted the location of the sand and gravel pit is just inside the Fillmore County line. Plans are for the pit to be used for an upcoming street project in Grand Meadow (scheduled for 2023). It may also be used for some future work in Spring Valley. At this time, they are just planning to use the sand and gravel pit for those projects.
It is possible they could engage in the crushing of concrete and bituminous materials that would have to be hauled to the pit. The crushed materials will be blended with material excavated from the pit. The recycled product is to be used as aggregate base. If they do engage in the crushing process it will probably be limited to less than a week. There are no plans to do any blasting.
Dust from hauling should not be an issue as an existing access will be used off Highway 16. Adkins said trucks will be entering and exiting on an open stretch of road with good sight distance.
The commission approved the application for the CUP with no conditions. The CUP will allow for mining and gravel extraction and temporary storage and crushing of concrete and bituminous materials. The county board will consider final approval of the CUP at the August 2 meeting.
Ordinance amendment
A proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment to Section 604.05 of the Fillmore County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to lot width regulations was discussed.
Adkins explained in the last year there have been multiple applications for a variance for a building site with a recorded 33-foot easement for access, instead of the 66 feet required in the current ordinance. One variance was applied for and approved at a recent Board of Adjustment meeting, held on May 19.
The need for a requirement of a minimum width of 150 feet at the front of a proposed building site was also discussed. Duane Bakke suggested this width requirement was probably intended for planned subdivisions. Adkins noted there are subdivisions that are permitted, but not built.
A motion calling for a public hearing on the proposed changes to the ordinance was approved to be put on the next Planning Commission agenda, possibly to be held on August 18.
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