09/19/1979 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 5 -Planning and Zoning September 19, 1979 Mr. O'Shea had a presentation on a peice of property owned jointly with Mr. Shanus and Mr. Wilson, and requested input from the Planning Commission. Mr. Wilson was also present. Mr. O'Shea had available maps and typewritten information for the Commission on the proposed development of the property. This was located on the north side of Highway 8, about a quarter mile east of Rice Lake Drive, and consisted of 10 acres, 2 of which were lowland and swamp. A land reclamation project entailing a mining and filling operation was proposed for this area, and eventually the land would be subdivided, although they were unsure of the present zoning. Preliminary approval from DNR had been obtained. Mr. Gourley indicated that this had been in operation without permits or controls, or a plan as to the ultimate use of the land. Mr. Doocey asked what compactible waste consisted of, Mr. O'Shea answered that it would be anything that met the specifications, and there would be no large peices of concrete, garbage or pollutants. Mir. Gourley asked if the PCA allowed asphalt, and Mr. O'Shea thought they did, but the building inspector had indicated it couldn't be used. The fill would be mostly sand, dirt and some rubble. Mr. Reinert asked if any borings had been taken; Mr. O'Shea thought it ran 4-15 feet, but no borings had been taken. Mr. Gourley had indicated to Mr. O'Shea previously that a number of borings would be required before the project was started to determine how much exactly would be mined out. He had also indicated the Council would probably require some sort of surety bond or deposit for each yard of material moved so it could be replaced if the operation was abandoned. Mr. O'Shea indicated that when a final plan was done, borings would be included, but had not been done because of the expense before input was gotten from the P & Z. Mr. Reinert felt the P & Z could not make a decision until more information of this type was available. Mr. Gourley asked if the Planning Commission automatically reviewed land fill and mining operations, and Mr. McLean indicated it did. Mr. Shearen asked whether the finished elevations were required as to what the property would be after excavation and refilling; Mr. McLean indicated this was a part of the engineering requirement. Mr. McLean asked what guarantees the Council would have that they would maintain ownership up to the time that the land was developable. His concern was that the land would be stripped and the project never completed, becoming a solid waste dump. Mr. Shearen felt this should be spelled out before a permit was issued, as people move away and so forth, and ownership changes. Mr. Reinert also expressed concern as to the material being mined out and then the project abandoned and becoming an eyesore. He also felt the type of fill was extremely important as the lake was nearby and the ponding and so forth in the area indicated underground water movement; whatever was put in as fill would have to be fairly res- tricted, as pollution in this case could be a serious problem. He suggested the City could insure that with certain requirements and restrictions as to type of fill. Mr. Gourley felt the procedure would be to have Mr. O'Shea submit a request for a permit for a mining and land fill operation, which would then be forwarded to the engineer. The state agency would need to be contacted. Mr. McLean indicated the P & Z would want to see the plans for the finished product. Elevations would need to be shown, and the type of zoning determined. The frontage on the highway was 75 ft, and a road would be needed to develop the back area. The minimum frontage requirement was 150 ft. Mr. O'Shea felt he wouldn't know until the engineering was completed whether it would be a feasible operation; Mr. Gourley indicated the Planning Commission would be willing to work with them in developing the property. Mr. Reinert asked what the time frame was for completion of the project. Mr. Q'Shea estimated three years, but felt this would depend on the engineering report. He had access to 50,000 cubic yards of fill material each year, and they would be filling as it was excavated. Mr. Gourley noted that this could be one way to control the operation, in terms of requiring a certain amount of fill on hand as a certain amount is removed, Mr. Reinert felt they should have letters indicating contact with the PCA in regard to the types of fill, and also DNR.