04/11/2007 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Planning & Zoning Board April 11, 2007 Page 6 APPROVED MINUTES He stated that 60 trucks went by in an hour and that side loaders are going through there. He is seeing increased traffic. He was c oncerned about runoff. He hopes the P&Z Board denies this application. Ms. Patrice Carpenter 6748 20 th Avenue, stated that a huge mountain of dirt is already there. She was concerned about pollution and trucks. She said her house is 400 feet from the road and she looks at a dirt pile from her dining room window. She believes the pile is currently in excess of 35 feet high. She has lived there for 20 some years and understands and can deal with ch ange, however feels that a big pile of dirt in their back yard is unreasonable. She had concerns about erosion control. She wondered if there are guarantees that there were precautions taken pr ior to storing the dirt on the site. She is concerned about where the dirt came from, if it is clean or infested with insects, and if it had been tested, because they have nearby wells. She said that her property is the host to the main culvert and that any drainage is goi ng south to the wetlands. Whatever is going north is going to back yards and to the culvert. She said that the drainage area is a natural drainage ditch going straight into the lakes and private wells. She stated that dirt and dust blow into her house through her open windows and feels like she is living in a dust bowl all summer. She said she is no longer able to dry her clothes outside. She said that there is a dusty haze when trucks are there and stated that the small fence that has been placed there cannot contain the dust from the huge mo untain of dirt. Ms. Carpenter stated concern that nobody showed up for the meeting on behalf of the applicant. She was concerned about the amount of daily truck traffic. She wondered if someone could guarantee that pollution hasn’t al ready been dumped there and if they could prove it. She urged the board to require that th e existing dirt pile be removed. Julie McNeely, 6687 20 th Ave S., stated that she lives th ree driveways north of site. She was grateful for the questions brought up this evening. She expressed concern of the sensory assault of truck traffic. She ag reed that on a summer day she cannot open windows or hang wash out to dry. She stated that the sound of truck engines breaking is deafening to the ears. She stated that ma ny neighbors have experien ced cups vibrating on the tables due to their houses shaking. She asked that board members consider the sensory level issues as if it were their homes. Mr. Rafferty made a MOTION to table the Pu blic Hearing to the Planning and Zoning Board Meeting on May 9. Motion was suppor ted by Mr. Hyden. Motion carried 6-0. Mr. Studenski asked for issues from the board that should be addressed. The majority of the board members stated that they would be inclined to deny the application because they feel the use is a busin ess and is not compatible in this zone. Mr. Nelson suggested rezoning the property. Mr. Pogalz stated that the pr operty is in a rural area and that farming is an allowable business. He pointed out that the property owner could farm the property which would cause dust, etc. as this does. He pointed out th at the road will take a beating in the future when the area develops. He stated that the property owner pays a road tax and has the right to use the roads. He pointed out that if the RCWD sees an issue with erosion control, then they will not allow the use. He doesn’t think the board can decide to deny a