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Mounds View City Council April 10, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 10 <br /> <br /> 1 <br />Mayor Marty explained the definition of light industrial use primarily includes manufacturing, 2 <br />processing, fabrication, assembly, packaging, incidental storage sales and distribution of 3 <br />predominantly previously prepared materials, finished products or parts. He stated all processing 4 <br />is within buildings with limited exterior storage, have limited truck traffic, and is free of noise, 5 <br />odor, dust, glare, smoke, and other pollutants. Mayor Marty reviewed examples of light industrial 6 <br />uses. 7 <br /> 8 <br />Mayor Marty explained the definition of heavy industrial use primarily includes manufacturing 9 <br />and processing of large, bulky and predominantly raw, extracted or hazardous materials. He 10 <br />indicated it includes storage of flammable or explosive materials that propose a threat to public 11 <br />health or safety. He stated there is exterior storage of large equipment or material, and there is 12 <br />outside processing or assembly that generates significant traffic, and remits amounts of noise, 13 <br />odor, dust, glare or other pollutants. Mayor Marty reviewed examples of heavy industrial uses. 14 <br /> 15 <br />Mayor Marty stated that based on this information, the request is not consistent with the current 16 <br />Comp Plan. He stated there would be depreciation of the residential area bordering the facility, 17 <br />and the proximity of the residential neighborhood should be kept in mind. He stated that the area 18 <br />already has high truck traffic due to the existing businesses in the industrial park, and New 19 <br />Brighton has made a concerted effort to develop the area and reduce truck traffic. He stated it is 20 <br />not a good idea to replace the amount of truck traffic that has been reduced with septage trucks. 21 <br /> 22 <br />Mayor Marty stated the Metropolitan Council is behind this project, and indicated they are 23 <br />closing four locations in the northern and western areas of the metropolitan area (Forest Lake, 24 <br />Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Plymouth). He indicated the sites in Forest Lake and Coon Rapids 25 <br />are not monitored, but instead the trucks back up to manholes and make a discharge. He stated 26 <br />there is no indication as to the amount of trucks that use these sites because it is not monitored. 27 <br />Mayor Marty stated Coon Rapids wants to get rid of the site because of the number of trucks 28 <br />backing up to the manhole. He stated he is concerned that if all four sites close then the traffic 29 <br />will come to Mounds View. He referenced the March 27, 2006, Council minutes, where it was 30 <br />quoted that “there would be increased traffic of nine to ten vehicles per hour“, but now it is 31 <br />quoted at four to seven vehicles per hour. 32 <br /> 33 <br />Mayor Marty stated the Planning Commission examined all issues and recommended approval 34 <br />recognizing there are mechanisms that can be instituted with a conditional use permit for noise 35 <br />and odors if there is a problem. He stated that the applicants are trying to do a good service, but 36 <br />if $5 million is put into the project, the treatment plant may not be able to be extricated from 37 <br />Mounds View. He stated there could be fines assessed, but it would be too late. 38 <br /> 39 <br />Mayor Marty stated that New Brighton has been a good neighbor to Mounds View. He stated he 40 <br />has not heard anything positive about the project from any surrounding cities. 41 <br /> 42 <br />Mayor Marty stated the residents of the City of Mounds View are on City water and sewer, so no 43 <br />residents would benefit from a septage center, and may be more of a detriment to residents. He 44 <br />indicated he has yet to receive a call in favor of this proposal. 45