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Staff Report Star Environmental Page 3 The Demonstrated Need for Such a Use: The applicant has owned and operated the "Sewerman" business for 29 years and has been researching the need for this type of processing center in Minnesota for seven years. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) has been operating sites for septage discharging in the metro area and will be closing the four locations in the north metro area by 2009 due to spending over $1 million so far on repairs and flushing of their sewer pipes. When septage is put directly into the sewer lines at these disposal sites, solids build up in the pipes and causes deterioration and loss of capacity throughout the whole north metro wastewater system. MCES decided to open up the pre-treatment, solids removal process to private businesses in order to reduce MCES's costs for water treatment. There is great potential for the environmental processing industry and Star Environmental would also include a research & development division. It is proposed that this would be a state of the art facility, and would be the first one in Minnesota and the first of this exact model in the United States. Public Input: The City Council meeting on Monday, April 10, 2006 has been published as a public hearing. In addition, on March 30, 2006 staff and the applicant held a neighborhood meeting for the Townsedge Terrace Manufactured Home Park residents in order to inform them about the proposed business. About 28 residents attended and the Star Environmental representatives did a power point presentation about the facility. Most residents in attendance expressed opposition to the proposed use, and many good questions were asked and suggestions made. Summary: Merlin Brisbin is requesting approval to locate an environmental processing business in Mounds View at 4889 Old Highway 8 and has a purchase agreement with the owners of the property. The Zoning Code does conditionally allow for this type of use in an industrially zoned district. Recommendations: After taking testimony from staff and the applicant, the City Council can take one of the following actions related to the request: 1. Approve the conditional use permit. Resolution 6789 (Option A) is attached if the City Council selects this option. 2. Deny the conditional use permit. Resolution 6789 (Option B) is attached if the City Council selects this option. 3. Table the request. If additional information is needed before a decision can be rendered or if more discussion is needed, the Council can simply move to table the request until such information has been provided. Because of 60-day requirements, the Council would need to act upon the request as soon as reasonably possible to avoid an inadvertent approval. Staff Report Star Environmental Page 4