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Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 August 8, 2006 --------------------------- He stated that when the wind is from the south or north, he cannot even open his windows. He stated there is activity on the site until 9 or 10 p.m. and there are lights all over the site. Commissioner Offerman asked where the smell was coming from. Mr. Ladd stated that the smell is from the asphalt plant on 221 Avenue. He questioned who would want to buy their property with the stench of the asphalt plant so close by. He stated that the dust issue also needs to be addressed. There being no further public comment, Chair Lemke closed the public hearing. Commissioner Ropp stated that he would not be able to recommend approval of the request, since the applicant is not able to provide information regarding the number of trucks currently running at the site, future projections of the number of trucks, and how long the asphalt plant would be in operation. He felt an interim use permit of 2 - 5 years could be considered. He felt there are too many unknowns, and was concerned about allowing a 24-hour operation. Commissioner Ropp stated he felt traffic onto Highway 169 was a serious concern, and that approving the request would not be in the best interest of those who use Highway 169. Commissioner Westgaard stated that he was not in favor of the request, and had a concern that half of the property was zoned residential and half was zoned for mining. He stated that approval of this request would allow them to continue to run the asphalt plant after the mineral excavation ceased. He expressed concern for increased traffic and that proper acceleration lanes need to be looked at. He stated he would rather see the request processed as an interim use with the condition that when the mineral excavation ceases, the asphalt plant would also cease operation. He concurred with Commissioner Ropp's comments. Commissioner Offerman stated that he concurred with Commissioners Westgaard and Ropp. He stated that considerable improvements were made to Highway 169 in Livonia Township. He stated that he realized this was an amendment to an existing conditional use permit, but the request provides the City an opportunity to address issues related to the overall operation. He stated he agreed that the use should be an interim use with a sunset date of perhaps 10 years, and that if the operation ceases for one year, it would no longer be allowed. He stated he cannot support the request as presented. Commissioner Anderson stated that he felt the 221 Avenue location was more suitable since the proper acceleration lanes were in place. He stated had the same concerns as Commissioners Westgaard, Ropp and Offerman. He felt approval of the asphalt plant would take the operation from dusty and loud, to dusty, loud, and stinky. He stated he could understand the cost savings of having the plant closer to the job sites. He stated there are traffic stacking issues, intersection issues and that he would like to see input from MnDOT on this location. He felt it was obvious that the operation would add to the truck traffic. Commissioner Anderson stated that it seems like the right thing to do from a road construction standpoint, but that the issues need to be thought through. He stated that he would like to see a defined reclamation plan. Also, he stated he was not in favor of the 24- hour operation request and felt the request should be reviewed as an interim use and could not support it as is. Commissioner Scott stated that he could see that the 24-hour operation would benefit the community it some ways. He was in agreement that there are open issues and that he could support a recommendation to either table or deny the request.