5.3. & 5.4. PCSR 06-09-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SECTION 3 Zoning Amendment -SWF Overlay District 3.1 ZONING AMENDMENT NARRATIVE The SDA is zoned A-1, Agricultural Conservation and already labeled "Elk River Landfill" on the City's Official Zoning Map (Exhibit 6). The official request is to extend the Solid Waste Facility (SWF) Overlay District to the SDA. The City's Zone Change Form requests: Submission ofa typewritten narrative that answers the fol%wing questions: What are the reasons/purposes of the zone change? The nature of landfill operations requires it to expand in order to continue its operations. The purpose of the zone change request is to allow for the permitted expansion of the landfill within the SDA and to allow for a new landfill gas to energy facility to provide additional green energy generation capacity. Since the existing landfill already has the infrastructure, environmental monitoring systems, and operations in-place, it provides an environmentally safe area for expansion of a needed facility while providing a benefit to the community that extends beyond waste disposal needs. ^ What has changed to warrant the zone change? • The existing MSW solid waste landfill will reach its currently permitted capacity in less than five years. The SDA will provide additional MSW design capacity. The nature of landfill operations requires it to expand in order to continue its operations. ^ How is the request consistent with the Comp Plan? The 2004 Comprehensive Plan (Plan) contains the following text within its vision statement, "As Energy City, Elk River seeks to promote sustainable and energy efficient forms of developments" (pg. 2-2, See Exhibit 11). The existing landfill property includes a Landfill Gas to Energy Facility that provides the City of Elk River with approximately 12% of its electrical needs. The continued expansion of the landfill provides the opportunity for additional green energy generation capacity with the addition of a second landfill gas to energy plant. In Exhibit 5, as part of the discussion on potential end use options, there are several additional alternative energy issues discussed. Alternative energy sources available may include the use of geothermal and solar energy, as well as additional uses for landfill gas or excess heat generated at the landfill gas to energy plant. One of the conceptual end use plans presented revolves around the idea of Elk River as "Energy City", with the creation of an "Energy Park", where various forms of alternative energy are produced, and businesses located at the facility utilize and/or create the alternative energy. Portions of the expansion area are located within the existing property, which is guided "Landfill" in the land use plan. The Plan states that the "Landfill use is consistent with the current land use plan" (pg. 5-13). • Elk River Landfill SDA ~ ~" 60112511'00 ~WenC~< Section 3-1 Land Use Application «~.,Y...,...,,~ •`