Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 12/13/1990

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Site "P". If Council chooses to approve the request for a yard waste compost faciliiy in thc Site "P" buffer area, C~tv Staff will most likely recommend that City Council rescind their previous resolution. Second'ty, the size of the proposal is troublesome. Rutger's manual says size is a majo., concern along with avaitabitiB, of water and provisions for turning the materials. Edwarrt Morsefelder, Attorney for Waste Managemen~ of Minnesota, Inc. was present and referre:! to Council Resolution #90-05-48 and noted that the proposal for a vard waste compost facility is temporary, in nature intended to coincide with the projected four and one half ,,,ear permit remaining on the landfill. The yard waste facilin,' would serve as an interim use of the iand while the landfiI1 is being completed. Mr. Morsefelder stated that yard waste compost, lng is not a landfill activity and the proposal is for a temporary, use of land adjacent to the landfill. Mr. Morsefelder stated that he believes that conditional use permit application for a yard waste facility is ope-aring within the confines of the City's Zoning Code for an industrial use. Mr. Morsefelder noted that Ramsey's Planning and Zoning Commission found the proposal to be an acceptable use in the industrial zone. Mr. Morsefetder stated that he does not interpret the subject resolution to be taken as an attempt to amend the zoning code but rather as a statement of the Council's preference as to the usc of the property. In considering this request for a conditional use permit, the City Council has to take into considemt/on the criteria for granting a condifionM use permit. Councilmember Pearson inquired if an3' of the yard waste material would be landfilled. Mr. Terry Miller replied that the only connection between the yard waste compost and the landfill is that the material would be used to enhance the top soil at the landfill in preparation for its closing. Councilmember Pearson noted that in the process of composring, nutrients are burned up and inquired as to why the landfill does not disc and plow the yard waste into the soil immediately and in so doing eliminate the odor problem. Mr. Miller replied that Waste Management is trying to provide a service to the area since there is a ban on depositing yard waste into landfills. Mr. Miller stated that he wilt also take Sharon Dahl~en's comments into consideration for a more detailed proposal. Upon inquiD,, Mr. Miller indicated that yard waste will be accepted from private individuals and commercial haulers. Councilmember DeLuca inquired if WMMI would be purchasing a windrow machine. Mr. Terry lXiiller replied that the facility will be provided with a windrow machine on an as-needed basis but'they are willing to provide a windrow machine at the start up of the facility. Mr. Harttev stated that if City Council is inclined to approve the request for a conditional use vermit the',' should take into consideration the size which is proposed at 23,000+ tons. If ~onditionai use pc:mit were issued for that amount, the City would not have the expertise evaluate and pc,n-ri.it a facility of that size. 5~. Henley suggested that if ?anted, the permit inidaliy be issued for a 10,000 ton facility. Otto noted that most other yard waste comr~ost facilities are located considerably farther away ~om residential neighborhoods. Counciimember DeLuca states ,ha, approving the reauest for a conditional use permit could De ~,t~,._~'? '"5 a p"~'"~a~n,.'" ' .r.~. n~ ~ notsntmi' ' would be there to use the borrow area fight up to the right-of- ways. ",n~ r~otenfiai would be "~n~.r~ ~' ~ to store ec~uipment, and the r~otenfiai, would be there for other ~itv Council,'September I0. 199(! Page 6 of !0