Agenda - Council - 12/18/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Mr. Otto stated that Mr. Rychner's proposal is for a dual facility; one portion of the operation would be an aluminum processing facility and the other portion of the operation would be a complete waste recycling facility. The aluminum received at the facility would be. the only. material processed on site; the remainder of the material received on site would be separated into various storage containers until they are transferred off site. Mr. Rychner's site is proposed to be divided into two areas; one for public use to receive waste material. That area would be screened from the rest of the site where the actual operations would be conducted. Mr. Otto stated that because of the proposed afterburners to be used in the aluminum meltdown operation and because of the small volume of the operation, there is less concern for emissions of dioxins and furands. The proposal is primarily for an outside operation with the furnace located under a canopy-type facility. There is a minimum amount of investment proposed in terms of site improvements and that is of concern to the City. The recycling portion of Mr. Rychner's proposal would be subject to Ramsey City Ordinance/190- 5, which addresses solid waste management facilities. The recycling portion of the operation would be prohibited in this particular area because of its proximity to residences and the known ground water contamination in the area. Commissioner Deemer disagreed that the recycling portion of the operation would be considered a solid waste management facility because none of the materials proposed to be accepted at the site are listed as solid waste materials in Ordinance 4/90-5. Mr. Otto replied that the materials Mr. Rychner proposes to accept at the site would be included in what is referred to in the Ordinance as "other discarded waste materials". Mr. Otto explained that up until a couple of years ago, this same material was deposited into the landfill and therefore, is considered waste material. Mr. Otto explained that the intent of Ordinance 4/90-5 was to protect the community from landfills and the secondly, to protect the community from landf'fll peripheral-type activities. Chairman Zimmerman stated that the Commission should either determine that the materials proposed to be accepted at Mr. Rychner's facility are considered solid waste and inform the Council that the request cannot proceed or, determine that in the opinion of the Commission, the materials proposed to be accepted are not considered solid waste and turn the matter over to the City Attorney for an opinion. Motion by Commissioner Deemer and seconded by Commissioner LaDue to proceed to rewiew and address Mr. Glen Rychner's request for a conditional use permit and to disregard ordinance ~90-5 as the Ordinance does not specifically refer to the materials Mr. Glen Rychner is proposing to accept at the site. Further Discussion. Commissioner Hendriksen stated that he presumes the glass, newspaper and cans he places at the curb on a weekly basis are'refuse and he finds it difficult to say they are not refuse. Mr. Rychner stated that he believes those same materials are no longer refuse when they are placed in blue recycling containers. Commissioner Deemer stated that he feels that Ordinance//90-5 is too ambiguous and that when