Minutes - Council - 05/22/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Case #8: Update on Reassignment of Conditional Use Permit for Danny's Aluminmn Processing to St. Paul Terminals Conditional Use Community Development Director Frolik stated that in 1989, the City of Ramsey issued a conditional use permit to Dan Karst for an aluminum processing facility on Lot 1, Block 4, Gateway North Industrial Park Plat 2. In 1990, the City Council approved amending the conditional use permit to permit the addition of a second melt furnace to the facility. In 1993, the City Council amended the conditional use permit to allow for the disassembly of engines and transmissions on the site. Mr. Karst is proposing to sell the facility to St. Paul Terminals. The conditional use permit states that the permit is personal to Danny's Aluminum and shall not be transferred without the approval of the City Council. St. Paul Terminals has facilities in St. Paul Park and Redwing for sorting and processing metals for recycling. Their plan is to do the same in Ramsey and continue operation of the aluminum melt furnaces. At the Council meeting of May 8, 2001, staff provided a historical account of the administration of the conditional use permit from its issuance in 1989, to the current time. Danny's Aluminum Processing evolved into an unsightly operation that spilled over onto Lots 2, 3, and 4. St. Paul Terminals has been managing and operating the facility for more than a year and significant progress has been made toward coming into compliance with the conditional use permit. However, Lots 2, 3, and 4 continue to be used for outdoor storage. City staff met with Mr. Schott and his Attorney, Bradley Martinson, on May 15, 2001, to discuss the status of St. Paul Terminal's purchase agreement with Mr. Karst and their ultimate plan for the property. Mr. Norman, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Wald, Ms. Frolik, and Councilmembers Anderson and Kurak toured St. Paul Terminal's facility in Redwing on Thursday, May 17, 2001. As a follow-up to Council's discussion on May 8, 2001, and staff's meeting with Mr. Schott on May 15, 2001, and in accordance with City Code, City staff did issue a letter on May 21, 2001, to Mr. Dan Karst, prescribing 30 days to bring the site into compliance with the conditional use permit. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 26, 2001, to review Mr. Karst's performance with the terms of the permit. In the interim, St. Paul Terminals is putting together a conditional use permit application based on the scope of their proposal for the site. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired as to how the tours of the sites went. Councilmember Anderson stated that she was impressed by the attitude of the person running the operation in Red Wing, Councilmember Kurak stated that they were very well run operations. She stated that it was one of the cleanest operations she has ever seen. City Council/May 22, 2001 Page 18 of 23