Minutes - Planning Commission - 04/08/2021

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large pile of brush on this property through code enforcement during the previous year. She commented that an open pile of brush, debris, wood chipping is considered to be a nuisance under Code. Commissioner VanScoy commented that it sounds that there are multiple concerns. Chairperson Bauer asked if there are other properties with wood chipping within Ramsey. Senior Planner McGuire Brigl commented that she is not aware of any wood chipping businesses within Ramsey. She stated that in terms of noise staff has experience with wood chipping equipment as part of other large-scale developments. Commissioner Walker stated that in reading the case it seems that the applicant wants to keep a month’s worth of brush on the property and chip the material all at once during a period of six to eight hours. He asked if that length could be cut down in duration to perhaps four-hour periods to alleviate noise concerns. Senior Planner McGuire commented that staff would still have the same concerns related to outdoor storage. She stated that although improvements could be made that would make the application more appealing, staff still has major concerns with the proposal. She stated that because this is an Interim Use Permit, the Commission has full latitude as to whether it should be approved. Chairperson Bauer asked if staff could provide additional input on the concerns that staff has with the application. Senior Planner McGuire Brigl commented that staff could provide additional input on items that could improve the application but if the Commission supports the recommendation to deny the request, staff would simply recommend that the Commission follow that action and recommend denial of the permit. Citizen Input Jacob Gall of Minnesota Tree Experts, applicant, stated that he would like to store brush on the site and use trucks that pick-up limbs and branches. He stated that once there was enough material, he would chip that material and haul it offsite. He believed that he would need six to eight hours to chip the material to haul offsite. Chairperson Bauer commented that he thought the staff presentation mentioned that the woodchips would be left onsite. Mr. Gall confirmed that the chipped material would be hauled offsite. He confirmed that the outdoor storage would be the limbs and brush. He commented that he would leave that debris onsite until there is enough to chip, at that time he would bring that equipment onsite to chip the material and then haul the chipped material offsite. He was unsure of the noise decibel of the chipping equipment. Planning Commission/ April 8, 2021 Page 6 of 18