Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 05/19/2025

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5.01: Consider Natural Resources Aspects of a Site Plan for Kwik Trip at the Southwest Corner of Armstrong Boulevard and Bunker Lake Boulevard (Project No. 25-104); Case of Kwik Trip, Inc. Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that staff recommend approving the natural aspects of this Site Plan. Board Member Salami arrived at 6:35 p.m. Board Member Burgess asked if there is any type of protection for the car wash, similar to the fuel protection. Senior Planner Anderson replied that this is located within the wellhead protection district, which does have regulations for the fuel tanks. He stated that all of the runoff from the carwash will run into the sanitary sewer system. Motion by Board Member Bernard and seconded by Board Member Hagerty to recommend approval of the natural resources aspects of the Site Plan. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Fetterley, Board Member Bernard, Hagerty, Burgess, Houts, and Salami. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Moore. 5.02: Outdoor Wood Boilers Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that this case is intended to solicit feedback from the EPB on whether the City Council should consider any additional standards for outdoor wood boilers. Randy Keyser, 16967 Bison Street NW, commented that he has had many interactions with City staff and the Police on this matter, as he has three neighbors within 200 to 300 feet from his home, who use wood boilers. He commented on his experience, noting that once the material is placed into the boiler, he can smell the smoke and has had health issues as a result. He provided input on the poor air quality in his neighborhood and the additional measures he had done to his home in an attempt to mitigate the effects. He stated that this is impacting his health and, therefore, should be able to trigger the City's nuisance ordinance. He stated that the boilers are going 24 hours per day, seven days per week. He questioned whether the residents obtained a permit to install the wood boilers and whether there should be three allowed within such a small distance. He noted that many cities have prohibited wood boilers because of the impacts on others, and the cities that do allow them have regulations in place, such as requiring a taller stack. He questioned the efficiency of the wood boilers as well as the quality of the material being burned. He asked the City to step in and consider prohibiting wood boilers, as he was unsure, he could make it through another year of these conditions. Senior Planner Anderson stated that one of the outcomes from the worksession discussion was direction for the Community Development Director to utilize the Ramsey Resident to provide education on this topic. He stated that if what is being burned in a boiler is not clean, dry wood or pellets, depending on what is required by the system, that could cause a lot of nuisance issues such Environmental Policy Board / April 21, 2025 Page 2 of 5