[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6504412,"mediaKeyId","5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850","parentId",5672935,"title","Planning commission sets strict hours, safeguards for Knife River mining permit after township talks","audioSeconds",2626,"startMs",3108000,"endMs",5734000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850&start=3108&end=5734","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850/thumbnail_3108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6504412/Stearns-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-sets-strict-hours-safeguards-for-Knife-River-mining-permit-after-township-talks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504412-9d1a59850e508d05576b6f3aecefce18/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529703&Signature=lOIIzkVxM5WPv3vYQB5v6-HWjDTVRBcLz-G~psrgoj5UaY4HHbRz2tNCEDQrPKcXDFinvurliS7-hfHqIckoPh8~RJ5ObQelcuemOf8Ug11hort5VoaEisB0ZF4K4NmRV-tOLkvSnS77X3pGwZSyZC4y0qhAIi5irMUrZetksCR6rzFIFYpWGOKNi3VbjRfnvZQATVq2WvVEI8ztkjg2HnoxeYNm8N2G17c39OE8HVRGa5xggdOHwhXJ8afMf0pvIm4qAVAZCOK~yAYhF-02txLqUAswQX3~-infwHADA~qInYf6D1lyPJZzZIe71fpLe9tU9Y4myHe2XmWMnl24Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stearns County MN","date","2025-07-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 recommended approval of an interim use permit that will allow Knife River Corporation to continue mining on 39.9 acres in Wakefield Township, subject to conditions addressing reclamation, traffic, screening and hours of operation.

Knife River sought a 10-year permit under Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439 (sections 4.18, 7.17 and 9.306.f) to continue an active extraction operation and related activity at 24993 Island Lake Road, Cold Spring. Staff noted the application is required because the property recently changed ownership. The county packet listed prior permits issued by Wakefield Township for mining and asphalt operations at the site and described surrounding uses: about 22 homes, three animal feedlots, a church and a warehouse facility within a half mile. The applicant said the end-use plan is to grade and return the land to cropland when mining ends.

Key conditions the commission attached to its recommendation include:

- Interim use permit expiration: Dec. 31, 2035 (previous staff draft listed Aug. 12, 2035; commissioners amended to year-end).
- Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; no Sunday or federal-holiday operation (county-listed holidays include Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
- Financial guarantee for reclamation: $139,650 (calculated at $3,500 per acre for 39.9 acres) to ensure site reclamation.
- Truck-hauling signage and maintenance of an existing screening berm along Island Lake Road, County Road 2 and the north property line of adjacent residences.
- Gate at the pit entrance to be installed and maintained for the life of the permit.
- A written agreement with Wakefield Township regarding Island Lake Road maintenance, which may include a financial guarantee and direction of truck traffic (township requested truck traffic be directed south onto Island Lake Road toward County Road 2).
- Removal of an existing “donex” sign at the pit entrance; staff noted an updated informational sign must reflect Knife River as the owner.

Township representatives and nearby residents spoke at the public hearing. Cyril Irkins, who said he has lived within the neighborhood for more than 50 years, praised the previous owner’s dust-control practices and urged Knife River to maintain those standards and to control noxious weeds on the berm. Wakefield Township planning and zoning administrators asked that any written agreement include a maintenance guarantee for Island Lake Road and truck-route direction to limit heavy truck traffic on the township road.

Knife River representatives said the company addressed township requests, will maintain screening and berms, will post hauling signs and will work with the township about an agreed road-maintenance approach; engineer recommendations will be incorporated. Knife River also asked for hours that would allow flexibility when large public projects require material outside usual hours, but the commission adopted the township’s prior-hour structure rather than the 24/6 schedule Knife River initially requested.

Commissioners amended a staff-recommended expiration date to Dec. 31, 2035 and voted to forward the permit with the listed conditions to the county board. The motion passed and the commission’s recommendation will go before the Stearns County Board on Aug. 12 for final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission - 24 Jul 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 recommended approval of Knife River Corporation’s interim use permit to continue mining on about 39.9 acres in Wakefield Township with conditions on hours, reclamation security and road maintenance.","taxTitle","Stearns County, Minnesota","taxId",3766,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504408,"Planning commission recommends denial of proposed Tillman/Verizon tower after heavy neighborhood opposition",3094,5728000,8822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850&start=5728&end=8822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850/thumbnail_5728000.jpg","/articles/6504408/Stearns-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-recommends-denial-of-proposed-TillmanVerizon-tower-after-heavy-neighborhood-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504408-9c7ea464495a51ebfe1f335b6e21856f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529703&Signature=GES~WDwhgnmGWfp0VilVZYS44z9-n-O~TJeqpZ8eRyGjQuhl-FuLUmrcOY~F-gkiUgAforXn5OOPXz3nHclfvB7w8yzVpjzluvM2QUgtyfEMKGPfOjrkZJTt3w6wt789ycwiNl2zmBDTjdE1f~ZiW6zBIkiPqegDgzoYeaqMQL9ghFmHWlPaIVNwd0Yb2fsXE~tltT31zggjFKSoHh8RNAJdNHnKi81-1aDz8JNWrqAezxVeNzPrj5FVGw8UkNqyHAio7QixRb8CRd7G0KXyNWncN-b2YUFcrbSSJxKGegc5cSwOqn0tpU~IpRFzEQufFIQ6jxYbyvN~mWiy9BnDDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 recommended denial of a conditional use permit for a proposed telecommunications tower proposed by Tillman Infrastructure on behalf of Verizon, sited in the A-80 agricultural district of Main Prairie Township.

The application sought approval under Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439 (sections 4.8, 7.28 and 9.205) for a new tower intended to host Verizon and, according to the applicant, AT&T. The applicant said the new structure would enable carriers to reduce costs and continue serving the area after unsuccessful lease-renegotiation efforts with the existing tower owner, American Tower Corporation (ATC). Tillman representatives told the commission two carriers expressed interest in relocating to the proposed Tillman tower because they could operate more affordably there.

Neighbors mounted strong opposition at the hearing. More than two dozen residents signed a petition against the project; speakers cited concerns about the tower’s proximity to homes, loss of scenic rural character, potential impacts on wildlife (including sandhill cranes and local wetlands), perceived health concerns about radio-frequency emissions, and the expectation that property values would decline. Multiple speakers questioned whether capacity already exists on nearby towers and said the parcel chosen was inside a portion of the county’s “concentrated development area” on the future land-use map.

Applicant representatives said the project would undergo federal environmental review required by the Federal Communications Commission (NEPA) and asserted the proposal would improve connectivity and provide competition for existing tower leasing. They also provided a property-valuation appraisal concluding little impact to nearby property values and affidavits from carriers saying AT&T and Verizon reached out to existing tower landlords to renegotiate and were unsuccessful.

Commission debate focused on compatibility with the county comprehensive plan, proximity to existing towers, the presence of nearby residences and the neighborhood’s character. Commissioners split on interpretation of the comprehensive plan goals for connectivity versus preserving rural character; several commissioners cited available infrastructure (existing towers) and the strong neighborhood opposition as reasons to deny.

A motion to deny the permit was made and seconded; the planning commission voted to recommend denial (planning-commission vote recorded as 3–1 in favor of denial) and will forward the recommendation to the Stearns County Board on Aug. 12 for final action. The applicant may pursue further review or alternative siting; staff noted that if carriers pursue relocation, applicable federal and state reviews (including NEPA and FCC processes) would still be required before construction.

Speakers and organizations referenced on the record include Tillman Infrastructure (applicant/consultant Buell Consulting), Verizon and AT&T (carriers), American Tower Corporation (current tower owner), and multiple Main Prairie Township residents and Wakefield Township/municipal officials who submitted letters or testified.","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 recommended denial of Tillman Infrastructure’s proposed telecommunications tower near Kimball after residents raised environmental, neighborhood and visual-impact concerns and commissioners cited competing infrastructure nearby.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504415,"Stearns County planning commission recommends approval for Lake Koronis shoreline wall replacement with conditions",2536,567000,3103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850&start=567&end=3103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850/thumbnail_567000.jpg","/articles/6504415/Stearns-County/Minnesota/Stearns-County-planning-commission-recommends-approval-for-Lake-Koronis-shoreline-wall-replacement-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504415-610621c0c4210336e8dbaf9685b39389/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529703&Signature=D4c5wZQq5ijTNJLRvqW0IFLK0gkkQLSZdAsEpXpiyjIdQQOu9XAgs-mKcMZsLihd9ohYj465JyqTP4i6zT26-vjuoo-KauZJ72UewUBTXh9SB-fvdWDcraoeAPX-ZsK8QicqVGjTXZuVrPnmQPGDdLaOj1qzdJ39rG5n~aIe509mchiJaZ4BHZNqFi3IUZrZbp6HiQJJu4hQhh5KBn5KTe89qQcDP-y7f1YPgLUyYllFRc5LQVNlzWQfeydgVxhUqBlPpbJBOuUlfpnotzX0u5ahz-Fp~vdYm~z2gKMvAGHCymhcyoFVkkteaYGvuYY3oLu5Vu7Il3z2ADS0b2NEHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 recommended approval of a conditional use permit to replace and largely reconstruct failing retaining walls and stabilize a steep bluff at 14933 Old Lake Road on Lake Koronis.

The request, filed by TDC Properties LLC of Shakopee, Minnesota, seeks authorization under Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439 (sections 10.20.14.d and 10.20.14.i) for “major shoreland alteration” including retaining walls over 4 feet in cumulative height in the shore impact zone. Staff told the commission the site has “approximately 26 feet of elevation change within 45 feet of the lake” and highly erodible soils; plans call for replacing the existing walls largely in place, about an 800-square-foot reduction in impervious surface and native vegetation plantings across much of the front of the walls.

County staff emphasized the engineering-driven nature of the proposal and the lack of viable non-structural alternatives. The staff report recommended five conditions and the commission added a sixth: the applicant must provide documentation addressing specific design limitations identified in the engineer’s report and meet suggested quality-assurance measures before the county board considers the permit.

Neighbors spoke at the public hearing. Greg Langlo, who said his family has owned property on the lake for nearly a century, praised the effort to stabilize the bank but asked about groundwater and whether the drainage would prevent slumping into the lake. The applicant’s engineer and the contractor described phased construction (working from right to left facing the lake), installation of drain tiles and rock as specified in the engineering details, and on-site adjustments where existing timbers and conditions require additional reinforcement. The applicant also said the deck will be removed, and the walls will be tied back to the foundation where needed to preserve basement access; the building itself is not proposed to be renovated.

The commission’s recommended conditions include: a financial guarantee (cash, escrow or letter of credit) at 125% of estimated costs (covering construction and vegetation establishment); county shoreline contractor licensing before work begins; redundant sediment control downslope of disturbance until stabilization; department notification within two days of project completion for inspection; completion of the native-planting plan by the following May (or county-approved alternative); and documentation from the applicant’s engineer that addresses the design limitations and quality-assurance items in the engineer’s report.

The commission voted in favor of recommending approval; the clerk recorded the motion as passing. Staff said the matter will be scheduled for the Stearns County Board on Aug. 12.

Although the county staff report noted a single neighbor inquiry before the hearing, commissioners and members of the public pressed the applicant and engineer on the absence of a full geotechnical (groundwater surcharge) study; both the contractor and staff said on-site adjustments and phasing would be used, and commissioners asked that any geotechnical issues identified be resolved before construction. The commission’s extra condition to address the engineer’s stated design limitations was offered in response to those concerns.

The applicant on the record: Robert Latham (contractor) and Subhash Thomas (property owner) provided their addresses and answered technical questions at the hearing. County staff present included an environmental services representative who outlined permit requirements and post-construction inspection timing.

The commission’s recommendation and appended conditions will be transmitted to the county board for final action on Aug. 12; the commission record shows the recommendation as approved for board consideration.","Planning commissioners recommended the conditional use permit to replace failing retaining walls and stabilize a steep bluff at 14933 Old Lake Road on Lake Koronis, with conditions including financial surety, contractor licensing and vegetation requirements. The item will go to the county board Aug. 12.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504399,"Planning commission recommends raising reclamation guarantee to $6,500 per acre for future mining permits",344,12706000,13050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850&start=12706&end=13050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850/thumbnail_12706000.jpg","/articles/6504399/Stearns-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-recommends-raising-reclamation-guarantee-to-6500-per-acre-for-future-mining-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504399-d44218935d51e337b7becea85511257f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529703&Signature=IV02jBkjDoq-wW4U19h8NHI9PldS4KWsUKP59B8K7Cd6dpiaaoVrkPKNdZg0F92eZyaD9tGGxGdeA0h8XA09c1ov7NlVa~a0O0IydEjYQ0bS8GpuSzsfpiVWoyOl1AkrROVNRYESiUK7EKMjvD1gF-tDIAmzhr1jyz3giF9OlNzhVx6J3zUf5vfZKsZBjN4x-7j6pz0MX6fBHesFaHvdjp5ArtqRhE3Ek4rU0Mivi9rrVEWqf8K-9NQzWAXBWHFywyYwPFenwBwLP5O3byIuwQLm8SPTXJumD8xIlLG1ieWbJ~CXlaInx0DPfzjhK7wPsWGpMVN8J1YQCL-vcEYr6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stearns County planning commissioners on July 24 voted to recommend that the county board increase the per‑acre financial guarantee required for mine-site reclamation from $3,500 per acre to $6,500 per acre.

County staff explained the review followed a 2020 change in which the commission and board had set the reclamation rate at $3,500 per acre (the highway department had recommended $5,000 at that time). County engineering estimates prepared for the current review cite rising labor and equipment costs, seeding and erosion-control expenses, and recent market rates for heavy-equipment operators as factors that justify an increase. The county engineer’s recent analysis estimated that reclamation scenarios could cost as much as $6,500 per acre under current market conditions.

Commissioners debated whether a single flat per‑acre guarantee would cover the full range of reclamation scenarios (which can vary widely depending on the pit, presence of paved surfaces or concrete, contaminants, ponds to be filled or habitat to be created). Staff noted the recommended per‑acre amount is not set in ordinance and that applicants can be asked for individual detailed reclamation-cost estimates and higher surety amounts for sites with unusual circumstances. The commission voted to forward a recommendation of $6,500 per acre to the county board for consideration.

The measure will appear on the county board’s agenda for future consideration; staff said additional comparative data from other counties could be provided if the board requests it.

Commissioners characterized the action as a triennial fee/guarantee review and said increasing the per‑acre guarantee reflects updated market information and would reduce county exposure to reclamation cost shortfalls.","At the July 24 meeting the Stearns County Planning Commission recommended increasing the standard reclamation financial guarantee used for mining permits from $3,500 to $6,500 per acre, citing rising equipment and seeding costs; the recommendation will be forwarded to the county board.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6504403,"Commission backs Polley family’s indoor cannabis microbusiness in Wakefield Township with conditions",3474,9211000,12685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850&start=9211&end=12685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5672935-d81075a254d29527f694168b537a2850/thumbnail_9211000.jpg","/articles/6504403/Stearns-County/Minnesota/Commission-backs-Polley-familys-indoor-cannabis-microbusiness-in-Wakefield-Township-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504403-088621fc9a437ddbd512e69b968d997c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770529703&Signature=oiH-fjAOpMeh83NrJTV7b9xMMN0hytjVQR4VWLu9M0dDY8UU4DJeHB0JT-WDXpg6jTCka1BNPz2tRnK67qaXaoRZYsPazF76t65hggWC1VNTUD6q~o1IHkdFGj~dt3qSGa5kWQ9EAaYPzPUcH3IfgrMu7oFmfEYLleAXt5xgH80QAdFqBpSgj8mATwifPh55X6SDuf19DOtxHmfL3vwRdgbXDc3rAK-rrIy5OtxsctqeQQO7p6GCdsSiP47z18AvG5sXfTnJxjlj5zzBZ1FV~htQK-hGRNnbHuyxSE~1V8kvCbbKtTX40XZZdgi0lLEwgEby8U2ac0bFpVuJ6Om6nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stearns County Planning Commission on July 24 voted to recommend approval of an interim use permit for an indoor cannabis microbusiness proposed by Scott and Karen Polley in Wakefield Township, subject to conditions including state licensing, odor-control systems and limits on transportation hours.

The Polleys sought an interim use permit under Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance No. 439 (sections 4.18, 6.13 and 9.306.b) to construct and operate an indoor cannabis microbusiness at 13381 County Road 140. The application covers a proposed phase‑1 building (45 by 75 feet, about 3,375 square feet) that would include grow rooms, a post-harvest room, storage and offices. The applicants said phase 1 would encompass roughly 1,200 square feet of plant canopy; state rules for microbusiness cultivation (the applicants referenced Minnesota Rules Chapter 98.1 and state licensing requirements) govern canopy limits and operational standards.

Staff noted the site is partly within shoreland and contains native-plant communities and wetlands elsewhere on the parcel; staff required an on-site wetland determination before any ground-disturbing activity or construction permit is issued. Wakefield Township staff said the township had reviewed the request and offered no additional conditions beyond ordinance and statutory provisions.

The commission’s recommended conditions, as modified at the hearing, include:

- Interim use permit term concluding Dec. 31, 2045 (20 years) or earlier if the state license is revoked or if the use is discontinued for 12 consecutive months;
- Limit transportation, deliveries and pickups to 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; other facility functions (lighting, HVAC, staff access to support plant care) may operate outside those hours as needed for continuous growing operations;
- Obtain and maintain the state license (Minnesota Rules Chapter 98.1 and related statutes cited in county conditions), comply with MPCA wastewater guidance and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from Wakefield Township prior to occupancy;
- Enhanced ventilation and odor control, including activated-carbon filtration on exhaust outlets located at least 10 feet from property lines or an engineering report demonstrating an alternative system provides equal or better odor control;
- Wetland determination under the Wetland Conservation Act prior to permit issuance; and
- No retail sales or consumption on site under the proposed permit (the applicants stated they were not proposing on-site retail at this stage).

Several neighbors testified in opposition, citing concerns about odor, light, security and water use. One nearby resident who said he had visited an existing indoor grow noted a detectable odor in that facility despite filtration equipment; applicants and staff responded that modern, sealed indoor grow rooms with industrial ventilation and carbon filtration are designed to minimize detectable odor off-site and that licensed transporters will handle product transfers. The applicants said they plan modest, phase‑1 operations to learn the business, to install three‑phase electrical service with Stearns Electric and to use secured, small‑scale transport arrangements rather than public retail pickups.

Commissioners discussed whether the project fits the county comprehensive plan and rural-business goals, and whether the site is compatible with nearby residential parcels. After debate, the commission voted 3–1 in favor of recommending the permit with the conditions described above. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Stearns County Board on Aug. 12. If the county board approves, the state licensing process remains a separate requirement; state approvals (and any MPCA reviews for wastewater) must be obtained before full operation.","The Stearns County Planning Commission voted 3–1 to recommend a 20-year interim use permit for an indoor cannabis microbusiness proposed by Scott and Karen Polley, limited to a phase‑1 building and with delivery hours restricted to 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; the recommendation goes to the county board Aug. 12.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

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Stearns County planning commission recommends approval for Lake Koronis shoreline wall replacement with conditions

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Commission backs Polley family’s indoor cannabis microbusiness in Wakefield Township with conditions