St. Cloud Approves Rock Crushing Facility Relocation

In a notable St. Cloud City Council meeting, members voted to approve the relocation of a rock crushing facility, sparking considerable debate and public concern. Despite opposition from residents, who cited increased noise, dirt, and negative impacts on their community, the Council decided in favor of the settlement agreement that would see the facility move to a less impactful location. The meeting also saw the approval of several ordinances related to property annexations and future land use designations, as well as the denial of a public arts ordinance due to financial concerns for developers and homeowners.

The rock crushing facility, which had been a source of contention in the community, was discussed during the meeting. Residents voiced their discontent with the facility’s impact on their quality of life, with increased noise and dirt since the initial vote. One resident urged the Council to consider the effects on the Hickory Hollow community and questioned the facility owner’s ability to uphold property maintenance. The attorney for the property owner countered by clarifying that the operation was relocating, not expanding, and detailed efforts to mitigate noise and comply with city ordinances. While some council members remained skeptical about the relocation and its regulatory compliance, the settlement agreement was ultimately recommended for approval by city staff. It included terms for the industrial development of the area, such as reduced setbacks, parking requirements, and signage, along with operational restrictions to address noise and hours of operation.

Another discussion centered around the potential annexation of approximately 7.17826 acres of land known as Live Oak Lake, for which the council conducted a final public hearing. The land, situated south of East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and contiguous with the city limit, was earmarked for medium-density residential use. Despite concerns from residents about the potential 29% tax increase due to annexation, the council approved both the annexation and future land use designation without vocalized opposition. Councilmember Urban suggested exploring options to phase in the tax increase to ease the immediate financial burden on residents.

The City Council also addressed the issue of a proposed public arts ordinance, which faced criticism for the financial strain it could impose on residential developers and homeowners. Additionally, the lack of clarity and accountability within the ordinance was a point of contention.

These included a final public hearing for the voluntary annexation of a 2.784-acre property and three related ordinances concerning a 2.45-acre property, both of which were located near Erlo Bronson Memorial Highway.

In addition to these discussions, the council also approved amendments to the city’s Parks and Recreation regulations, which involved changes to Chism Park and the Divine Beach area. The amendments addressed the prohibition of electronic tobacco products, filing periods for special events, and restroom requirements, among others. Furthermore, updates to the historic preservation overlay (HPO) District were unanimously supported.

A resolution regarding the leasing of property to Air Methods Corporation for a heliport was also passed, with the aim of improving medical transport and response times for the city. Moreover, the council denied a motion related to a future land use and zoning change for a property, leading to a remark about potential legal action.

The meeting also covered a lien reduction for a code enforcement case, the passing of an unannounced skills audit by city lifeguards, and the acknowledgment of the fire chief’s retirement. Plans for a City Podcast, an increase in solid waste and stormwater fees, and the start of construction on 10th Street were announced.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Nathan Blackwell
City Council Officials:
Linette Matheny, Kolby Urban, Ken Gilbert, Shawn Fletcher

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