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Denison council approves conditional-use permit for aggregate transload yard at Union Pacific rail property
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Summary
The City Council approved a conditional-use permit allowing DeLisi Brothers to operate an aggregate transloading and sales yard within the Union Pacific rail yard, subject to engineering, dust and noise controls, and creation of a single access road to Katy Memorial Expressway.
The Denison City Council on June 16 approved an ordinance granting a conditional-use permit to DeLisi Brothers to operate an aggregate transloading and sales yard within the Union Pacific rail yard, with conditions requiring engineering approvals, continuous dust and noise abatement, and a single new access road to Katy Memorial Expressway.
Planning staff told the council the property is zoned light industrial and Section 28.49 of the zoning ordinance requires a conditional-use permit for aggregate operations. Staff said the applicant plans to repurpose an approximately 41-acre maintenance area to receive aggregate by rail, temporarily stockpile it and reload it onto trucks for distribution. Staff recommended approval with conditions including civil engineering plan approval for the access road under U.S. 75, barriers on Ray Drive to prevent through truck traffic, a locked emergency gate on the east side of Ray Drive, continuous dust and noise mitigation, maintenance of an existing tree line on the north side of Ray Drive, and required state and local permits.
Leland Meiser, president of DeLisi Brothers Company, described the company’s history supplying aggregates to the railroad and said the applicant has worked with Union Pacific and city staff on a site design. Project manager and licensed engineer Andy Artema told the council the transload facility will not include crushing, screening, ready-mix or asphalt plants; “this application is just an aggregate transload facility,” he said, describing the product as concrete stone used in roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Artema said the company plans to use white-noise backup alarms on equipment and a dedicated water-spray system and water truck to control dust, and that the product is typically saturated with water before transport.
Neighbors had one public commenter. Shirley Freeland said she values her property but did not express a specific objection after staff confirmed the project footprint would not be on her land.
Councilmembers discussed signage on Ray Drive and whether, in extraordinary circumstances such as road closures, the city could allow temporary access changes; staff said any change to the approved sole-access condition would require an amended permit and coordination with the city and Union Pacific. Planning staff noted the applicant submitted a traffic-impact analysis and has coordinated with TxDOT.
Councilman Courtright moved to approve the ordinance with the staff-recommended conditions; Councilman Thomas seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The permit requires the applicant to obtain all applicable state and local permits, submit civil engineering plans for the new access and water infrastructure, continuously abate dust and noise, maintain the existing vegetation buffer along Ray Drive and install barriers and a locked emergency gate at existing Ray Drive access points.
