Planning commission approves conditional use permit for Quality Tank Solutions expansion in Marshfield industrial park

The Marshfield Planning Commission on Sept. 16 approved a conditional use permit to allow a large industrial building for Quality Tank Solutions at the southeast corner of Galvin Avenue and East 20 Fourth Street (Parcel 33-07131B).

Planner Bryce Hamburg told the commission the proposed building would be just under 54,000 square feet and used for manufacturing and storage as an expansion adjacent to Quality Tank Solutions’ existing campus north of East 20 Fourth Street. Because the proposed building exceeds 50,000 square feet, staff said the project required a conditional use permit and a subsequent approval by the common council.

Hamburg said the applicant, represented in the application packet by Brad Larson of Nicolai Construction on behalf of Quality Tank Solutions, is proposing the main building on the east side of the site with a potential similarly sized future addition to the west. The application requests exceptions from several paving and setback requirements and an allowance for gravel surfacing in limited areas to avoid repaving where an expansion is expected.

City staff, including acting Public Works Director Josh Morris, negotiated modifications with the applicant and recommended approval with conditions to limit gravel in travel and circulation areas and to protect the stormwater facility. Staff noted the proposed site plan shows asphalt on the east side and a parking area on the southeast side, turning-radius space for trucks, and two access points on East 20 Fourth Street with no access proposed on Galvin Avenue.

Commission discussion focused on vehicle turning clearances, pavement locations, stormwater protection and distances from the building to property lines. Hamburg said the distance between the building and the eastern property line would be about 90 feet and that parking shown totals roughly 24 stalls with two accessible stalls (staff said additional parking exists across the street).

The commission approved staff’s recommendation with conditions that include: allowing administrative approval of minor site-plan changes that do not require additional exceptions; requiring a 30-foot hard-surface drive access from the property line for the west access drive; requiring the east drive, parking and circulation areas to be hard-surfaced (asphalt or concrete) and allowing pavement to be located up to the property line per the submitted site plan; and directing the city engineer to determine the required buffer between traffic areas and the stormwater pond upon review of the final stormwater management plan. Hamburg and staff emphasized that the stormwater management plan must be submitted and reviewed by engineering prior to final approval.

No members of the public spoke during the item’s public hearing. The commission’s roll-call vote was unanimous in favor: Mayor Teasbake (yes); Council member O’Reilly (yes); Commissioner Caprillion (yes); Commissioner Bernardi (yes); Commissioner Frederick (yes); Commissioner Meyer (yes); Commissioner Mitchell (yes). The motion was recorded as approved by the planning commission. The project remains subject to final stormwater review and the common council’s approval as required by the zoning code.

The applicant’s application packet listed the site as being within the Norwood Industrial Park; staff noted the proposal is consistent with the city comprehensive plan goals to support local job growth and business expansion in established industrial areas.

Planning staff said they will return with any final engineering reviews and administrative site-plan updates before the project proceeds to common council for final consideration.