Planning commission recommends approval of after‑the‑fact interim permit for automotive repair at Little Falls property

The Morrison County Planning Commission on Sept. 2 recommended that the County Board of Commissioners approve an after‑the‑fact interim use permit allowing an automotive repair business to continue at 16702 Iris Road in Little Falls Township.

The commission voted to forward the applicant’s request with eight conditions that require compliance with state and local laws on automotive repair and waste disposal, maintenance of disposal records, removal of scrap and inoperable vehicles by Oct. 31, 2025, no outdoor storage of vehicle components except those being actively serviced, installation of at least one row of evergreen screening along Skyview Ridge Road by June 1, 2026, inspection and remediation of a floor drain, a permit term that ends if the current owner ceases ownership, and posted hours of operation limited to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Why it matters: The commission’s recommendation resolves a long‑running code enforcement matter. The property was rezoned to agriculture in July 2025 after complaints about the business operating in a rural residential zone. The interim use permit allows the business to continue while imposing conditions meant to reduce visual impacts, limit late‑night activity and address potential environmental concerns related to on‑site plumbing and wastes.

Land services staff told commissioners the three‑acre parcel sits in the Highwood Hills subdivision and that automotive repair is specifically listed in county ordinance section 604.7 as requiring an interim use permit. Staff reported the applicant does not expect to have employees and offered to plant screening along Skyview Ridge Road. Commissioners and staff discussed yard cleanup, the number of vehicles on site, and how outdoor storage is defined. The applicant said some cores and parts are stored in a shipping container and that other items are tarped on an open trailer. He told the commission he was “in the process of actually like, I have 2 storage containers behind my shop. I'm actually cleaning out the 1 and getting rid of it … before the snow flies.”

Commissioners pressed the applicant on disposal of automotive fluids and on a floor drain that “daylights” through rock and sand. Land services said the drain and the facility’s wastewater handling are regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and must be tested and, if necessary, fitted with a holding tank and managed off‑site. The commission added a condition requiring the drain be inspected and addressed to ensure compliance with state rules.

The commission also discussed hours. Commissioners said they were not seeking to stop the owner from working inside the building after hours but were concerned about people coming and going late and noise. The applicant said he works late inside his shop but does not plan to run yard operations after dark. The commission included a restriction on posted business hours — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday — and clarified occasional personal work on weekends would be allowed.

Public comment: Little Falls Township Chair Chuck Perrons spoke in support, saying the township’s goal was to help the applicant continue his livelihood while cleaning up the site. A few neighbors who attended told the commission they supported the applicant while still expecting the yard and wood pile to be cleaned up.

Next steps: The Planning Commission’s recommendation will go to the Morrison County Board of Commissioners for final action at its Sept. 9 meeting. Land Services staff told the applicant to coordinate on the floor‑drain inspection and other follow‑up.

Ending note: The permit as recommended is time‑limited and will expire if the current owner ceases to own the property, placing responsibility on any new owner to seek new approvals or comply with county rules.