Commission approves five-year interim permit for gravel operation near Freeport with reclamation condition

The Stearns County Planning Commission on Aug. 28 approved an interim use permit allowing a gravel-mining operation on roughly 8 acres of a 20-acre parcel near Freeport, with several conditions intended to limit environmental and traffic impacts. The permit was approved for five years, running through Dec. 31, 2030, and includes nine conditions: hours of operation limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (no Sundays or federal holidays); posting truck-hauling signage during hauling; an informational sign at the entrance listing the property owner and phone number; a gate at the entrance; submission of a written agreement with Crane Township addressing road maintenance (the township may require its own financial guarantee); a financial guarantee for reclamation (county staff recommended $6,500 per acre, which would total $52,000 for the eight-acre area); compliance with all standards in section 7.17 of the zoning ordinance; and a newly added condition that all construction materials (concrete, asphalt, rebar) be removed from the site prior to final reclamation. Planning staff described the site as a 20-acre parcel with mining proposed on the eastern 8 acres and said there are no wetlands within the proposed mining area. Staff noted the operator will use the existing driveway for access and plans a berm around most of the proposed pit as screening. "Dave is requesting it to be a 5 year permit ..." staff told commissioners, and explained reclamation plans call for grading the pit back to gradual side slopes and returning it to farmland when mining ends. The applicant (operator) identified himself as Dave and said his operation typically uses a small number of trucks and that crushing of existing concrete on site would be done by a hired crusher and stockpiled. A neighbor, Dan Sauer, told the commission he supports the operation and praised the operator’s maintenance of the site. Another neighbor, Christina Hiltner, spoke at length about concerns including potential groundwater and surface-water effects, the effectiveness and water use of dust-suppression methods, erosion and sedimentation, road wear and maintenance costs, insufficient notice beyond the statutory quarter-mile notification radius, and potential property-value impacts from truck traffic. Staff responded to concerns in the meeting record: the plan is not to mine into the water table — staff reported the operator estimated the water table is roughly 10 feet below the current pit floor — and staff said the applicant will be required to obtain a written agreement with Crane Township addressing road maintenance before mining may begin. The county will require a financial guarantee to ensure reclamation and staff said they will require removal of construction material prior to final reclamation. Commissioners discussed dust control and noted responsibilities for dust suppressant application and road maintenance would be worked out with Crane Township. Staff said the township typically applies dust suppressant to township roads and that the permit could require the operator to apply dust suppressant when complaints arise. After closing the public hearing, a commissioner moved to approve the interim use permit with the nine conditions (the eight standard conditions in the packet plus the ninth condition requiring removal of construction material); the commission voted in favor and the matter will go before the Stearns County Board on Sept. 9, 2025 for final action. Key facts from the hearing: mining proposed on about 8 acres of a 20-acre parcel; permit length requested and approved is five years (expires 12/31/2030); hours of operation 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Friday; recommended financial guarantee $6,500 per acre (county staff) totaling $52,000 for eight acres; written Crane Township agreement required before mining begins; reclamation plan to return site to farmland and remove construction material prior to final reclamation.