Planning commission approves five-year renewal for Grand Marais firewood operation with hours restrictions

The Cook County Planning Commission voted to renew an interim use permit allowing firewood processing at 1334 Gunflin Trail in Grand Marais, approving a five-year permit with time and noise restrictions after public concerns about out-of-hours chainsawing.

Neva, planning and zoning staff, told commissioners the request is from North Shore Timber LLC, operated by Dave Howe, and submitted with the property owner, Dean Bergland. Neva said the applicants requested a 10-year interim use permit but that Howe — who was not present because he was stuck on a county road — had told staff he would accept a five-year renewal if the commission preferred one.

The commission’s decision followed staff findings that the site is in the FAR-3 zone, that the parcel has long been used as a permitted gravel pit and that a prior interim use permit for the firewood operation was issued in 2016 and was set to expire after five years in 2021. Neva said the office missed notifying the applicants in 2021 because of staff turnover and the permit lapsed; the current application was submitted after that lapse.

The operation described in the application includes stockpiling bolt-length birch and maple, bucking to stove lengths, and drying wood in a wood-fired kiln. Neva said the kiln operates year-round but that cutting activities are restricted in the application to regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neva also told the commission that staff’s site visit found the kiln and other equipment produced noise that did not require hearing protection for a bystander, that operators use protection, and that staff did not observe noise along neighboring roads during their drive-by.

Neighbors sent written comments opposing the permit renewal, citing noise outside normal hours. Letters came from Daniel and Rachel Berglund and a joint letter from Bev Wilkie, Jade and Max Albitz, and Virginia Berglund, all raising concerns about operations on weekends, holidays and early mornings. The Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District also submitted a memo about invasive-species considerations tied to the stored wood.

Dean Bergland, the property owner, spoke in support of the operator and acknowledged hearing complaints from neighbors. He told the commission that the operator had agreed he would not do chainsawing on weekends: "he wouldn't do any chainsawing on the weekends," Bergland said. Bergland said the kiln itself is seldom heard by neighbors and that he supports reasonable time restrictions to address complaints.

Staff recommended a shorter renewal than the ten years sought by the applicant to give the county an opportunity to evaluate whether new hours and conditions reduce complaints. The commission approved renewal of the interim use permit with conditions that included a five-year term, adherence to established hours (no cutting on weekends, nights or holidays), retention of previously installed exhaust baffles while the kiln operates, and compliance with Minnesota noise pollution control standards. The planning commission approved the motion by voice; the vote was recorded as aye with no opposition.

The planning commission’s approval will be forwarded to the Cook County Board of Commissioners at their next meeting for final consideration.