Planning commission recommends approval of North Shore Waste transfer station permit in Grand Marais area

The Cook County Planning Commission on March 13 recommended that the County Board approve a conditional use permit for North Shore Waste LLC to build and operate a transfer station at 44 Chippewa Cemetery Trail, a 10.87-acre parcel in the Light Industrial Zone District east of Grand Marais.

Neva, planning staff, told the commission the proposed facility would manage, transfer and process municipal solid waste, demolition waste and recycling for Cook County and that the operation would include outdoor activities such as dumpsters and recycling services. Neva said the facility is designed with a roughly 22,500-square-foot transfer-station building and would operate Monday through Saturday between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., with limited hours and services in fall and winter.

Staff identified site issues that will require further action prior to construction. The site lies within the North Shore Management Zone and therefore is treated as shoreland for Cook County zoning and subject to the State Wetland Conservation Act; Neva said the “maximum de minimis exemption for any impacts to wetlands…is 400 square feet,” and any impacts above that threshold would require a wetland replacement plan and sequencing analysis under the State Wetland Conservation Act. Neva also noted that the county’s environmental-health specialist has not yet received septic-system design drawings and that a stormwater pollution-prevention plan will be required; lighting plans were not clearly explained in the application and were flagged as a potential discussion point.

The presentation noted that the U.S. Forest Service has an adjoining boundary and requested that the property owner confirm the survey to avoid encroachment; the town of Tofte provided informal support. Staff recommended findings that the use aligns with the county’s land-use plan and the 2023 Northeast Minnesota Regional Solid Waste Management Plan and proposed two conditions for approval: that the property comply with Minnesota rule 70 80 and the Cook County Septic Ordinance, and that all local, state and federal regulations be adhered to prior to operation.

Dustin, who identified himself and gave an address, said he was available to answer questions; Rowan, a project representative, said they were present if commissioners had technical questions. Commissioner Jeff said the proposal “solves a lot of problems in my mind,” and commissioners then moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval of the conditional use permit with the staff findings and conditions; the commission recorded no opposing votes and forwarded the recommendation to the County Board.