Carver County approves interim use permit for William Mueller & Sons; neighbors pressed for stricter limits

The Carver County Board voted to adopt findings of fact and issue Interim Use Permit PZ20250012 to allow sand and gravel mining on approximately 22 acres of a roughly 100‑acre property in Section 18 of Camden Township. The motion, moved by Commissioner Leitch and seconded by Commissioner Anderson, included conditions that amended the applicant’s original hours and added screening language: production hours were set to 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday; hauling hours were limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Friday; and production and hauling were allowed 7 a.m.–noon on Saturdays. The board also added a condition asking the applicant to provide berming on the east side of active phases “to the extent practical” while respecting floodplain and wetland setbacks. The permit includes financial surety requirements and other standard environmental and operational conditions.

Jason Melki, land management department manager, summarized staff findings and noted the planning commission had recommended approval with conditions, and that several jurisdictions and regulators — including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Buffalo Creek Watershed District, Carver Soil and Water Conservation District, and the local Watershed Management Organization (WMO) — will review permits and required permits remain before mining can commence. Melki stressed that the IUP will not be recorded or operational until required wetland and WMO approvals and erosion/sediment controls are completed.

Neighbors at multiple points urged the board to reject or tighten the permit. A resident who identified her address as 8040 Hill Avenue said she chose the property for retirement and quiet and warned that crushing, truck traffic and processing would substantially increase noise and dust; she urged reduced hours and other limits. "I moved to this property 10 years ago…this is where I would retire and be my last home," she said. Vanessa Martinson, a resident at 7800 Yancey Avenue, said she and nearby owners received only short legal notice and expressed particular concern about impacts to private wells and groundwater from dewatering and changed hydrology.

Company and technical representatives described mitigation measures and regulatory oversight. Kirsten Pauley, a geologist and civil engineer working with William Mueller and Sons, said the site will be subject to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permits for air emissions and noise and to MPCA (NPDES/MPDS) stormwater permitting; she said portable processing equipment would typically be on-site for multi‑week periods to produce stockpiles rather than run every day. "Noise is regulated under the state Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules and the site will operate under a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permit for air emissions as well as noise," Pauley said.

Tim Mueller, representing William Mueller and Sons, said the company would use its own trucks and would not allow third‑party operators at the site. Counsel Rachel Holland for the applicant emphasized property owners’ rights to use their land and said Mueller’s is a long‑standing local family business that aims to comply with environmental and operational rules.

Planning and staff conditions included a $10,000 per‑acre financial surety for open mining areas, phased reclamation that returns land to agricultural use where agreed with the landowner, limits on stockpiling in the floodplain (maximum 1,000 cubic yards in floodplain staging), and requirements to comply with township and road‑authority agreements for haul routes and dust control. Melki noted the applicant had attended Burgen Township and Camden Township meetings and secured township recommendations with conditions on road maintenance and dust control.

Board members debated balancing property rights and neighbors’ concerns. Several commissioners who supported approval said the planning commission had vetted the proposal thoroughly and the company had agreed to several mitigation measures; commissioners also noted additional permitting and wetland review remain before operations can start.

The board adopted the permit as modified and instructed staff to craft precise permit language to reflect the hours and the east‑side berming condition before final recording. Staff noted the county had issued a 60‑day notice earlier and the statutory county board decision deadline is July 19, 2025.

Votes at a glance: motion to adopt findings of fact and issue Interim Use Permit PZ20250012 approved (mover: Commissioner Leitch; second: Commissioner Anderson). No recorded opposing votes; conditions amended as described.