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County approves modified conditional-use permit to add storage at Sawmill Campground
Summary
The Nicollet County Board approved a request to modify a conditional-use permit to expand gravel storage areas at Sawmill Campground near North Mankato, adding conditions limiting habitation and RV storage and noting access and water-capacity constraints.
The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners on the consent agenda approved a modification to a conditional-use permit for Dennis Michaels to expand gravel storage areas at Sawmill Campground, located on a county road just west of U.S. 14 northwest of North Mankato.
County planning staff said the change would add backup storage for existing campers and that the Nicollet County Planning and Zoning Advisory Commission recommended the modification with an additional condition. That condition prohibits using the new storage sites for habitation and also restricts storage of recreational vehicles on those sites because staff deemed it difficult to monitor whether an RV was being used as a dwelling.
Public works raised a traffic-access concern: expanding overnight campsite use on the parcel would require a second access or construction of a turn lane to handle increased traffic. Planning staff also noted the campground receives municipal water from North Mankato and that there is no extra water capacity presently to support additional overnight campsites. Planning staff said that if the applicant later sought to add overnight sites, the county would require the applicant to pay for a turn lane and to consolidate access points as required by public works.
Commissioners asked whether construction workers who have historically stayed at the site were owners of the RVs; staff said ownership was not known and that the issue had not been resolved in current proceedings. A representative from Belgrade Township, Mary Milbrath, attended the advisory commission meeting and spoke in favor of the project; township officials reported no concerns.
The board moved and seconded approval of the modification and the associated findings of fact; the motion carried on an affirmative voice vote.
The approval adopts the planning commission’s recommended conditions and the findings of fact included in the meeting packet. Staff advised that compliance and monitoring provisions remain the county’s method for ensuring the sites are used only for storage and not for habitation.
