Planning commission approves conditional use permit for North Shore Waste transfer station in Tofte

Cook County Planning Commission members voted to approve a conditional use permit for North Shore Waste to operate a rural transfer station at 198 Sawbill Trail in Tofte.

Staff described the proposal as an update and formalization of an existing transfer station on county-owned land that would accept municipal solid waste, recyclable materials and demolition materials for transfer to the Grand Marais facility. "This is a request for a conditional use permit submitted by North Shore Waste, and Dustin Hansen is present tonight on land that's owned by Cook County," a Land Services staff member said during the presentation. The site is described in staff materials as 10.19 acres in the FAR 3 zone district.

The application and staff report say the operation will include outdoor dumpsters, roll-off containers, recycling containers and an on-site office; a gravel parking area of just under 1 acre; and an 8-foot chain-link fence with a gated entrance off Sawbill Trail. Staff noted the facility would operate seasonally — three days per week in summer and two days per week in winter — and said hours could extend into the evening in the future, in which case downcast lighting should be installed. The packet also notes a long-standing outhouse on the site serviced by G and G Septic.

Staff recommended several conditions, including compliance with all local, state and federal regulations (including septic and stormwater), downcast lighting directed only at the transfer station area, installation of the security fencing and screening as proposed, stopping operations when required for safety, and limiting public access to no more than three days per week unless the permit is amended. The staff report also advised the operator would need Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permits governing solid waste transfer station operations; the MPCA requirements remain separate from the county conditional use permit.

Dustin Hansen, the applicant representative, provided his name and address for the record and said he had nothing to add beyond the staff materials. The chair opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke and no written comments were received during the notice period. The application had been legally noticed in the Cook County News-Herald and 13 adjacent-property notification letters were mailed.

Commissioners expressed support for updating and formalizing the site and for the countywide "hub-and-spoke" approach described in staff materials. A motion to approve the conditional use permit with staff conditions 1–5 passed on a voice vote.

The permit approval is a recommendation from the Planning Commission to the Cook County Board of Commissioners (as applicable under county procedures); the staff packet notes the operator must also secure any required MPCA permits and construction approvals before initiating work.