Council upholds planning commission, approves conditional use permit for propane storage site near Stead

The City Council voted unanimously to uphold the Planning Commission’s recommendation and grant a conditional‑use permit that allows a large liquid‑propane storage tank on a largely industrial parcel at the northwest corner of Leer Boulevard and Stead Boulevard.

Planning staff said the parcel had hosted large tanks historically and that the applicant reinstalled a 30,000‑gallon storage tank and had operated on the site since October 2021. Staff reviewed compatibility, separation distances and agency coordination; state agencies including the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reviewed the location and reported no objections given the site’s industrial setting and the applicant’s operations.

Applicant Carl Windbigler told council the site is not customer‑facing: the company receives large transport deliveries, loads truck deliveries and distributes propane to customers (residential bulk and commercial accounts); the business does not provide bottle filling for walk‑up customers at the site. "It's not our part of our business model … we deliver to end users only," Windbigler said.

Councilwoman Ebert, the ward member, asked about buffer distance to nearby homes and safety; staff and the fire captain confirmed appropriate setbacks, berming and code requirements and noted gates and security conditions will be enforced. Councilmember motioned to uphold the planning commission; the council voted aye and approved the CUP unanimously.

What’s next: city staff will finalize permit conditions and ensure ongoing compliance with state hazardous‑materials and fire‑safety requirements.