The Lakeville City Planning Commission on Nov. 20 voted unanimously to recommend that City Council approve a Planned Unit Development (PUD), preliminary plat and zoning map amendment to allow a recycling and indoor composting facility proposed by Dakota Waste Solutions on roughly 37 acres at the southeast corner of 215th Street and Kaparia Avenue.

Mike Brandt, presenting for Dakota Waste Solutions, described a multi-building campus with in-vessel (indoor) composting, wood-processing operations moved from the north side of 215th, covered yard-waste storage, a depackaging line for packaged food, paved curing and finished-compost storage areas, and a weigh station/guard shack at the west entrance. Brandt said the facility would not be open to the public for drop-off and that material would arrive via commercial haulers.

Brandt characterized the project as a way to help meet state goals for organic recycling. He cited processing figures during his remarks (including a reference to "approximately 6,000 tons" and other tonnage figures later in the presentation); staff and the applicant said exact permitted tonnages and operational limits will be finalized through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) permit and Dakota County licensing processes. Brandt also said an MPCA permit application is under review with an anticipated decision around Feb. 1 (applicant-provided timeline).

Brandt described odor and noise controls: processing and composting buildings would operate under negative pressure, exhaust air would be treated through carbon/biofilters, machinery would be indoors to limit noise, and the facility would maintain daily inspections and a varmint-control policy. He said cured/finished compost may be stored outside after reaching required temperatures. The applicant also proposed berms and landscaping along 215th; staff noted wetlands and floodplain areas are being avoided and preserved on about 11 acres of the property.

Commissioners asked about practical site limitations raised by the gas company: two 24-inch gas mains cross the property and the gas company requested that the easement area not be paved until pipeline replacement is complete (Brandt said the company indicated a replacement timeline of about 1–2 years). Commissioners and staff discussed adding language to the PUD to allow interim surfacing (for example, gravel) and to address sequencing so the developer would not be penalized for a pipeline schedule outside their control.

Commissioner Swenson moved to recommend council approval of the zoning map amendment to PUD, the preliminary two-lot plat, and the preliminary PUD development-stage plan (including source-separated organics composting and wood processing), subject to the stipulations in the planning memo dated 11/13/2025. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Staff said the MPCA permit and county licensing remain conditions for final operation; the project is expected to return with final architectural drawings and a final plat in January and proceed to construction in spring if permits are issued.

The commission asked staff to include language in the PUD to accommodate gas-main sequencing and to require final design details for hoop-shed and greenhouse structures at subsequent reviews.