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Winona County planning commission tables Bizon Stone access-road request after neighbors press erosion and ownership concerns
Summary
Commissioners heard a lengthy staff and petitioner presentation about a proposed 3,000-foot private access road for Bizon Stone, including engineering, erosion control, and an estimated 23,000–24,000 cubic yards of earthwork. Neighbors urged more time; the commission tabled the petition and secured a 30-day extension from the petitioner.
The Winona County Planning Commission voted to table a petition from Construction Ventures Inc., doing business as Bizon Stone, for an interim use permit to allow more than 1,000 cubic yards of land disturbance on steep slopes to build an access road serving multiple parcels in Hillsdale Township.
Planning staff gave an extensive presentation noting the project would cross three parcels, produce an estimated 23,000–24,000 cubic yards of disturbance, and create a roughly 3,000-foot access road with a finished drivable width of about 25 feet. Staff and the county engineer flagged erosion concerns on steep slopes and required that any earthwork be approved by the county engineer and include a state construction stormwater permit (SWIP). Several variances related to slopes and proximity to the top of the bluff had been granted earlier by the Board of Adjustments.
Petitioner Jonathan Schwab told commissioners that the firm had already completed some clearing and acknowledged an error, saying the pre-application clearing amounted to “right around an acre” and that they would work with the county engineer to revise plans as needed. Neighbors told the commission they needed more time to consult lawyers and assess potential effects on groundwater, runoff and property lines; several residents said the packet (96 pages) was delivered only days before the hearing.
Commissioners debated ownership of the easement, who would maintain the road, whether the road could later be used for quarry hauling, and what protections could be required to prevent future uses inconsistent with the representation to the Planning Commission. Staff and legal counsel explained the easement and maintenance obligations are a private matter but that land-use approvals and erosion controls remain under county jurisdiction.
Given the volume of technical materials and neighbor concerns, a commissioner moved to table the petition and request a 30-day extension to the county review period so the Planning Commission could consider the item at its Jan. 16 meeting; the petitioner agreed to the extension. The motion to table carried (one member voted no). The commission instructed staff to make plans and survey materials available to neighbors and to coordinate inspections and engineer review during the extension.
The draft findings and conditions remain available in the county packet; if resubmitted and found compliant, the petition will return to the January meeting for further deliberation.
