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Nicollet County approves rezoning and 30,000‑gallon propane tank for United Farmers Cooperative in Klausner
Summary
The board approved a rezoning to allow future grain‑bin expansion and granted a conditional‑use permit for a 30,000‑gallon propane tank for United Farmers Cooperative in the Klausner area, with county staff and UFC saying traffic impacts should decrease and MnDOT is working on a right‑turn lane to improve access.
The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 27 to rezone three parcels in Lafayette Township for United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) and to grant a conditional‑use permit for a 30,000‑gallon liquid petroleum (propane) storage tank in the community of Klausner.
The rezoning request changes two parcels from rural town‑site and one from agricultural to a limited‑industry designation to allow future grain‑bin installation, driveway reconfiguration and a small office building. Planning staff told the board the request implements a planning commission recommendation and cited existing use patterns. Brett Halpert, counsel for UFC, described the request as part of a larger plan to consolidate storage and better serve member farmers. Dan Plank, UFC’s grain operations manager, said the change is intended to keep bushels closer to local producers and that it should not increase overall truck traffic during harvest; he said it might reduce truck hauling because more storage would be available locally.
During board discussion commissioners asked about traffic and access. UFC representatives said they have submitted civil engineering materials to MnDOT for a right‑turn lane from Highway 15 and expect an access permit once MnDOT finalizes approvals. UFC said its private contractor will bear construction costs for the turn lane and that improvements are intended to increase safety.
On the conditional‑use permit (PLN 24‑11), planning staff explained the planning commission added a condition requiring a row of screening vegetation along the northern property line as allowed by MnDOT; UFC said the new tank consolidates existing petroleum storage, moves an existing 30,000‑gallon tank closer to demand, and includes standard safety features such as bollards. UFC said the fire marshal approved the plan with conditions. Applicant counsel emphasized the tank stores propane and that prior tanks at the site have operated for decades without incident.
Both the rezoning and the conditional‑use permit were moved, seconded and approved by the board. The approvals allow UFC to pursue civil and MnDOT approvals needed to construct the turn lane and to proceed with the tank installation subject to the conditions set by planning staff and the planning commission.
The board did not record a specific dollar amount tied to the rezoning; the propane tank parcel was identified as parcel 6.541.0020 in staff materials. The planning commission’s recommendation and the conditional‑use permit conditions remain the governing approvals; any required permits from MnDOT or other agencies must be obtained by UFC before construction.
