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Council approves conditional‑use permit and variances for Royal Oaks Recycling at 810 North Front Street
Summary
The council approved a conditional‑use permit (with nine conditions) and two variances allowing Royal Oaks Recycling to operate a commercial recycling transfer facility at 810 North Front Street, subject to limits including no exterior storage and no residential recycling.
The New Ulm City Council on March 3 approved a conditional use permit (CUP) and associated variances allowing Royal Oaks Recycling to operate a commercial transfer facility at 810 North Front Street.
City planners told the council the property’s main building is about 52,888 square feet; Royal Oaks plans to lease roughly 32,888 square feet. Staff said operations would be largely indoors, focused on transloading, shipping, receiving and bailing of paper and plastic, with hours roughly 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. "There shall be no exterior storage on the property," staff noted, and the recommended conditions prohibit residential recycling and public drop‑off.
Planning Commission recommended approval of the CUP with nine conditions and unanimously supported the variances (three conditions) after two public comments that raised concern about materials blowing off site. Staff said the site’s indoor operation, commercial‑only client base and physical barriers (an elevated railroad bed and trees) justified the reduced parcel size and setback.
Council approved the CUP with the recommended conditions and then approved variances to reduce the minimum parcel area from 4.0 acres to 3.69 acres and to reduce the required setback from residential zoning from 500 feet to 325 feet. Councilors recorded unanimous yes votes on both motions.
