Morton County approves St Anthony Commercial Park plat, special-use permit and five-year tax break for meat processor

The Morton County Commission on Sept. 11 approved the final plat for St Anthony Commercial Park and granted a special-use permit for a minor meat-processing business, actions the board said will create opportunities for local commerce.

Commissioner Zachmeier moved and Commissioner Tokach seconded approval of the St Anthony Commercial Park short-form final plat and accompanying zoning-map amendments. The changes rezone portions of the plat from Agricultural to Commercial for Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 and Lot 1, Block 2, and from Agricultural to Industrial for Lot 2, Block 2. The board found the plat conforms to Article 7 of the Morton County Land Use Code and will enable local business development.

The commission also approved a Special Use Permit for a minor meat-processing facility to operate as Gotta Butcher Shop, also known as St Anthony Meats, on Lot 2, Block 2 of St Anthony Commercial Park. The permit was approved with conditions intended to protect nearby residences and county septic infrastructure: compliance with the performance standards in section 5-270 for minor meat processing (except for setback standards), minimizing use of cleaning chemicals to support septic system function, treating all solid material as solid waste, installing fine grates on floor and sink drains to capture particles and hair, and using two wastewater tanks spaced to allow wash water to cool and fats to solidify before entering the drain field.

The board separately approved a five-year property tax incentive for the new business. The incentive phases in as follows: years one through three at 100% exemption, year four at 50% and year five at 25%. Commissioner Morrell moved for the incentive and Commissioner Zachmeier seconded; all voted aye and the motion carried.

The approvals follow the commission’s finding that the plat and permits conform to county land-use regulations. No public objections or appeals were recorded in the meeting minutes. The commission did not specify permit-monitoring steps or enforcement timelines during the meeting; those details were not provided in the minutes.

What happens next: the approved plat and zoning changes permit property transfers and development under the new designations, and the special-use permit allows the meat-processing operation to proceed subject to the stated conditions. Any enforcement of the permit conditions, inspections, or required permits from state or local health agencies were not detailed in the minutes.