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Council approves Minnesota Power land vacation and conditional-use permits for new service center
Summary
The council ratified a call for public hearings and approved planning commission recommendations to vacate right-of-way and to grant conditional-use permits for an 8-foot fence and for a fuel island with bulk storage tanks at a parcel Minnesota Power seeks for a service center, subject to specified conditions.
The Little Falls City Council advanced a package of land-use actions and conditional-use permits related to a Minnesota Power service center site.
Staff presented maps and explained the city seeks to vacate portions of 15th Avenue NE and 16th Street NE where right-of-way is unused or “paper” and a triangular parcel is not in active roadway use; Minnesota Power has expressed interest in acquiring that triangular parcel for a service center. The council ratified and confirmed the call for a public hearing on the vacation (hearing set for Feb. 2).
On separate resolutions, the council approved planning commission recommendations to grant a conditional-use permit (CUP) for an 8-foot fence topped by one foot of barbed wire around the proposed site (subject to design approval and compliance with city code) and a CUP for a fuel island and bulk storage tanks (an 8,500-gallon and a 10,000-gallon tank). Planning staff and the council stressed that many of the permit conditions (double-walled tanks, secondary containment, spill-prevention plan) reflect state requirements, but the CUP ensures the city reviews the proposal because the site lies within a wellhead protection area and the industrial zoning requires a CUP for such uses.
Council discussed setbacks and whether the conditions duplicate state rules; staff said internal review included fire department input and that substantial design or material modifications would require city approval. Both CUPs passed by roll call.
