Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission backs rezoning of 983 Richwood Road to allow staged gravel mining
Summary
After public concern, the Detroit Lakes Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning the former Cleveland Farm at 983 Richwood Road from I-1 to I-2 to permit a phased gravel-mining lease; staff said mining still will require a conditional-use permit and that any promise to rezone back is nonbinding.
The Detroit Lakes Planning Commission voted March 27 to recommend rezoning the former Cleveland Farm at 983 Richwood Road from I-1 (light industrial) to I-2 (heavy industrial) so the Detroit Lakes Development Authority can issue a lease to remove gravel from the site.
The motion, made by a committee member and seconded, said the development authority intends to issue a request for proposals to mine 500,000 cubic yards of material prior to expanding the industrial park; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.
Residents urged caution. Dan Holzgrove, who said he lives at 1604 Legion Road, told the commission he opposed I-2 because heavy-industrial uses could include “a concrete plant [that] could go in there and run 24/7,” a use he said would be incompatible with nearby new housing. A resident identifying himself as Larry Lighthizer (1210 Richwood Road) cited the city’s comprehensive plan and asked for the city’s commitment in writing that the land would revert to light industrial once mining is complete. “Once he gets classified as heavy industrial, I don't think I, as a citizen, have any recourse,” he said.
City staff, who addressed the hearing as Larry, said the city will include language in the ordinance expressing the intent to rezone the parcel back to I-1 after mining, but that such language is nonbinding: “We would like to make that binding, but we can't bind future councils,” the staff member said. He emphasized that rezoning to I-2 alone would not authorize mining; any miner would still need to obtain a conditional-use permit that spells out phases, operations and hours.
Staff estimated timelines for excavation varied: while an applicant might propose 1–2 years, staff said a realistic timetable could be 3 years and more conservatively 5–7 years depending on contractor proposals and the RFP response.
The commission approved the rezoning motion by a voice vote; the chair announced the motion carries. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Community Development Committee for review and then to the city council, which will take the final decision at its April meeting.
Next steps: the development authority expects to issue an RFP for mining contractors; any proposed mining operations will require a conditional-use permit and additional review before they can begin.
