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Planning commission approves tire-recycling center at Jefferson Street amid safety and noise questions
Summary
The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a tire-recycling facility at 2110 Jefferson Street; commissioners and residents pressed the applicant and staff about fire risk, mosquitoes and noise controls before the 5–1 vote.
The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted 5–1 to approve a conditional use permit for a tire-recycling business at 2110 Jefferson Street, allowing Jefferson Rapids LLC to use an existing 8,000-square-foot building for tire shredding and related processes.
Staff told the commission the business would unload tires north of the building, cut sidewalls and shred the tires inside the facility. The application proposed operations between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and estimated the on-site shredder could produce 85 to 100 decibels; staff recommended approval subject to two conditions: that all materials and activities except loading and unloading occur inside the building, and that minor plan modifications be reviewable by the Community Development Department.
Commissioners and members of the public raised safety concerns. One commissioner cited guidance recommending limits on outdoor pile size, fire breaks and buffer zones; resident Elizabeth Whan said she was worried about mosquitoes and asked how the city would ensure tires are kept indoors and how fire protection would be handled. "Do we check that regularly?" Whan asked.
Staff replied that the city would inspect the operation for compliance after it began, issue correction letters or violation notices if needed, and could bring noncompliance back to the Planning Commission and pursue permit revocation under the zoning code. Staff also noted the property is in an industrial park and that nearby uses already attract semi traffic.
The applicant representative, identified in the record as Greg of Jefferson Rapids, described the operation as commercial-only: "They bring in a semi load of the materials, drop it off, then they bring those inside, cut the sidewalls off, shred them, [then] gets put on a semi and then driven up where they use that material." He said sidewalls would be sold for DOT uses and that similar operations had operated elsewhere without reported significant fire incidents.
Commissioners asked about building fire suppression and noted the building was constructed in 1989, so applicable fire-suppression requirements could depend on the original construction and current building-code triggers. One commissioner recommended a sprinkler condition but was cautioned that the commission should only add conditions supported by substantial evidence; staff suggested postponement for more detailed analysis if the commission wanted to require costly retrofits. The applicant called a mandatory sprinkler retrofit "a non-starter," saying it would impose tens of thousands of dollars in expense.
After discussion, Commissioner Furky moved to approve the permit with staff conditions and Commissioner Tao seconded. The motion carried 5–1.
The permit approval includes the staff conditions requiring indoor handling of materials (except loading/unloading) and administrative review of minor plan changes. If the operation violates those conditions, the city said it would follow enforcement steps spelled out in the zoning code.
