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Silver Creek board deadlocks on rezoning, unanimously approves interim use permit with conditions
Summary
The Silver Creek Township Board of Planning and Zoning split 4-4 on a rezoning request for a Vorandesoto/Xcel Energy property, then approved an interim use permit (IUP) with conditions including restricted access to 148th, limits on overnight lighting, a stormwater plan review, dust-control measures and traffic compliance.
The Silver Creek Township Board of Planning and Zoning deadlocked 4-4 on a motion to rezone a Vorandesoto/Xcel Energy parcel to industrial Aug. 5, 2025, but then approved an interim use permit with conditions to address neighbors’ concerns.
Chairman Chris Klein moved after the tie to approve the interim use permit (referred to in the minutes as an IUP); that motion carried 8-0. The recorded conditions include minimal or no access to 148th Street, no overnight lighting unless motion-controlled except at entrances, a stormwater plan to be approved by “wcsw,” a dust-control plan, compliance with county traffic signage and requirements, and measures to mitigate backup-noise impacts. The minutes record that some participants said the industrial use would cause minimal disturbance and that the parcel has been vacant a long time, while others said the site would be better used for commercial purposes.
The vote marks a compromise in which the board stopped short of a permanent land-use change (rezoning) but allowed a conditional, temporary permit to proceed subject to the conditions noted in the minutes. The tie on the rezoning motion came on a motion by Brandon Geyen, seconded by Ryan Nelson; the minutes record the rezoning motion did not pass at a 4-4 vote. Chairman Klein’s subsequent IUP motion carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance: • Agenda approval: motion by Ryan Nelson, seconded by Andy Christensen — carried 8-0. • July 1, 2025 meeting minutes: motion by Mark Egge, seconded by Ryan Nelson — carried 8-0. • PID transfer for Rodney Hebrink: motion by Mark Egge, seconded by Brandon Geyen — carried 8-0 (transfer approved as stated on the application). • Vorandesoto/Xcel Energy rezoning to industrial: motion by Brandon Geyen, seconded by Ryan Nelson — failed 4-4. • Interim use permit (IUP) for the Vorandesoto/Xcel Energy matter: motion by Chris Klein — carried 8-0 with the conditions recorded in the minutes. • Adjournment: motion by Brandon Geyen, seconded by Mark Egge — carried 8-0.
Other business recorded in the minutes included a brief appearance by Luci Snowden, who spoke on behalf of Knife River about an item labeled “Martie Pit” and provided contact information that was filed with the office. The minutes do not record verbatim statements or extended discussion from the chair report; they list attendance and note guests via a sign-in sheet.
What’s next: The minutes do not record a scheduled follow-up or effective date for the IUP; the conditions in the minutes will govern any immediate activity and require the specified plans and compliance items before operations proceed. The record does not specify which department or agency will sign off on implementation steps beyond the named plan approvals in the minutes.
