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Silver Creek planners deadlock on rezoning for Xcel Energy site; approve conditional IUP should rezoning later pass
Summary
On Aug. 5, 2025, the Silver Creek Township Board of Planning and Zoning split 4-4 on a request to rezone a Vorandesoto parcel to industrial for Xcel Energy and then approved an interim use permit (IUP) that would apply only if rezoning is later approved. The IUP includes limits on access, lighting, stormwater and dust control.
On Aug. 5, 2025, the Silver Creek Township Board of Planning and Zoning deadlocked 4-4 on a motion to rezone a Vorandesoto parcel to industrial to accommodate Xcel Energy. After the tie vote, Chairman Chris Klein moved to approve an interim use permit, or IUP, with specified conditions that would take effect only if the rezoning is approved in the future; that contingency motion carried 8-0.
Brandon Geyen moved to rezone the parcel to industrial; Ryan Nelson seconded. The rezoning motion failed on a 4-4 tie. According to the board record, Klein then moved to approve the IUP with conditions "should the rezoning pass," and the board approved that IUP unanimously.
The conditions the board recorded include prohibiting or minimizing access to 148th Avenue, restricting overnight lighting except at entrances and subject to motion control, requiring a stormwater plan approved by WCSW, implementing a dust-control plan, complying with county traffic signage and requirements, and further steps to mitigate backup/noise impacts. Board discussion also included a conversation about possible noise mitigation for backup equipment.
The transcript records differing views: some participants said the project would be a good use of a long-vacant parcel and likely create minimal disturbance; others said the site would be better used for commercial development because of its location. The board did not adopt a rezoning ordinance; the IUP approval recorded on Aug. 5 is explicitly contingent on a later rezoning approval and does not by itself change zoning or authorize industrial use.
If the applicant seeks rezoning again, the conditions approved Aug. 5 would be in place to govern an IUP tied to that rezoning. The record does not list individual vote positions by name for the 4-4 tie. The meeting adjourned later that night after routine business.
