Silver Creek planning board deadlocks rezoning, approves conditional interim use permit

The Silver Creek Township Board of Planning and Zoning on Aug. 5, 2025 deadlocked 4-4 on a proposal to rezone property identified with Vorandesoto/Xcel Energy to industrial use, and then approved a conditional interim use permit (IUP) that would apply if rezoning is later adopted.

Chairman Chris Klein presided. Brandon Geyen moved to rezone the parcel to industrial, and Ryan Nelson seconded; the motion failed on a 4-4 vote. Klein then moved to approve an IUP with specific conditions tied to any future rezoning; that motion carried 8-0.

The approved IUP includes site controls the board recorded in the meeting minutes: minimal or no access to 148th, restrictions on overnight lighting except at entrances and when motion-controlled, a stormwater plan approved by WCSW, a dust-control plan, and compliance with county traffic signage and requirements. The minutes also note discussion of measures to mitigate backup-noise impacts and competing views among attendees about appropriate future use of the property.

The transcripted minutes attribute the rezoning motion to Geyen and the second to Nelson; Klein made the subsequent motion to approve the conditional IUP. The minutes do not list individual roll-call votes by board member for the 4-4 rezoning tally, only the numeric result. The IUP motion is recorded as carrying unanimously, 8-0.

Also on the agenda, the board approved a transfer of one section of a PID as requested on the application associated with Rodney Hebrink; Mark Egge moved the transfer, Brandon Geyen seconded, and the motion carried 8-0. Earlier routine business included approval of the meeting agenda (motion by Ryan Nelson, second by Andy Christensen, carried 8-0) and approval of the July 1, 2025 meeting minutes (motion by Mark Egge, second by Ryan Nelson, carried 8-0).

Luci Snowden attended to speak on behalf of Knife River regarding a Martie Pit item; the minutes note that her contact information was recorded and passed to a neighbor. The minutes do not include verbatim statements from Snowden or other speakers beyond procedural motions and the listed conditions.

The board closed the meeting with a motion to adjourn by Brandon Geyen, seconded by Mark Egge; the motion carried 8-0. The minutes do not record any follow-up deadlines or scheduled hearings related to the rezoning or IUP in the transcripted text.