Commission recommends interim permit with limits for home-based contracting business in Sunrise Township

The Chisago County Planning Commission on June 4 recommended approval of an Interim Use Permit for a contracting business owned and operated by residents of a Sunrise Township property at 11270 Wilcox Road / 39925 Keystone Avenue. The Commission approved Resolution No. PC2026-0602 by a 6-0 vote after staff presentation, public comment and amendments to staff-recommended conditions.

Land Services Coordinator Beth Gervais summarized the application, which described a general contracting construction company operating on a combined 70.56± acre site with two tax parcels. Gervais reviewed hours, employee counts, storage and screening, access approvals from the Highway Department, and the applicant's revised site plan showing potential future expansions. Applicant Joseph Winberg said he constructed a pole building now used for agricultural purposes and provided a revised site plan showing a future 300' x 300' lot expansion and an 86' x 200' shop. Winberg told commissioners he was willing to reduce hours of operation and direct business traffic away from nearby Wilcox Road.

Neighbors submitted written testimony raising environmental, noise and property-value concerns. Elizabeth Wawersich provided copies of a written statement "explaining that their major concerns with the proposed Contracting Business related to the potential for pollution of ground water, the increase of noise from equipment, the possibility of a Rezoning for the proposed business, recent storage of vehicles and equipment on the site and the displeasing appearance, the impact and maintenance of Keystone Avenue / CR 67, and a potential negative impact on values of surrounding properties." Winberg responded that much of the reported noise came from dwelling construction, that major equipment maintenance typically happens at job sites or at a mechanic, and that he would reduce on-site noise and consider routing business traffic to State Highway 95.

The recommended conditions as amended limit on-site business hours to Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (equipment warm-up permitted no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and no on-site activity after 8:00 p.m.), prohibit customer/public access, cap on-site employees and related vehicles at ten at any given time, require commercial-code construction for any structures used for the business (and a change-of-occupancy permit to use the existing pole barn for commercial purposes), prohibit hazardous-waste storage on-site, require MPCA-compliant fueling and fluid handling, and permit the specific expansion shown on the June 4 revised site plan with advance notice to staff. The permit will expire if the property is no longer owned and occupied by Joseph Winberg and requires annual certification. The motion to recommend approval passed 6-0 (DuBose moved; Sutcliffe second).

Commissioners debated noise, site screening and the need to notify staff before any intensification beyond the plan shown on June 4. The Highway Department had previously approved two commercial approaches on Keystone Avenue / CR 67 in 2025; commissioners included a condition that all business traffic use Keystone Avenue accesses and not Wilcox Road.