Waite Park Mining Ordinance Update Ready For Planning Commission

(KNSI) – Waite Park is nearing a final draft of new mining regulations, with the hope of having the ordinance approved by the city council by the end of this month.

Planning and Community Development Director Jon Noerenberg says a public hearing held on Thursday gave residents one last chance to provide input. Noerenberg says Waite Park had to extend the current moratorium last fall because industry representatives and landowners spoke out against a setback near Quarry Park included in the initial revisions.

“Back in September, we were proposing a 1,000-foot buffer requirement. Some of these properties that are under private ownership that could see some quarry activity, many of them are right on the outside boundary of Quarry Park. They’re hesitant there to give up too much of that property.”

Another change is to limit projects to two 10-year terms. It was originally capped at 10 years total or two five-year periods. The ordinance would apply to any new mining operations. It will be taken up by the planning commission on Tuesday, February 14th.

Noerenberg says city officials are working under a deadline of the end of the month, as that is when the current halt lapses. He explains what happens if a revised code is not passed by then.

“If the moratorium expires before we have the new ordinance updated or in place, the old ordinance just goes into effect for that time. So, it just reverts back to the existing ordinance.”

The planning commission meets at the Waite Park City Hall.

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