Changes to Mining Ordinance Go to Waite Park City Council

(KNSI) – Changes to Waite Park’s mining ordinance will be before the city council next week.

The city has been working on making adjustments to allow some companies to expand their footprint near Quarry Park since late last year. One of the main areas of pushback to the initial ordinances drafted was a buffer zone around the popular recreation spot. That was dropped, as were any references to setbacks. “We can allow property owners to make use of some of their property and see some profit that otherwise isn’t necessarily worth a whole lot as far as development once those operations would be concluded and hopefully those projects could leave something behind that could be used,” said Waite Park Planning and Community Development Director Jon Norenberg.

He tells KNSI News it’s taken time for all sides to agree. “We’ve worked pretty hard to find some common ground with the property owners and with folks from the mining companies or quarrying companies. Not everybody necessarily agrees on everything and I think that’s okay. That’s part of a compromise.”

The changes also include allowing mining operations up to 20 years to work and capping the number of active sites at six.

The ordinance will go before the Waite Park City Council for approval on Tuesday. It has the recommendation from the city’s planning commission.

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