Waite Park City Council Weighs Mining Moratorium Extension

(KNSI) – Waite Park City Council is having a special session Friday afternoon to extend the moratorium on mining for another 120 days.

Planning and Community Development Director Jon Noerenberg says firms that have other projects in the area are increasingly interested in new operations close to Quarry Park, which has drawn concern from governments and residents alike.

“Some of the last public hearings we’ve had, we’ve had a number of concerns brought up from residents as well as even from Stearns County because a lot of the interest in our quarry areas tend to be located along Granite View Road or along County Road 137, which both are pretty near in proximity to Quarry Park.”

Noerenberg says the city has a great relationship with the mining companies and he hopes they understand this isn’t an indictment on how they’ve operated.

Noerenberg runs down some of the aspects of an updated ordinance being debated.

“Putting term limits on any new approvals. That would be a maximum of five years for a mining or quarry operation with the option for a single five-year renewal. Also trying to focus that anything that would be done, would be done in such a way that it leaves the property in a condition that would make it more readily developed.”

Also under consideration is a 1,000-foot buffer zone around Quarry Park. Noerenberg hopes the extension will give the city a chance to host more public sessions to firm up the ordinance changes.

The meeting is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

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