Approval for gravel permit is granted

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 3, 2002

The Osmundson brothers will receive a conditional use permit to operate a gravel pit next to Lance and Terry Wilson's country "dream home."

The Wilsons were not pleased.

"Our concerns were not addressed," said Lance Wilson after Tuesday's decision by the Mower County Board of Commissioners. "If anybody on the county board lived there, they would feel the same way."

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The couple came to Tuesday's county board meeting prepared, not to stop the CUP process, but to ensure their quality of life was protected.

"We were never against the pit," said Lance Wilson. "We just want a compromise."

Terry Wilson disputed the findings of facts by the Mower County planning and zoning department and offered her own list of conditions to apply to the CUP if it was granted.

Going into Wednesday's meeting, the Wilsons were hoping to make clear their concerns for the gravel pit next to their Sargeant Township home and farmstead.

"It is our sincere hope," said Terry Wilson, "that our elected Mower County commissioners will seriously consider our concerns and requests as this gravel pit will

impact us the most."

"We expect our commissioners to professionally and fairly compromise impractical decision that we can all live with. Something any rural homeowner

would want if their neighboring land owner suddenly decided to put a gravel pit

or any development outside their home."

The Mower County Planning Commission first heard the request March 26. Osmundson Bros. of Adams sought a CUP to develop a gravel pit on land owned by Paul Ulwelling in Sergeant Township.

The county planning commission adopted the staff's findings of facts and voted by a 6-0 margin to recommend approval of the CUP resent for Osmundson Bros.

Mark Osmundson testified the Adams firm was satisfying all requirements of zoning laws and responding to issues and concerns raised by the Wilsons and any other property owners near the site. Daryl Franklin, county planner and zoning administrator,

said he would recommend two additional conditions, concerning the acquisition of additional permits.

Then, the Wilsons made their presentation.

Terry Wilson described the portion of a Sargeant Township road leading to the gravel pit site as a "minimum maintenance road with grass growing down the middle of it.

Paul Ulwelling said there was an existing gravel pit on the farm site.

After a lengthy discussion, county board chairman Len Miller, 4th District, closed the hearing.

In response to the Wilsons' plea for "compromise" conditions, David Hillier, 3rd District, said the hours of operations already had been revised.

Ray Tucker, 2nd District, said he had personally inspected the site last Saturday. He said with the addition of Franklin's suggested conditions to secure additional permits to operate a gravel pit and

with a signed agreement for the gravel pit operators to cross the applicable private land owners's property to get to the site, he supported granting the CUP

Tucker made the motion to approve the county planning commission's recommendations, including the adoption of the findings of acts. Hillier seconded it and the motion was approved by a unanimous 5-0 vote.

No official position on the issue was taken by the Sargeant Township Board.

In other action Tuesday, the county commissioners:

— Approved a conditional use permit for David and Lisa Williamson for a subdivision plat on residential property along U.S. Highway 219 south of Austin. The CUP request was continued from March 5 to allow further review of issues, including an access road from the highway and the location of the road from the require setback. Satisfied the issues were addressed after explanations from the petitioner and Daryl W. Franklin, county planner and zoning administrator, the commissioners approved the request by a 5-0 vote. David Hillier, District No. 3, made the motion, and it was seconded by Ray Tucker, district No. 2. Thew requyest had been recommended for approval by the Mower County Planning Commission.