CCP 08-30-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNlNG COMMISSION - AUGUST 4, 1999 DRAFT 4 Commissioner Galatowitsch asked if the eomplaints regarding odor have been escalating, Mr, Hola stated that he was new to the Friskies plant, however, since he has been employed at the A plant, there have been a number of eomplaints, ,., Commissioner Galatowitsch asked if the proposed biofilter was eonsidered state-of-the-art technology, Mr. Hola stated that the biofilter is state-of-the-art teehnology. Commissioner Galatowitsch asked ifthe odors are drawn to an underground pipe with this system. Mr. Hola stated that the exhaust runs underground and eomes up through the filter. As the exhaust travels through the filter, it is spread out and the odors are oxidized by beds of wood ehips. Within the wood ehips are natural bacteria, which convert the organie eompound to carbon dioxide and water, Mr, Hola stated that the odor would be greatly redueed, Commissioner Galatowitsch asked if the odors are currently emitted directly into the outside air. Mr, Hola stated that the Friskies plant eurrently utilizes an environmentally safe neutralizer. However, this system has not worked as well as the plant needs it to, Commissioner Duehenes asked what the timing for the projeet was proposed to be. Mr' Hola stated that the biofilter is scheduled to be installed by the end of 1999, Commissioner Sand asked Mr, Hola ifthere were any objections to the eonditions for approval recommended by staff, Mr' Hola stated that he had no objections to the reeommended conditions, Commissioner Sand eonfirmed that there would be no objeetions to planting six to eight-foot high blue spruces.. Mr. Hola stated that this requirement was aeceptable, e Commissioner Sand noted the staff report stated that staff had found the odors to constitute a nuisanee, He asked how whether or not the odors were a nuisanee was objectively detennined. Ms, Randall stated that a nuisanee ofthis type is a difficult thing to define. She stated that the City had received several different complaints from several different people. On oceasion, staff has been in the neighborhood where the plant is located and it was clear to staff that the odors did exist and would create a nuisance for outdoor aetivities. Mr. Ringwald added that the timing of complaints was also taken into eonsideration when determining if the odor was a nuisanee, He stated that the eomplaints have not been a one-time issue, Rather, the complaints have been recurring on a regular frequency, Therefore, in addition to how acute the odor is, the length oftime the odor has been occurring was taken into consideration, With regard to the issue oflength of duration of the odor, Commissioner Sand stated that ifhe lived close to the Friskies plant, he would be concerned if the plant was guaranteeing that installing the biofilter would eliminate the odors, He asked if there should be some monitoring of the odor to detennine the effeetiveness of the biofilter. He noted that there had not been a reeommendation by staff that this be done and suggested that a condition of approval be added to require monitoring to ensure that the odors have been improved by the addition of the biofilter. He suggested that the residents would be the best judges of this improvement. Mr, Hola stated that aetually monitoring the effeetiveness would be diffieult. He noted that the other plants utilizing the biofilter have reported a significant reduetion in the odors. He stated that the Friskies plant would be monitoring the effectiveness of the biofilter according to the number complaints received after its installation, e