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Project Description NSP Interim Use Permit - Seasonal Wood Grinder NSP iis requesting an interim use permit to operate a portable grinder up to six time per year on prope!rty owned by Ramsey County. The 20 acre parcel property is located north of Larpenteur Avenue and east of Kent Street and is in an R-1 Single Family Residential District. The site is the current location of the Ramsey County household hazardous waste collection site and Ramsey County's crushed road materials stockpiles. NSP proposes to operate the portable grinder on the site up to six times per year to grind woodlvegetation into wood chips for re-use by residents. The nearest NSP grinder site to Roseville is at the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. The wood comes from NSP utility trimming operations, with wood trimmings being stockpiled between grinder visits. The portable machinery is hauled to numerous sites throughout the county, A front-end loader is used to load the gl;nder and at least two employees are on site at all times during operation of the grinder. The grindl9r would be on the site for 8-12 hours per time and the estimated production per grinder hour is 45 tons - up to 500 tons per day. Ramsey County loaders and trucks would move the material to distribution sites away from the grinder operations site. Up to ten NSP contractor trucks could be temporarily parked on the site. Worker's personal vehicles could also be parked on the site. The !grinder machinery noise is high (82 decibels). The applicant must assure the MnPCA standlards for daytime use can be met. For comparison, a jet airplane is 110-120 decibels, a rock cono9rt is 105 to 110 decibels, background interstate traffic noise is 62 to 65 decibels. As is the case during snow removal periods. the moving, feeding and removal of the final product (chips) may also I~ause noise due to county loading and hauling equipment and back-up warning systems. Within the City Code. Section 1012.098. an interim use permit may be issued if: 1) there are no adverse effects on public health; 2) the operation is safe to the public; and 3) there are no additional costs, added to the site that would deter a permanent use at a later time. On April 9, 1997, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the interim use permit with following conditions: 1) the number of days of use shall not exceed twelve times per year (except additional days are allowed for emergencies if approved by the City Council), nor more than two days in any month. Hours for grinding, loading, and hauling of chips shall be 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. wee~~days only. When not in operation the site shall be gated and locked; 2) Wood stockpiles shall be a maximum of 15 feet in height and sit no longer than 120 days; 3) chip stockpiles shall be a maximum of 15 feet in height; 4) the applicant shall supply the city with a letter from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency stating that the noise levels of the grinding machinery. carrying belts, loading and hauling equipment, (when all are in operation), do not exceed MnPCA noise standards, or ar,e exempt from such standards; 5) the City and its residents may dispose of limbs at the site at least two times (one spring, one fall) per year, designated by NSP and approved by the City; and 6) the permit shall be reviewed annually in August prior to renewal of the County/NSP agreement in SEtptember of each year. The Commission also recommended that the City work with the County to resolve issues related to grading or removal of berms, burning permits for stumps, and storage of road construction materials.