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10.3 SR 11-18-2024The Elk River Vision A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity Request for Action To City Council Item Number 10.3 Meeting Date November 18, 2024 Prepared By Zack Carlton, Community Development Director Item Description Concept Review: Enviro Chem Ordinance Amendment Reviewed by Zack Carlton Cal Portner Tina Allard Action Requested Provide the applicant with informal, non-binding, feedback regarding their request to amend city ordinances. Background/Discussion The applicant requests feedback regarding a proposal to operate an electronic recycling processing facility in the former Max-Sun building at 11074 179th St. NW. The Rogers-based company has been in operation since 1980 and is seeking feedback on whether the city would support an ordinance amendment to allow Recycling Processing Centers (as defined in our ordinance) in the Business Park Zoning District. The use is currently only permitted in the I-1 and I-2 districts, and is defined as follows: Recycling processing center means land or buildings where reusable materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, cleaned, packed, disassembled, or handled, including metal, rags, plastic, paper, cardboard, rubber (excluding tires), glass and wood products, or where segregated waste materials are reprocessed into usable, salable products. The staging of motor vehicles for processing off-site shall be permitted. The salvage of motor vehicles and machinery parts are not included and shall be prohibited at a recycling processing center. The operation currently has six employees, and expansion at this site provides an opportunity for an additional 12-15. They are also considering a move of their current shredding operation from Rogers to Elk River in the next two years. Residential recycling may also be a possibility at a low or no cost to residents. In reviewing the potential change, the Council should remember that a change to this site will open the opportunity for all properties zoned to Business Park. Planning Commission The Commission reviewed this proposal on October 22, 2024, in work session. The commission recognized that the proposed use may be less impactful than what the current definition defines, but had concerns about amending the ordinance to allow the use in the Business Park. They felt that the current definition does not fit the character and intent of the city's business park zoning district. The commission stated they may support creating a new use/definition that more closely aligns with the applicant's operation for inclusion in the Business Park District. Page 151 of 204 Financial Impact None Mission/Policy/Goal Support the growth and development of the community Attachments 1. Location Map 2. Applicant Letter 3. Presentation Page 152 of 204 Page 153 of 204 Enviro-Chem Inc. 21821 Industrial Blvd. Rogers, MN. 55374 To the City of Elk River: Enviro Chem Inc. has an interest in the property that is available at 11074 179th St NW, Elk River, MN 55374. Enviro-Chem would need an amended ordinance to practice business at the available property. Enviro-Chem Inc would like to know if the City of Elk River would be willing to entertain the idea of amending the zone to fit Enviro-Chem Inc’s business practice? We have supplied a short background in this letter and have also attached our company audit packet as well for review. Enviro-Chem Inc was started in 1980 by Roger Meyer in recycling practices for the printed circuit industry. By 1990 Enviro-Chem Inc continued as one of the largest Circuit Board recyclers in the Midwest. In 1984 ECI built our Headquarters in Rogers MN equipped with furnaces and incinerators for precious metal reclaim. In 1994 we opened our second facility at 20005 County Rd 81 Rogers, MN. This is a 14-acre site with two 12,500 sq ft facilities. This opened as our Shredding division. In 2010 Roger Meyer retired from Enviro-Chem Inc, from there his two sons Todd and Brian continue to run it. We pride ourselves on being a family-owned business as most of the employees on our staff have exceeded 10 plus years of being employed with ECI. Site: ECI plans for site would be used as a processing site. This would include incoming materials from accounts to be separated and sorted to their commodity. After packaging materials would be sent over to our two existing sites to be recycled or shipped directly to one of our downstream partners. The material would mostly be electronics that could be reused or need to be recycled. The site would have 15-20 employees, 6 existing employees and a potential hiring of 12-15 more. We have a long list of hazards that are not accepted that will continue. No outdoor use is needed besides parking of 2 dock trucks and 4 semi-trailers. All practices on the site would be relocated to indoors only. In 2 years, Enviro-Chem would like to move our shredding operation into the facility as well. Enviro-Chem has already looked at technologies of dust collection systems for permanent indoor use eliminating any environmental impact outdoors. We are a no landfill policy company within all our recycling practices. How Enviro-Chem feels we could benefit the city: We have interest in running a city only program where residents could recycle all their household electronics at next to no cost. These style programs have proven beneficial in eliminating E-waste in our landfills. For 44 years we have been operating at the highest industry standards without incident. We practice a vast environmental standard which has allowed us to partner with some of the largest companies in the world. We also have Government contracts that call for high security demands. Page 154 of 204 We feel the site would be used to the best of our abilities with great benefit to the residents of the City and County. If this is something you feel we can proceed with we can begin the process of getting our team to provide anything you may request and request a “intent to purchase” with the existing owner. We would like to thank you for your time in regard to this matter. Sincerely, Josh Blaisdell GM of Operations Page 155 of 204 Work Session Enviro-Chem Page 156 of 204 Page 157 of 204 Background §Proposal to operate Electronic Recycling Processing site §Seeking feedback on an ordinance amendment to allow Recycling Processing Centers in the BP district §Currently permitted in I-1 and I-2 §No Outdoor Storage is required Page 158 of 204 Background §Goal to have 15–20 employees §6 existing §Potential to hire 12-15. §Considering a future move of their current shredding operation §Residential recycling may also be a possibility Page 159 of 204 Background §In reviewing the potential change, the Commission should remember that a change to this site will open the opportunity for all properties zoned BP Page 160 of 204 Action Requested §Provide the applicant with informal, non-binding, feedback regarding the proposed ordinance amendment to the Business Park Zoning District Page 161 of 204 Page 162 of 204 Background §Recycling Processing Center means land or buildings where reusable materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, cleaned, packed, disassembled or handled, including metal, rags, plastic, paper, cardboard, rubber (excluding tires), glass and wood products, or where segregated waste materials are reprocessed into usable, salable products. The staging of motor vehicles for processing off site shall be permitted. The salvage of motor vehicles and machinery parts are not included and shall be prohibited at a recycling processing center. Page 163 of 204