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City of Minot seeks siting of recycling facility in plan amendment

Plan amendment sought for landfill changes

Submitted Photo A rendering shows one of two alternative proposals for locating a recycling transfer facility and scale house. The second proposal places the entrance and facility farther east. Source: City of Minot

As design work on a recycling transfer facility proceeds, the City of Minot is going through a siting process that could bring curbside recycling a step closer.

The City of Minot has a request before the Minot Planning Commission that asks to amend the existing landfill master plan to locate scale and transfer facilities at a new entrance nearer to 37th Avenue Southwest (County Road 14). The commission will take up the request at a public hearing Tuesday.

Assistant Public Works Director Jason Sorenson said the transfer facility design could be ready to go out for construction bids in May or June. At that point, it will be the decision of the Minot City Council whether to proceed with construction once bid prices are in hand, he said. Should the council proceed, construction could begin this year, with completion by mid-2022. Sorenson estimated the earliest recycling could start would be the fall of 2022.

The city’s request of the planning commission offers two alternatives for amending the existing landfill master plan and locating a recycling transfer facility. The city states the alternatives would more efficiently meet the stormwater requirements, allow for more convenient access for the public and reduce the overall operation and maintenance costs of the facility.

Both alternatives provide screening along 37th Avenue and the east side of the property. City planning staff are recommending planting two or three rows of trees for a further buffer. The recycling transfer facility would be obscured from view by trees and a set back of about 1,000 feet from 37th Avenue.

The city also is asking for a variance to be able to construct a gravel road rather than a paved road into the property, due to the high number of heavy vehicles putting stress on the roadway.

The proposed master plan amendment comes two years after the city rezoned two quarters of land to expand the Minot landfill. The rezoning decision followed more than a year of studies, a focus group and public meetings on the pros and cons of expansion versus relocation.

“With regard to future operations, whether the City succeeds in finding a new location for the landfill or not, operations of some sort will always be occurring at the present site,” Sorenson wrote in a letter accompanying the city’s planning request. “Composting, appliance drop off , and a location for MSW (municipal solid waste) drop off for later transfer to a future landfill are operations that will need to continue. With this in mind, it makes sense for the facility and entrance to be located nearer to 37th Ave so that residents and customers have quick convenient access.”

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