HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.a. Discussion of SKB MSW Recycling and Gasification
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council Work Session: May 9, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of SKB MSW Recycling
and Gasification
AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development
Director, Kyle Klatt, Senior Planner AGENDA NO. 2.a.
ATTACHMENTS: Maps APPROVED BY: ddj
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information only.
SUMMARY
SKB Environmental has requested to make a presentation to the Council relating to their project proposal to
recycle municipal solid waste (MSW) and create a biofuel, most likely ethanol, as a byproduct. SKB
representatives indicated they will be bringing Enerkem with them. Enerkem is a company which currently
operates a similar facility in Edmonton Canada.
Staff has received a brief presentation from SKB so there are several questions or issues raised by the
request. However, it would not be appropriate to discuss the planning and zoning issues associated with the
request at this time. The project, should the owner decide to formally apply for approval, will require
significant review, including an EAW, air quality permit, rezoning and reguiding of the property. Therefore
staff does not feel it is appropriate to have deliberations on the topic prior to application and holding of the
public hearing. Rather at this time, the meeting will allow the owner to provide information about their
potential application.
Staff does have numerous issues associated with the request. Again, because the formal planning and public
comment process has not been initiated, staff does not want to debate the merits of the project at this time.
However, we have identified issues that must be satisfactorily addressed prior to the City being able to
approve the project. At this point, an introduction to the project, staff asks that the Council keeps these
issues in mind.
Potential Issues
Comp Plan Guiding. The property anticipated for the MSW recycling use is designated for Business Park.
Permitted and conditional Business Park uses would not allow a refinery activity such as the gasification
plant. The location of the site is removed from other heavy industrial land in the City and would expand the
heavy industrial uses into the community.
Zoning. The property is zoned agricultural with the intention it will be rezoned to the corresponding land
use. At present the land use would be business park or light industrial. The City recently approved a
reguiding of land immediately west of the site to permit General Industrial use based upon the request by
SKB. The zoning to permit the MSW recycling use would be Heavy Industrial, which is not supported by
the 2030 land use plan.
2
From a land use perspective, the Planning Commission and City Council will need to determine the effect of
the MSW recycling facility upon future development in the community, especially in the southeast section of
the community, where residential development is anticipated. While the site does not currently have
development in the area, the City must consider what development of the recycling use will do to the future
development potential of the now undeveloped area.
Economic Development. From an economic development standpoint, the City is working to attract high
value industrial development with local jobs. Approval of a heavy industrial use, such as a gasification plant,
will continue the image of the City as a place for heavy industrial uses such as Flint Hills Refinery, Spectro
Alloys and Endres. Additionally, a refinery type use does not provide the same level of tax base as a building
since much of the operation is considered equipment and not subject to property taxes.
Environmental Permits. The project would need an EAW along with an air quality permit and it is staff’s
understanding, additional approvals from the State and perhaps County. It is unclear what the outcomes of
these approvals would be and whether they would affect operations or expansion of existing businesses in
the area.
MSW. It was indicated that the MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) recycling facility requires approximately
350,000 tons of MSW to be brought to the site. The current landfill does not allow MSW, only construction
and demolition debris and industrial ash. Previous Councils have been consistent in not allowing any
modifications to the landfill to allow MSW. Trucking MSW into the community is inconsistent with previous
Council direction.
Transportation & Trucking. Assuming 350,000 tons of MSW (garbage) is the amount necessary to allow
an economically viable project, it is estimated the MSW from all of Dakota County and then again as much
from another County would be necessary to meet the needed tonnage. The resulting truck traffic created by
the operations would be approximately 8 additional trucks per hour or one truck every 7.5 minutes.
Environmental Aesthetics. What are the impacts of odors, noise, project views and visible plumes
associated with large MSW deposits and the creation of ethanol? At times the City receives complaints about
odors associated with Flint Hills and questions about the plumes from Spectro Alloys.
CONCLUSION
At the Council work session the intention is to receive a presentation on the proposal which will be
forthcoming from SKB and their partner. The project will require a variety of approvals at the local level.
Since there has been no formal application, and more information is necessary for any review, this session is
just a fact-finding exercise. No action by the City Council is needed at this time.
142ND ST E
CO
U
R
T
H
O
U
S
E
B
L
V
D
S
(
S
T
H
5
5
)
COUR
T
H
O
U
S
E
B
L
V
D
(
S
T
H
5
5
)FAHEY AVEDOY
L
E
P
A
T
H
145TH ST E (CSAH 42)
140TH ST E
PINE B
E
N
D
T
R
L
EHLERS
P
A
T
HCONLEY AVEFISCHER AVECOURTHOUSE BLVD S (STH 55)CLAYTON AVE (US 52)kj Path: T:\GIS\City\Maps\Departmental Maps\CommunityDevelopment\Kim\SKBLanduse.mxd
142ND ST E
CO
U
R
T
H
O
U
S
E
B
L
V
D
S
(
S
T
H
5
5
)
COUR
T
H
O
U
S
E
B
L
V
D
(
S
T
H
5
5
)FAHEY AVEDOY
L
E
P
A
T
H
145TH ST E (CSAH 42)
140TH ST E
PINE B
E
N
D
T
R
L
EHLERS
P
A
T
HCONLEY AVEFISCHER AVECOURTHOUSE BLVD S (STH 55)CLAYTON AVE (US 52)kj Path: T:\GIS\City\Maps\Departmental Maps\CommunityDevelopment\Kim\SKBAerial.mxd