The permit will allow a recycling operation at 810 N. Front Street called Royal Oak Recycling. Royal Oak Recycling is only leasing the front street of the building at 810 N. Front Street. The other section is currently leased to ACT Dust Collectors.

Community Development Director David Schnobrich said the facility would primarily operate as a transfer facility. Materials will be unloaded into the building for storage until there is enough material to ship by semi-trailer.

Schnobrich said no sorting or separating of recyclable material on site, but some baling of paper and place done on site. The facility is only taking products from commercial recycling clients and not recyclable from residents.

Councilor Eric Warmka made the motion to approve with a second from Councilor David Christian and it was unanimously approved.

The backside of the 810 N. Front Street includes a loading dock for the unloading of recycling material in the facility. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Immediately after approving the permit, the council approved tow variance requests from the recycling facility. The first variance reduces the minimum parcel area needed for a recycling facility from 4 acres to 3.69 acres. The second variance reduced the required minimum setback from a residential zoned area from 500 feet to 325 feet.

City Planner John Knisley said since the facility operates almost exclusively indoor and operates more as a transfer facility offered unique circumstances to allow the variances. In addition, there is a physical barrier between the residential district and the recycling facility. This barrier includes an elevated railroad bed, trees and other industrial businesses.

Knisley said staff did receive a call from an adjacent property owner. The property owner did not oppose the recycling operation, but wanted the city to ensure that any recyclable material that blows off the site is picked up by the business operating the facility and any noise from the operation stay within the building other than the shipping of material.

Knisley said the staff included a condition in the variance approval that the recycling facility was responsible for collecting material that accidentally blows off the site.

Councilor Larry Mack made the motion to approve the variances with a second from Councilor Tom Schmitz. It was unanimously approved.

An overhead view of the 810 N. Front Street building. Royal Oaks Recycling will be leasing a section of the building to use as recyclable transfer site. Submitted photo