Lyon County Board revisits gravel pit, OKs permit

Apr 6, 2023

MARSHALL — A permit request to open a gravel pit in Coon Creek Township got approval from Lyon County commissioners this week — but with some additional conditions placed on it.

Commissioners voted in favor of issuing a conditional use permit to Action Rocks, LLC, and Jim Swenson to process sand and gravel on land near Lyon County Road 66 and 150th Avenue in Coon Creek Township.

Lyon County Planning and Zoning Administrator John Biren said the list of conditions being recommended for the permit were "a little more detailed than what we see with some other gravel pits, because of the close proximity to neighboring homes."

County commissioners originally discussed the permit request in March, but temporarily held off on taking action until they had time to look at the proposed site. The site neighbored a residential property and a shoreland area for Coon Creek. Biren said gravel mining would not be done in the shoreland zone.

Other conditions on the proposed permit included limits on hours of operation for the gravel pit to help reduce noise for neighboring residents.

Commissioners had questions about how long the life of the gravel operation would be. Jim Swenson said he would like to operate the site for five years to allow for an opportunity to bid on road contracts for future wind turbine development. Swenson told commissioners he estimated that about 40,000 tons of material was at the site.

Neighbors of the proposed site also voiced concerns. Carey Johnson said he was concerned the gravel pit would be only about 160 yards form his house, and would devalue his home. Other neighbors said they were concerned with how gravel pit operations would affect traffic and safety in the area.

After discussion, commissioners approved the CUP with some updates to the proposed list of conditions. The CUP specified the life of the gravel operation as being up to five years, and said gravel trucks must use County Road 66 as a haul road.

An additional condition said unloading or loading of equipment or machinery must occur on the gravel pit site, and not within the public road right of way.

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