Controversial gravel pit plan up for vote in Scandia
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A controversial plan to re-open an old gravel pit near the St. Croix River comes up for a vote Tuesday night by the Scandia City Council.
Tiller Corp. wants to re-open an old gravel pit, mine the aggregate, and then return the land to a more natural state.
During the two years of environmental review, the city of Scandia adopted a new comprehensive plan that doesn't allow mining in the area.
Tiller official Mike Caron said the city long ago agreed to use the rules in effect when the application was made.
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"We would need to amend that comprehensive plan so that mining would be allowed in this specific area," he said.
Caron says the land would benefit from reclamation.
Critics hope the council will agree to apply the city's new comprehensive land use plan to the project.
"We're just saying, take that plan, apply it to this application, which in the end would mean that there will not be a gravel mine operating on the bluff of the St. Croix River in such a fabulously sensitive and important area," said Laurie Allman, who is with the citizens' group, Take Action - Conserve Our Scandia, that's pushing that idea.