Ms. Hoff stated that a concern about noise had been raised and the noisiest thing on the property would be the tractor while they were discing which was similar field noise and would be 600’ away from a dwelling.

Mr. Leach stated that Public Works had an active contract with MSD that allowed them to request paving projects and since he represents both of those entities, he can work it out so that they paved the 750’ between the facility entrance and Bennett Road. He stated that they would add gravel shoulders to that road and thicken it and stated that they would use the same trash trucks that were they already used. He stated that there would not be semi-trucks, only an occasional dump truck operating from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM and not have more than 10 trucks per day.

Ms. Hoff stated that this was an R-3 Residence Zone that looked a lot like a farm zone and that they had worked with GIS to try and locate other viable properties within MSD’s territory which would need to be a farm zone around 5-6 acres. She stated that Ms. Vannice had done some research and found only 5 parcels that would even qualify and that none were for sale besides this parcel. She stated that the Comprehensive Plan identified vacant land that may have once been farmed was an opportunity for development and for improvement to quality of life. She stated that all of IDEM requirements and local ordinance requirements would be met, and that they were not requesting any variances from the development standards or special use restrictions for a composting facility.

Ms. Mathewson stated that the plans had been submitted and asked if they would have to follow the requirements like fencing and buffering for a special use.

Ms. Swackhamer stated that in the ordinance a special use variance would be required for a vegetative composting and mulching facility located in a farm zone. She stated that this request was different because it was not being applied for in a farm zone, so it was not a special use. She stated that the applicant was following those requirements but was not required to so and that the Board could use those as guidelines to place conditions.

Ms. Hoff stated that they would be happy to have them as conditions.

Ms. Mathewson asked how many trucks might be coming and going on the property during those busy times just to get an idea of how much traffic would increase.

Ms. Hoff stated that they estimated for that 6 week time period it would be 10-12 trucks per day.

Mr. Leach stated that it was 10-12 trucks spread out through the work day, not all at once.

Ms. Mathewson asked if there was a difference between composting and mulching.

Mr. Leach stated that mulching can be part of composting since they would collect debris after storms and that once a year they would have a grinder come to mulch up that material to either give away or mix with the other composting materials.

Mr. Hinds asked if they would mulch on site.

Mr. Leach stated yes.

Ms. Mathewson stated that most of this work would take place during the wet months and the neighbors had some concerns about possible mulch fires and asked how you were addressing that.