Planning Commission - 22 Oct 2026

Stearns County, Minnesota Planning Commission meeting of October 22, 2026. The Commission approved three land-use applications, with no procurement activity identified. It approved a major shoreland alteration conditional use permit for Chad Uch’s Rice Lake property, involving about 1,000 cubic yards of excavation and 524 cubic yards of fill. Approval included two conditions addressing erosion control and directing stormwater away from the bluff. The Commission also approved BioGasco Project 8 LLC’s conditional use permit to construct and operate a four-tank anaerobic renewable natural gas digester at a dairy farm near Sauk Centre. The facility is expected to load gas for transport about every 48 hours; approval requires construction according to approved plans and obtaining applicable state and county permits.

The Commission further approved rezoning approximately 7.5 acres in Brockway Township from R5 to R1, allowing the property’s potential residential density to increase to as many as seven dwelling units; the applicant described an intention for a smaller development. The rezoning had no conditions. All three applications are scheduled to go before the County Board on November 10. The Commission also approved the September meeting minutes. Members discussed a prior shoreline decision and a possible future event-center application, but took no action on those matters.