ELLSWORTH – With major flooding on the Mississippi River overtaking buildings and vehicles along the Great River Road, people are having to move campers and other recreational vehicles to safer …
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ELLSWORTH – With major flooding on the Mississippi River overtaking buildings and vehicles along the Great River Road, people are having to move campers and other recreational vehicles to safer ground.
According to the National Weather Service, the Mississippi at Red Wing was at major flood stage Saturday, April 22 at 16.5 feet. It is expected to reach 16.8 feet by April 26. Minor flood status is considered 14 feet, with major flood status at 16 feet.
The Pierce County Land Management Committee Wednesday, April 19 implemented a policy regarding temporary/emergency outdoor storage in commercial and light industrial districts.
“When the Mississippi River reaches flood stage, campers and other trailers and vehicles located at campgrounds in the floodplain must be temporarily relocated,” said Zoning Administrator Adam Adank. “This creates a need for a procedure to allow for their temporary storage within a reasonable proximity.”
The Land Management Committee discussed the concept in late 2019 just prior to the COVID pandemic but hadn’t revisited it.
The policy will allow for issuance of a permit to authorize temporary storage of these vehicles in commercial and light industrial districts in 30-day increments. There will be no fee for the permit since it’s an emergency situation.
“I like the idea about not charging, because during a flood, we don’t want those campers going down the river,” said committee member Neil Gulbranson.
“I think it makes sense to see if it does what we need it to do,” said Land Management Director Andy Pichotta.
If the policy and permitting work well, it could be adopted into Pierce County Code.
Trenton Town Chair Randy Trok asked the Pierce County Board at its April 18 meeting to consider the policy.
“The Mississippi is flooding,” Trok said. “All the campgrounds have been emptied out. Only three campers can be parked on a taxed parcel without a permit per county ordinance. Can the board take a look at a 30-day grace period in emergencies?”
Other business
The committee approved a map amendment/rezone from Rural Residential-12 to General Rural Flexible-8 for 26.613 acres, located at W12359 570th Ave. in the town of Oak Grove, owned by Ryan and Erica Kariesch. The owners asked for the rezone so they can eventually apply for a conditional use permit to expand the property’s use to an orchard/retreat center or a similar use, depending on final business plans. If they apply for a conditional use permit, a public hearing will be held.
The committee also approved a conditional use permit expansion for Wrisky Ranch, located at N7216 1170th St. in the town of Clifton. This will allow the owners to build another indoor horse arena and offer boarding to 35 horses, if another 15 acres are used in addition to the original 20.
