Multi-unit housing for mega-dairy to be discussed tonight

WILLMAR - A request to allow multi-unit housing for employees of a large dairy near Pennock will be discussed tonight by the Kandiyohi County Planning Commission.

St. John's Township is requesting that the county ordinance be revised to allow multi-unit dwellings for up to 40 employees for livestock facilities, such as Meadow Star Dairy LLC, which intends to build a 9,590-head dairy about five miles northwest of Willmar.

No public testimony will be taken on the issue tonight, said Zoning Administrator Gary Geer.

The Planning Commission will discuss the feasibility, appropriateness and perceived need of allowing multi-unit housing in an agricultural zone, as well as its compatibility with public health, safety, the county's comprehensive plan and sound planning and zoning principles.

The Commission could decide tonight not to advance the proposal any further, based on their discussion of the concept, or they could decide to hold a public hearing in the future to keep the proposal moving forward, said Geer.

In October a conditional use permit was approved for Meadow Star Dairy. Construction of the farm is expected to begin this spring.

The housing issue is the last item on the agenda for the Planning Commission meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. tonight at the Health and Human Services building.

Also tonight, the Planning Commission will take action on a request from the Blomkest-Svea Sewer Board to construct a wastewater treatment disposal facility for the city of Blomkest and Whitefield Township, which includes Svea. The treatment system would be located in an A-1 agricultural zone.

Read more on this story Tuesday in the West Central Tribune.