Proposal heading to Scandinavia Town Board
By Holly Neumann
The Scandinavia Town Planning Commission announced its decision Wednesday, May 3, to deny a conditional use permit (CUP) for a sand mine on the Iola Car Show grounds.
Faulks Bros. Construction wants to operate a sand mine on a parcel owned by the car show.
Commissioners determined that the proposed sand mine did not meet the overall vision of the Town Comprehensive Plan.
They decided the proposed land use “is not compatible with the use of the densely populated adjacent lands.”
Town Chair Gary Marx said the plan’s preferred land use of the site is Private Recreation Forestry, which is not consistent with a sand mine.
And finally, that the proposed sand mine is “not consistent with the town goals, objectives, and development strategies set forth in the comprehensive plan.”
Greg Ambrosius, who has led the Stop Iola Mine group, is happy with the decision.
“I am proud of the town planning commission, they really did their homework and looked into everything,” said Ambrosius.
“That Comprehensive Plan is very important. It’s more than a guide and that is what we have looked at since day one. We were kind of surprised that the Car Show and Faulks did not look at the Comprehensive Plan as extensively as we did. I think it was the right decision based on the law.”
Jon Faulks, president of Faulks Bros. Construction, declined to comment.
The matter now moves on to the Scandinavia Town Board at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 10.
“The town board will now make a decision based on the recommendation of the planning commission,” said Marx. “From there, it will still move forward to Waupaca County Planning and Zoning for them to make a decision.”
Should the county decide to approve the application, the town has submitted a list of recommended conditions for consideration.