Walker planning commission approves Tri State Calf Products with truck-safety and no-retail conditions

The City of Walker Planning Commission on Dec. 17, 2025 approved a special land use for Tri State Calf Products at 1292 Wilson Avenue Southwest, permitting an unlisted "livestock nutrition distribution operation" in the AA Agricultural district subject to multiple conditions to address truck maneuvering and future expansions.

Planner Paula Prieby explained that staff classified the application as a use-not-listed under Walker Zoning Ordinance section 5.05 (uses not listed) and referred the matter to the Planning Commission after the item came to staff through a code-enforcement referral related to a truck-on-Wilson accident. Prieby said the operation principally stores cattle feed indoors and that the applicant proposed site upgrades to improve stormwater, screening and truck access; she recommended approval with a condition that any future physical expansions follow Walker Zoning Ordinance section 18.08 site-plan review.

Attorney Leslie Abdu, representing applicant Wayne Blandberg of Tri State Calf Products, said the facility has operated since about 2004, that deliveries are typically one large incoming delivery per day with distribution made by two box trucks and three or four employees, and that there is no on-site mixing or retail sales. "The building is solely used for an agricultural storage facility for cattle feed," Abdu said, adding the applicant submitted the special land use to reach a cooperative resolution with the city given Wilson's increased traffic.

Commissioners pressed on truck sizes and turning movements. The applicant's engineer prepared turning templates showing a 50-foot (depicted) or 53-foot (public commenter referenced) tractor-trailer can be accommodated on site, and the applicant offered additional signage and a representation of lane widths for staff review. Commissioner members asked that the commission explicitly prohibit backing onto Wilson and require the applicant to demonstrate to the city engineer that turning radii are adequate.

Theodore Balthouse, who identified himself as a truck driver, told the commission that in his experience the driveway is wide enough for large trucks to maneuver and that he had observed 53-foot trailers make required turns without backing onto Wilson.

Commissioner Rob moved to approve the special land use with the following conditions: (1) any future expansion requires site-plan approval under section 18.08 of the Walker Zoning Ordinance, (2) no on-site retail, (3) signage approved by staff directing truck routing and restricting backing into/out of Wilson, (4) demonstration to the city engineer that turning radii are adequate for semi trucks, and (5) explicit prohibition on backing into or out of the property onto Wilson. The motion was supported and carried by voice vote.

The approval resolves the immediate zoning question while imposing conditions aimed at reducing the safety risk perceived by staff and neighbors. The applicant will work with city staff and the city engineer on final turning templates, signage, and any necessary site-plan work for improvements.