Morrison County panel recommends restaurant expansion with septic and seasonal conditions

The Morrison County Planning Commission voted 3–0 on May 26 to recommend the County Board approve an after‑the‑fact conditional use permit for The Landing at 7832 Copper Road, with conditions intended to address an ongoing septic and public‑health concern.

Amy, a land‑services staff member, told the commission the property’s converted garage has been used as seating and now accommodates about 40 additional people. "This is an after‑the‑fact conditional use permit request to expand a restaurant," she said, adding that the restaurant has been operating on a holding tank since 2021 and that staff previously found the septic system was "an imminent public‑health threat." The matter has been referred to the county attorney’s office for possible prosecution, she said.

Applicant Jeffrey Garley acknowledged the permitting lapse, saying, "It was my negligence obviously for not applying for that permit," and described steps he’s taken to improve safety, including signage and planters to separate the dining area from the road. Garley said he has operated the business for about 26–27 years and is ready to proceed with required septic work.

Commissioners focused on three enforceable conditions they said were necessary to protect groundwater and public safety: restrict the converted garage to dining use only; limit its operation to the warm season (May through September); and require the applicant to complete a septic compliance timeline. Under the schedule the commission proposed, the applicant must complete 30 days of peak‑flow measurement, submit a septic system design within 30 days after measurement, and install the approved system within 90 days of design approval. Commissioners said those timelines would give land services a measurable schedule to monitor and would help ensure the county is not left with a long‑term holding tank situation.

Amy explained technical hurdles: the site requires an "advanced design" for high‑strength waste, and previous designers engaged by the applicant had not produced acceptable plans. Staff said a qualified designer is now engaged but that roughly 20–30 more days of measured flow data remain before permitting can proceed.

Commissioner Brent moved to recommend approval to the county board with the three conditions; Commissioner Clint seconded. The commission voted in favor (Brent: yes; Clint: yes; Chair: yes). The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Morrison County Board of Commissioners, which will consider the application at its June 2 morning meeting; no second public hearing is scheduled.

The commission and staff noted that, absent compliance with the septic timeline and other conditions, the county board could decide differently. The commission also emphasized monitoring for changes in use if the property is sold in the future.

Next steps: the county board will review the application and the commission’s recommendation at its June 2 meeting and issue the final decision. The commission’s conditions are written into its recommendation packet and available from Morrison County Land Services upon request.