Baxter extends interim use permit for lumber yard

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): With an ownership change for a long-standing business in the lakes area, the Baxter City Council approved an extension of an interim use permit for the business.

Simonson Lumber evolved from a sawmill to a lumber yard in 1913. The business was located on West Washington Street in Brainerd since January of 1996 until it moved to Baxter in August of 2013, outgrowing its location. The lumber company moved to Independence Road, just off Highway 210 in west Baxter in the former Stock Lumber site, which constructed Stock Building Supply on about 8 acres in the former Potlatch wood yard. Now their neighbors include the new Amazon delivery station , which opened nearly one year ago.

With plans to build a new warehouse on the property, Simonson Lumber sought a variance for a 12,000-square-foot warehouse, which the council approved in 2014. Since that time, the council approved multiple extensions to allow the lumber yard use with multiple accessory structures but without a principal structure.

In September, the applicant sought an additional two-year extension because of the ownership change. Simonson Lumber was sold to Kodiak Building Partners and, in turn, was sold to QXO on April 1, 2026.

Baxter reported QXO is a large organization, adding 120 locations throughout the U.S. QXO is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. QXO describes itself as specializing in helping contractors, homebuilders, distributors and suppliers. On its website, QXO reported it has 1,150 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Baxter Utilities Commission recommended approval with conditions:

• Stormwater is to be brought up to code,

• The parking lot must be brought up to code,

• Signage needs to be brought up to code,

• No parking in Independence Road right-of-way,

• Remove the non-conforming sign on the road. 

The city reported some site issues — specifically, parking — started occurring along Independence Road without the construction of a formal paved parking lot, which is a violation of the zoning ordinance and stormwater requirements.

“In addition, the subject property was not allowed to have signage, but a non-conforming sign was added on wheels in the City cul-de-sac. Lastly, from time to time, the right-of-way has been used for truck trailer storage,” the city reported.

The Planning and Zoning Commission added the conditions to its resolution recommending the extension of the permit to Oct. 20, 2028.

Courtesy: www.brainerddispatch.com