Application 22-000273: Record Inquiry

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Planning and Zoning: Land Use

Inquiry Results

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

Duluth

Virginia

Government Services Center

320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301

201 South 3rd Avenue West

Duluth, MN 55802

Virginia, MN 55792

(218) 471-7103

VARIANCE REQUEST PERMIT APPLICATION

Your Contact Information.
If the information is not correct, you may need to update your contact information using the 'Maintain Contact Information' option once you have filled out this application.

First Name: Field is required.

Benjaman

Middle Name:Reeves

Last Name: Field is required.

Johnson

Address Line 1: Field is required.

8395 235th St N

Address Line 2:--

City:

Forest Lake

State/Province: Field is required.

Postal Code: Field is required.

55025

Business Phone: Field is required.

Mobile Phone:6129917057

Home Phone:--

Fax:--

Email Address: Field is recommended.

benanderinjohnson@gmail.com

Preferred Contact Method: Field is required.

Any

General - This application is used to apply for a Land Use Permit. Applicants will need to attach the appropriate worksheet(s) in order to process. Incomplete applications will be returned. Note that the 'clock' does not begin until after payment has been processed for the application. For more information, see our website at: www.stlouiscountymn.gov/BuildingStructures

Enter the Primary PIN and Associated PIN (if applicable) of the property to be reviewed.
PIN is found on your Property Tax Statement. For example, 123-1234-12345. Primary PIN: Parcel where Structure/SSTS are located. Associated PIN: Additional and/or adjacent property that you own or that is related to the project.
County Land Explorer: https://www.stlouiscountymn.gov/explorer
Property Lookup: http://apps.stlouiscountymn.gov/auditor/parcelInfo2005Iframe

Primary PIN Field is required.

250-0055-00050

Associated PINs

Is this application being submitted for a Rehearing?
If this application is being submitted because a previous Variance Permit application was denied or disapproved, please select Yes.

Enter Applicant Information

I am a:

Landowner

Applicant Name: Field is required.

Benjaman Reeves Johnson

Address Line 1: Field is required.

8395 235th St N

Address Line 2:--

City:

Forest Lake

State:

Zip:

55025

Primary Phone: Field is required.

(612)991-7057

Cell Phone:6129917057

Fax:--

Email:benanderinjohnson@gmail.com

Contact Person Name: Field is recommended.

Contact Person Phone: Field is recommended.

Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.

Same as Applicant address?Yes

Name:

Benjaman Reeves Johnson

Address:

8395 235th St N

City:

Forest Lake

State/Province: Field is required.

Zip:

55025

Primary Phone:--

Cell Phone:6129917057

Fax:--

Email:

benanderinjohnson@gmail.com

Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.

Is there a site address for this property? Field is required.

Yes

Site Address:8896 Raps Road Cook, MN 55723

Is this leased property?No

Leased From?--

US Forest Service

Superior National Forest

8901 Grand Avenue Place

Duluth, MN 55808

MN Power

Shore Land Traditions

30 West Superior Street

Duluth, MN 55802

MN DNR, Area Hydrologist

7979 Highway 37

Eveleth, MN 55734

MN DNR Land and Minerals

1201 East Highway 2

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

St. Louis County - Duluth

Government Services Center

320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301

Duluth, MN 55802

(218) 725-5000

St. Louis County - Virginia

Land and Minerals

7820 Highway 135

Virginia, MN 55792

(218) 749-7103

Do you have written authorization from the leased property owner?
If Yes, you must attach written authorization form.

How is the property accessed?

Public Road

Private Road

Easement

Water

Other

Enter Project Information.
If you answered 'Yes' to any of the questions below, it is required that you submit a copy of a septic permit to construct or certificate of compliance approval or municipal/sanitary district approval when applying for a land use permit.

Is this project on a parcel less than 2.5 acres?

Is this project within 300 feet of a stream/river or 1,000 feet of a lake?

Yes

Is this project adding a bedroom?
Include home, garage, and accessory dwelling.

Yes

Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.

Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?

Yes

If Yes, please explain:

Well and septic

Is this project connected to a municipal or sanitary district system?

VARIANCE REQUEST WORKSHEET

A variance allows the use of property in a manner otherwise forbidden by a zoning ordinance by varying one or more of the performance standards such as lot size, setbacks, etc. Variances from official zoning controls are defined under Minnesota Statutes 394.27 and require the landowner to prove that the property could not otherwise be used or enjoyed in the proposed way by complying with ordinance requirements and that there will be no negative impact on surrounding properties.
It is advisable that you discuss your request with Planning and Community Development staff prior to submitting the application. Approval or denial of your request is dependent on the justification you provide in answering the questions on this application. For more information, please check our website at: www.stlouiscountymn.gov/VarianceRequired

VARIANCE REQUEST INFORMATION

Complete this form along with the Land Use Permit Application

What kind of variance request is this?
If this is a Variance After the Fact, you must answer additional questions below.

Variance Request

Describe what you are varying from and the situation that makes it difficult to comply with county ordinances.
If your proposal includes a structure, please also list the length, width and height of the structure.

We are trying to build a second structure on our property that has approx a 1,300 sq ft foundation (2br on main level, open loft & unfinished walkout basement that we will eventually finish). Our current primary structure is 775 sq ft foundation and located partially in the shore impact zone. To comply with the county ordinance, this structure would need to be moved outside the shore impact zone and modified to make the footprint larger. The structure is unable to be moved without destroying it, as the walls are made out of cinder block (currently covered by half log siding). So our proposal is to leave this structure as-is and allow for a new (additional) primary structure that would otherwise conform to county ordinances.

Describe the intended/planned use of the property.

The new structure will be used as a vacation/retirement home and eventually will become our primary residence once we retire.

Describe the current use of your property.

The current structure is used as a vacation cabin. However the total livable area is under 700 square feet (foundation size is 775sf) so it is not suitable for long term use, etc.

Describe other alternatives, if any.

1. Completely tear down the existing structure, which would allow for construction of two additional structures (primary and accessory). 2. Increase the footprint of the existing structure by 200 sq ft and add a second floor, not to exceed county height requirements. This would allow for approx 1,000sf of additional livable area to the existing structure. This would also allow for an a max 700sf footprint accessory structure to be built as per county guidelines.

If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?

Our intent is to build a log cabin, which is consistent with many surrounding properties in the area. The new structure will conform to setback requirements and all other county ordinances

Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.

This should have no use impact upon neighboring properties.

Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.

By following conforming guidelines for the new structure, we don’t anticipate any negative environmental or landscape impact. To be clear, the new structure will be built outside the shore impact zone and will not adversely impact any habitat within the shore impact zone.

Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.

The existing structure has a compliant septic system that was updated a few years ago and the structure is in functional condition. Additionally, this structure was built in the early 1950’s and has extensive custom stone work by a local craftsman (Ole Swanson) that we feel has historic value. If the cabin were demolished, the stonework would be destroyed as well. In addition, by building a larger, conforming structure set further back, it alleviates the need to increase the size and height of the current structure, partially located in the shore impact zone, which we feel is more beneficial to the lakeshore and character of the area by avoiding building larger structure closer to the water. Finally, under this proposal we would end up with a new conforming primary structure, that has more overall use & more suitable for permanent occupancy. Also, the existing primary structure would serve as the secondary structure with occasional use & is very close to the county size limit for secondary structures (775 sf footprint compared to county limit of 700 sf).

Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.

N/A

IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.

Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.

Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.

If there was construction or repair, on what date did it begin? What date did it end?

Start Date--

End Date--

Who performed the construction or repair work?

Was a survey of your property boundaries obtained?

Prior to the construction or repair work, did you speak with anyone from the Planning and Community Development Department?

By submitting this application, I certify and agree that I am the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of the above property, and that all uses will conform to the provisions of St. Louis County. I further certify and agree that I will comply with all conditions imposed in connection with the approval of the application. Applicants may be required to submit additional property descriptions, property surveys, site plans, building plans, and other information before the application is accepted or approved. Intentional or unintentional falsification of this application or any attachments thereto will make the application, any approval of the application and any result invalid. I authorize St. Louis County staff to inspect the property to review the application and for compliance inspections. Furthermore, by submitting this application, I release St. Louis County and its employees from any and all liability and claims for damages to person or property in any manner or form that may arise from the approval of the application or any related plans, the issuance of any resulting permit or the subsequent location, construction, alteration, repair, extension, operation or maintenance of the subject matter of the application.
If your name, contact information or email address have changed, you should update your contact information in the portal by selecting 'Maintain Contact Information' at the top of this page.

Submitted By:Benjaman Reeves Johnson

Address:8395 235th St N

City:Forest Lake

State:MN

Postal Code:55025

Email Address:benanderinjohnson@gmail.com

I have read and agree to the statement above.

I agree

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MNPLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

VARIANCE REQUEST PERMIT APPLICATION

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT