Planning and Zoning: Land Use

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

Duluth
Virginia
Government Services Center
Government Services Center
320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301
201 South 3rd Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 471-7103
(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.
 
Field is required.Karl
 
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Field is required.Keel
 
Field is required.1475 Transit Avenue
 
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Field is required.Roseville
 
Field is required.MN
 
Field is required.55113
 
Field is required.9522172442
 
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Field is recommended.karlkeel1@comcast.net
 
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
 
 
Field is required.300-0014-00130
 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.

 
Field is required.No
 Enter Applicant Information
 
Field is required.Landowner
 
Field is required.Karl Keel
 
Field is required.1475 Transit Avenue
 
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Field is required.Roseville
 
Field is required.MN
 
Field is required.55113
 
Field is required.(952)217-2442
 
(952)217-2442
 
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karlkeel1@comcast.net
 
Field is recommended.Karl Keel
 
Field is recommended.(952)217-2442
 Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
 
 
Field is required.Karl Keel
 
Field is required.1475 Transit Avenue
 
Field is required.Roseville
 
Field is required.MN
 
Field is required.55113
 
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(952)217-2442
 
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Field is recommended.karlkeel1@comcast.net
 Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
 
Field is required.No
 
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No
 
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US Forest Service
US Forest Service
Superior National Forest
8901 Grand Avenue Place
Duluth, MN 55808
 
MN Power
MN Power
Shore Land Traditions
30 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
 
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
7979 Highway 37
Eveleth, MN 55734
 
MN DNR Land and Minerals
MN DNR Land and Minerals
1201 East Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
 
St. Louis County - Duluth
St. Louis County - Duluth
Government Services Center
320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 725-5000
 
St. Louis County - Virginia
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.
 
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 How is the property accessed?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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?
Field is required.No
 Is this project within 300 feet of a stream/river or 1,000 feet of a lake?
Field is required.Yes
 Is this project adding a bedroom?
Include home, garage, and accessory dwelling.
Field is required.No
 Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.
Field is required.2
 Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?
Field is required.No
 If Yes, please explain:
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 Is this project connected to a municipal or sanitary district system?
Field is required.No
 
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.
 
Field is required.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.
Field is required.We are requesting variances from two county ordinances dealing with Water Oriented Accessory Structures (WOAS) – the 250 square foot maximum and the 12’ maximum height requirements. We wish to build a sauna/storage building to improve the use of our lakeshore area. Our cabin is located a large distance from the usable lake frontage and we would like, in addition to the sauna, space to store water/lake oriented equipment and supplies. A 250 square foot structure is too small to accommodate our desired uses. The structure will be 10 feet wide by a total of 36 feet long with a highpoint of approximately 18 feet. See attached floor plans and elevations.
 Describe the intended/planned use of the property.
Field is required.The property is used as a seasonal/recreational family cabin. One important feature of the property is access to the lake for boating, swimming, cross county skiing and quiet enjoyment of the lake and surrounding woods. We would like to add a sauna/storage structure near the lake to add to the current seasonal/recreational use. We plan to keep the property in a natural state with no tree removals or turf establishment.
 Describe the current use of your property.
Field is required.Same as proposed – seasonal/recreational family cabin. We keep the property in a natural wooded condition and have not cleared any trees/brush or mowed any areas. With the exception of the path that connects to the dock area, the entire frontage is vegetated and in a natural condition. The majority of lake frontage is very shallow backwaters dominated by emergent vegetation and is not suitable for swimming. The exception to this is a small section of frontage in the south east corner of the lot (area proposed for a sauna/storage building) that abuts a more open bay of the lake.
 Describe other alternatives, if any.
Field is required.We could build this structure 100’ back from the lake. It would likely be located south of the existing cabin and would require removal of many pine trees located between our cabin and the adjacent lot. The existing trees provide screening between the primary building sites on both lots. This location would also be quite remote from the lake which is not desirable from our point of view. There are several other locations on the lot where the building could be built according to code, but that would not fulfill our intended purpose and would not be near usable lake frontage. Another alternative would be to replace the proposed deck with an at grade deck - thus reducing the overall square footage of the structure. While feasible, construction of the patio would require significant grading and associated disruption to the land and existing vegetation. Such a solution would be less desirable and have larger land impacts.
 If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?
Field is required.The new structure will be located the required 30 foot WOAS setback and no tree/brush removal or land disturbance will occur between the structure and lake. The structure will be oriented so that the narrow face of the structure faces the lake. The proposed location is adjacent to a remote portion of the adjoining lot that will not likely be developed. The lot will remain in a natural state and no changes will be made to the lakeshore. The property is located in a somewhat remote “backwater” area where lake traffic is minimal. The proposed structure will not be visible to general lake users. There are several older structures in the immediate neighborhood that are setback significantly less than current requirements and less than the 30 foot setback proposed in this application.
 Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.
Field is required.The proposed structure may be visible from the north east corner of the adjacent property (not a likely active use area), but would not be visible from likely building or active use areas of the adjacent lot. The proposed structure would not impact the use of adjoining properties.
 Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.
Field is required.The sauna/storage building will be constructed on small round concrete footings that will likely be drilled by hand to minimize grading and disruption. The structure will be oriented so that the narrow face of the structure faces the lake. The deck will be built as close as possible to the ground and will lbe screened from the lake by existing vegetation. The proposed location is adjacent to a remote portion of the adjoining lot that will not likely be developed. The lot will remain in a natural state and no changes will be made to the lakeshore.
 Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.
Field is required.Construction of a sauna/storage building as proposed will add a desirable amenity to the family’s cabin experience and provide a consolidated location to store lake oriented equipment that currently tends to be scattered along the shore.
 Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.
Field is required.Our lot is large enough to allow two separate WOAS each of 250 square feet – a total of 500 square feet. Because of the limited usable lakeshore on the lot, we propose to consolidate this total allowance into one structure at one location and would agree not to build any other WOASs in the future.
 IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

 
 Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.
N/A
 Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.
N/A
 Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.
N/A
 If there was construction or repair, on what date did it begin? What date did it end?
 
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 Who performed the construction or repair work?
N/A
 Was a survey of your property boundaries obtained?
Yes
 Prior to the construction or repair work, did you speak with anyone from the Planning and Community Development Department?
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 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.
 
Karl Keel
 
1475 Transit Avenue
 
Roseville
 
MN
 
55113
 
karlkeel1@comcast.net
 I have read and agree to the statement above.
Field is required.


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