ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT
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.
James
Erickson
120 Highland Drive
Hibbing
MN
55746
218-262-6622
218-969-0958
jerickson@maxgrayconstruction.com
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
370-0010-02920
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.
No
Enter Applicant Information
Landowner
James Mark Erickson
120 Highland Drive
Hibbing
MN
55746
218-262-6622
jerickson@maxgrayconstruction.com
James Erickson
(218)969-0958
Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
James Mark Erickson
120 Highland Drive
Hibbing
MN
55746
jerickson@maxgrayconstruction.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
7813 McCarthy Beach Road
Side Lake MN. 55781
No
US Forest Service
US Forest Service
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
MN DNR Land and Minerals
MN DNR Land and Minerals
St. Louis County - Duluth
St. Louis County - Duluth
Government Services Center
320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301
St. Louis County - Virginia
St. Louis County - Virginia
Do you have written authorization from the leased property owner?
If Yes, you must attach written authorization form.
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?No
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.No
Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.4
Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?No
If Yes, please explain:--
Is this project connected to a municipal or sanitary district system?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.
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.My wife and I have been living full time in this dwelling for about four years. It is our intention to continue aging in place here as long as we can. We did not construct the dwelling structure and have not added onto it since we owned it. The existing structure is in the impact zone of Big Sturgeon Lake. There is only one small bedroom on the ground level and handicap access is difficult. My wife and I are nearing the stage in life where we will not be able to navigate stairs on a daily basis to the second story and also want to improve the handicap accessibility to the ground level where we have future plans to live. Our plan is to add an 8 foot addition on the West and North side of the existing bedroom tying into the existing entry. Also we would like to add a 8 foot addition on the East side of the existing entry for an ADA compliant handicap ramp. In order to do this properly we will need to build 420 SF of addition. The performance standard permit would only allow us to build 200 SF and therefore we are requesting a variance.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.The intended and current use of the property is a permanent residence. The addition would allow my wife and I to live on the ground floor and have excellent handicap access from our driveway.
Describe the current use of your property.We are currently living full time at this property but we use an upstairs bedroom. My wife has been having knee and hip problems and has told me numerous times that she doesn't know how much longer she'll be able to do those stairs on a daily basis.
Describe other alternatives, if any.If we can not make this property so that we are comfortable living on the ground floor and have easy accessibility when we need it, our desire to age in place at this property will not be possible. Therefore the alternative would likely be to move our permanent residence to another location.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?The addition I am proposing is not on the lake side and it is not on the side facing my nearest neighbor. The roof lines will tie into the existing entry. My lot is wooded and only a small part of the addition would be partially visible from the corner of the bay at the right angle. Exterior building materials will all be earth tone colors similar to the existing structure. I believe the addition fits in very well to the character of the neighborhood.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.I don't see any way that neighboring properties would be impacted by this proposed addition.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.I do not see any negative impact to the local environment or landscaping. On the North side the space the addition will fill in is slightly lower than the driveway and is always damp and mossy because the sun doesn't reach it. By filling in this space it should improve it's appearance and get rid of a location where allergens grow. My existing septic tank and drain field are on the West side. I have tried to contact Tylor Lampala with the On Site Wastewater to discuss my existing system and what I will have to do to make sure that this property has a compliant adequately sized system. I have not reached him yet but I will work with him to make sure I have a compliant system. I will grade around the addition so that runoff from the driveway will be channeled more towards the pond to the West and less towards the lake where it currently goes. The majority of any runoff around this addition should be absorbed into soft surfaces. Grassy natural surfaces will be on the West side and pavers will fill in the small strip between the addition and the driveway.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.The expected benefits of the variance are that it will allow my wife and I to live on the ground floor and have good ADA accessible handicap access when we need it. We have three children and when they come to visit they can utilize the upstairs bedrooms.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.I see several positive reasons for granting this variance and can not think of a single negative one. It will allow my wife and I to continue aging in place at the residence for many years to come, I will be improving if not replacing my onsite wastewater system, the addition will tie into the existing entry with roof lines matching and using earth tone colors so it will be attractive, site drainage will not be worsened in fact it should be improved, and there are no apparent adverse impacts to the neighborhood or environment.
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?
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.
James Mark Erickson
120 Highland Drive
jerickson@maxgrayconstruction.com
I have read and agree to the statement above.
