Application 23-000029: 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.

Peder

Middle Name:--

Last Name: Field is required.

Larson

Address Line 1: Field is required.

110 Bank Street SE

Address Line 2:110 Bank Street SE, Unit 1901

City:

Minneapolis

State/Province: Field is required.

Postal Code: Field is required.

55414

Business Phone: Field is required.

6127434844

Mobile Phone:6127434844

Home Phone:--

Fax:--

Email Address: Field is recommended.

pederl99@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.

387-0385-00140

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.

Peder Larson

Address Line 1: Field is required.

110 Bank Street SE

Address Line 2:Unit 1901

City:

Minneapolis

State:

Minnesota

Zip:

55414

Primary Phone: Field is required.

(612)743-4844

Cell Phone:(612)743-4844

Fax:--

Email:pederl99@gmail.com

Contact Person Name: Field is recommended.

Peder Larson

Contact Person Phone: Field is recommended.

(612)743-4844

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:

PEDER LARSON

Address:

4576

City:

Tower

State/Province: Field is required.

Zip:

55790-8117

Primary Phone:(612)743-4844

Cell Phone:(612)743-4844

Fax:--

Email:

pederl99@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:4576 Bradley Road, Tower

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?

Yes

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.

Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.

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

Yes

If Yes, please explain:

Project is renovation of existing cabin with well and plumbing.

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 request a variance to renovate our cabin in a manner that is the most appropriate use of our land, will be least detrimental to our neighborhood and will preserve our property value. We request a variance to allow us to add 522 square feet at ground level (not closer to the lake) to our current cabin, 122 more square feet than the performance standard limit of 400 square feet. We are currently permitted (Permit #PS-00130 issued on August 31, 2021) for a compliant renovation, planning to add approximately 1180 square feet of living space on two floors. We cannot replace the functionality of a compliant two-story renovation with a compliant one-story renovation limited to 400 square feet of additional ground area. Since we completed our currently permitted design, we decided that the best use of our land is to do a more simple, single-story renovation that retains the current character of our cabin and matches the character of neighboring cabins. Adding only 522 square feet to the eastern part of the cabin will have not change in the view of the cabin from the lake, the road or our neighbors’ lots. The current cabin dimensions are 42’ by 26’, reduced by 10' x 11' “notch” in the northeast corner, for a total of 982 square feet. The renovated cabin will be 46’ in length. The westerly 31’ 6” of the cabin will be 26’ wide. The easterly 14’6” of the cabin will be 47’ wide (9’ wider to the south and 12’ wider to the north). The cabin will retain the current highest roof height (approximately 18 feet from ground level). The peak of the roof over the area nearest the lake and nearest the road will be three feet lower than the current cabin roof.

Describe the intended/planned use of the property.

The use will continue to be a year around cabin.

Describe the current use of your property.

The current use is a year around cabin.

Describe other alternatives, if any.

The alternative is the construction for which we have a permit, adding approximately 1180 square feet of new living space on two levels. We would expand the ground area up to 400 square feet, raise the roof approximately 7 feet (to the maximum 25 feet), add shed dormers on the north and south roof faces and extend the cabin east 7 feet (compared to four feet with the variance). Space added towards the lake (but not closer than the current cabin) would be 17’ in length compared to 13’6” with a variance. The cabin would not be expanded towards the road.

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

The single-story renovation is the most reasonable use of the property. It retains the general character of the existing cabin and the character of the neighborhood. Our cabin sits nicely on the lot and is in good proportion to our garage, sauna building and nearby cabins. The lot elevation rises from the garage on the east side (floor elevation 1376.97) to the sauna (floor elevation 1379.10) then drops to the SE corner of the cabin (grade 1374.63). The current cabin roof is significantly lower than the garage roof and only slightly higher than the sauna roof. All the structure foundations are on ledgerock creating difficulty adding additional space on the east side of the cabin. A single-story cabin will not change the views of the cabin from the lake (from the south, west and northeast). It will only slightly change the view of the cabin from the road to the north. The addition will place a wall closer to the road but the roof peak nearest the road will be three feet lower than the current cabin roof. The renovation will have no impact on the view of the cabin from the east. The neighborhood is defined by single story cabins. The nearest two-story cabin on Bradley Road is four lots to the east of our lot (4562 Bradley Road). The next nearest two-story cabins are approximately 1/3 of a mile east (4649 Bradley Road) and approximately ½ mile to the east (4541 Bradley Road). Moving the east wall with a variance will only 4 feet east will reduce, and maybe eliminate, the need to blast ledge rock for the addition to the east.

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

The neighboring properties will be less impacted by a lower and smaller addition with a variance that reduces any impact of the view of our cabin from their lots. The use of those properties will not be impacted.

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

There will be no negative impact to the local environment or landscape. All rain and snow fall runoff will be directed in the same volume and direction as now exists. A cabin with less expansion to the east will reduce or eliminate the need for blasting ledge rock.

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

The expected benefit of the variance is the use of the property as a year around cabin in a structure that fits our needs and is most consistent with the current cabin and cabins in the neighborhood. The variance will significantly reduce the mass of the building and view of the cabin from all directions compared to the permitted plan.

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

We have worked very hard with our architect to create a small, single level renovation plan to produce a cabin that will serve our family’s needs, fit very well on our lot, match the character of adjacent cabins and minimize all impacts to our neighborhood on the lake. While our currently permitted plan would result in a compliant and useful cabin, we hope that the staff and Board of Adjustment will see fit to issue our requested variance so we can complete a cabin renovation that will be a real asset for our neighborhood. We have had the cabin for almost 11 years, and it is time to do the necessary work to upgrade the antiquated heating system (a space heater hanging in the floor of the living room), replace old windows, add insulation to the walls and fix a leaky roof. We strongly believe that combining that work with the small requested additional space will serve our family for a very long time. We appreciate your consideration of our request.

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:Peder Larson

Address:110 Bank Street SE

City:Minneapolis

State:MN

Postal Code:55414

Email Address:pederl99@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