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.
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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
280-0030-00010
280-0030-00120
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
Pike Lake Golf & Beach LLC
6000 S Pike Lake Rd.
Duluth
MN
55811
(218)348-0209
roger@harborcitymasonry.com
Roger Anderson
(218)348-0209
Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
Pike Lake Golf & Beach LLC
6000 S Pike Lake Rd.
Duluth
MN
55811
roger@harborcitymasonry.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
4895 Midway Rd.
Duluth, MN 55811
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.0
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?Yes
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 seek relief from the 75' shoreland setback for a sand containment retaining wall for outdoor volleyball courts. The NW corner of the retaining wall is 50' from the shoreline and the SW corner is 73'. On this property, this rectangular shaped configuration is the best configuration of the required 4 volleyball courts, where as it has no impact on the current beach area.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.We plan to continue the same use of the property as it has been used since 1920, except it is now open to the public instead of being a private member only facility. The property is a public golf, beach and general recreation facility for families to use. Family parties, weddings, class reunions and union picnics are commonly held here with easy access around the property. Improving the volleyball courts allows for more recreation activities for all guests to enjoy.
Describe the current use of your property.The property is a public golf, beach and general recreation facility for families to use. There is a restaurant on site that is open daily.
Describe other alternatives, if any.The 4th volleyball court can be moved into the middle of the beach area to meet the 75' setback, but that would eliminate most of the public beach area.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?The property has been a golf, beach and general recreation facility for families to use for over 100 years. If the variance is approved, the entire public's use of the property flows better without negatively taking away the public's beach access. It will not negatively impact the neighborhood in any way. The property offers many different outdoor recreational uses for families to enjoy. Providing better volleyball courts allows people to enjoy the property even more.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.The entire north property line is shared with the public boat landing with a fence separating the two pieces of property. There will be no impact whatsoever to the public boat landing.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.The environmental impact will be improved from the current use, whereas the area currently has two metal maintenance buildings used to work on and store the lawn equipment for the golf course and property. The sand volleyball courts will allow for the rainfall to be absorbed into the ground, whereas the metal maintenance buildings do not allow for any rainwater absorption into the ground and instead push the rainwater into the lake.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.If the variance is approved, the entire public's use of the property flows better without negatively taking away the public's beach access.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.The purpose of the retaining wall is to have level courts, so that the safety space of 10' on every side of the court can be utilized by all 4 courts. Each court is 30'x60' with a 10' border all the way around, so a single court is 50'x80' but two courts can share the same safety space between the courts and can be on a space of 90'x80'; the 4 courts we need to have require a space of 170'x80'. If we can't construct 4 adjoining courts, we will need to construct 3 adjoining courts in a space of 130'x80' and take away a space of 50'x80' from the existing lawn area in front of the beach. The sand containment retaining wall will be shielded from the lake with natural vegetation and will serve as the east side of the stormwater pond.
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.
I have read and agree to the statement above.
