Application 22-001163: 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.

Middle Name:--

Last Name: Field is required.

Address Line 1: Field is required.

Address Line 2:--

City:

State/Province: Field is required.

Postal Code: Field is required.

Business Phone: Field is required.

Mobile Phone:--

Home Phone:--

Fax:--

Email Address: Field is recommended.

Preferred Contact Method: Field is required.

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.

713-0015-03590

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.

Susan Springhetti

Address Line 1: Field is required.

4068 Ridgetop Court

Address Line 2:--

City:

Newburgh

State:

Zip:

47630

Primary Phone: Field is required.

(812)480-0691

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:susan.springhetti1958@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:

Susan Springhetti

Address:

4068 Ridgetop Court

City:

Newburgh

State/Province: Field is required.

Zip:

47630

Primary Phone:--

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:

susan.springhetti1958@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:9025 Palm Road Britt

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?

If Yes, please explain:

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.

The current garage is 1' from the south property line. The size of that garage is 14' wide by 18' deep. Due to the location of an electrical pole location and the supporting guide wires (3), the only position available for our proposed garage, which is planned to be 24' wide x 30 ' deep is in the location where the current garage is, which is 1' off the south property line. The current topography going east to west drops significantly, approximately 10'. Aside from the interference from the electrical pole, it would be financially impractical to build further north due to the excavation and subsequent fill etc., needed to make that area of the lot buildable.

Describe the intended/planned use of the property.

We purchased the property to eliminate the existing eyesore, which is aesthetically unpleasant due to the refuse in the yard, the condition of the cabin and the safety hazard this presents due to the collapsing structure. The house has been unoccupied for at least 20-30 years. Our plan is to remove the house and garage, clean up the trash and have the septic abandoned. Jim Zupetz, a local contractor, has been engaged to remove the house in August of 2022. We own the property to the north at 9023 Palm Road and our current lot is not configured to where we could build a garage. Our intent is to use the property at 9025 Palm Road to build a garage only and not a principal residence. We have been renting a local storage unit for a number of years due to the inability we've had of not being able to build on our lot.

Describe the current use of your property.

We just purchased the property in July 2022. The previous owners of the property had abandoned it for many, many years. We are in the process of beautifying the lot due to the neglect following the abandonment.

Describe other alternatives, if any.

We have talked to the power company about moving the electrical pole, but it is not feasible due to a number of constraints. We inquired with Lake Country Power as to whether the pole could be moved to the other side of the road, but that landowner said no. We tried to buy property across Palm Road for a garage and likewise the owner was not interested. In our view, no options are available to build a garage according to present setbacks from property lines.

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

All other nearby neighbors on Palm Road have garages that are only slightly off the property side lines as well. Please see attached pictures of present garages of nearby neighbors. Our proposed garage location will match the rest of the neighbor's garage locations. In essence we would not be changing the character of what is presently in place as once we remove the current garage we will replace it in the same location as what is already there.

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

There will be no impact to our neighbor's property to the south. The proposed garage will stay at 1' from the south property line, and will also stay the same distance from the road center line. We have talked to the neighbor to the south, and he is fine with our proposed garage. He has many structures as well, that do not meet property set back requirements, as this area on Sand Lake has many older cabins and structures. The property to the north of this lot is owned by us.

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

The build site of the proposed garage is only 10' further to the north (interior of the property) and 12' to the west. The 12' to the west currently has an old oil tank on it, which will be removed. Due to its flat grade this is the only area on the property, where a garage could be built, so consequently there will be no additional excavation of the lot as a result of this location.

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

It will provide a much needed and updated garage on the property, along with removal of the old dilapidated home, trash and general beautification to the lot. The garage will also match with other neighbor's updated garages and garage locations.

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

The most feasible location of this much needed garage is in the current location of the older garage, which is only 1' from the south property side line and 31' from the road center line. Both of these measurements create the non-conformance. The proposed garage will not create any additional non conformance, as the lengthening of the size to the west is proposed to stay 1' from the side property line and the widening of the garage to the north, will stay 31' from the road center line. The overall property will be much improved from its current state of disrepair, and greatly improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood and property values, while matching other neighbor's existing garage locations

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:--

Address:--

City:--

State:--

Postal Code:--

Email Address:--

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