Application 18-000573: 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.

465-0070-00030

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.

Fred Koivumaki and Sue Warfield

Address Line 1: Field is required.

276 Jaspers Circle North

Address Line 2:--

City:

Chaska

State:

Zip:

55318

Primary Phone: Field is required.

(612)889-6217

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:mollymaki@aol.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:

Fred Koivumaki and Sue Warfield

Address:

276 Jaspers Circle North

City:

Chaska

State/Province: Field is required.

Zip:

55318

Primary Phone:--

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:

mollymaki@aol.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:2698 Burntside Lake Road Ely, MN

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?

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.

We are applying for this variance only to replace structures that were already there, and have been for many years -the sauna for nearly 100 years and the garage/recreation building for nearly 40 years. We had a fire that destroyed both buildings and want to replace them on the exact footprint. We have a steep rock face behind the garage/recreation building that does not allow us to move it back and ledgerock on the ground next to where the sauna was - also making set-back impossible at that site.

Describe the intended/planned use of the property.

The intended use is the same as it had been before the fire. See attached document that details the history of these buildings and all the various memories that are involved in their previous use and the hope of continued use by the next generations.

Describe the current use of your property.

We use our entire property as our family retreat. Over the nearly 100 years that this property has been in our family we have celebrated births, weddings and commemorated our brother's death with our close family and friends. It has been the one solid bond for our family and has been enjoyed now through 5 generations. The fire was a traumatic blow to everyone and rebuilding just as it was would help us to continue our family traditions and help us heal.

Describe other alternatives, if any.

Alternatives: Due to the layout of our property with the steep incline and rocks directly behind the current structures as structures lost, there are little, if any alternatives. The garage/recreation building still has the concrete foundation in place. While the sauna could be relocated, it would not be as near the lake and for which the entire sauna experience for our family was based.

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

As for fitting into the character of the neighborhood, our sauna was -if not the first building in this bay, it was near to the first. The neighbors on either side of us also have their saunas right next to the lake and their properties have remained in their same families as well.

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

The hole that has been created by the loss of our buildings has made a gap in the landscape that is disturbing to not only us, but our neighbors as well. All have felt the loss and want to see things more "as they were before". The impact of the emptiness of the property has been harder for our neighbors to deal with and see than if we had our buildings back as they were.

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

We cannot see a negative impact to the local environment or the landscape as we would not change the look of the property from what it had been before the fire. Obviously, we have lost some trees due to the fire, but our plan is to re-invest in the landscape by planting new trees to replace those lost. Over time, as the trees grow, the landscape will return to nearly that same as what was destroyed.

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

The benefits of the variance are to put back the landscape and environment to what it was before and what our bay here on Burntside has looked like for years. For our family, the benefits are beyond priceless as we have new generations that have shown the same love and respect for the property, the environment and our neighbors that those before us have shown since the property was in our family.

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

We have always welcomed our friends, family and Burntside neighbors to enjoy our sauna, boats and hospitality which we've shared through our property. The outpouring of support for helping us rebuild is proof of the immense emotional connection that these buildings have instilled in so many beyond our immediate family. Our primary activities and events were centered around the lost buildings and to be able to have them rebuilt as they were would mean so much not only to us as a family but also to all those with whom we have shared this very special place.

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