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.
Thomas
Lundquist
8826 E Point Drive
Britt
MN
55710
2187804853
lunky68@hotmail.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
713-0015-03870
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
Thomas D Lundquist
8826 E Point Dr
Britt
MN
55710
(218)780-4853
lunky68@hotmail.com
Thomas Lundquist
--
Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
Thomas D Lundquist
8826 E Point Dr
Britt
MN
55710
lunky68@hotmail.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
8826 E Point Dr
Britt, MN 55710
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?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.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?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 After the Fact 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.House location is close to the lake at 60 feet and with a deck to enjoy the lake as well as steps to the lawn I am out of compliance. I also have low rise steps so they stick out further than normal as it is easier for my 86 year old mother to navigate them.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.Deck with a table and chairs to BBQ and enjoy the lake views.
Describe the current use of your property.Same as above. We enjoy evenings with a gas fire on the deck, a table and seating for family and guests while having a BBQ, drinking wine and unwinding after a long week.
Describe other alternatives, if any.Our house is small at 750 square feet. Even for a family of 3, it is tight. We have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, two closets and a pantry. The deck is located off of the living room where I had space to place a second access door to the outside.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?We are located on Sand Lake in Britt and many houses and decks are closer than ours to the shoreline to allow them the enjoyment of viewing the lake. I did not realize I was out of compliance until I applied for a building permit for our garage. The deck is not attached to our structure. We plan for this to be our forever home and part of what we wanted was a deck and garage.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.There is no impact or negative effect to neighbors or properties.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.There is no negative impact to the local environment or landscape.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.Again, our house is small at 750 square feet. Having an outdoor living space helps us to entertain family and friends to socialize, along with being able to enjoy our lake views. The front steps also allow my 86 year old mother to access the front lawn and dock safely.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.Please know that it was never my intention to be out of compliance in any way. After researching options, I interpreted the best option to be a floating deck, not attached to the house, to be our best option. I have worked extremely hard to make this our forever home and dream home. This property was not lived in for 14 years before my wife and I purchased it in 2014. Part of our remodeling dream was to build a deck to enjoy our lake views and allow for more entertainment space.
IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.Please know that it was never my intention to be out of compliance in any way. After researching options, I interpreted the best option to be a floating deck, not attached to the house, to be our best option. I have worked extremely hard to make this our forever home and dream home. This property was not lived in for 14 years before my wife and I purchased it in 2014. Part of our remodeling dream was to build a deck to enjoy our lake views and allow for more entertainment space.
Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.After applying for a Building Permit to build a garage it was brought to my attention that I was required to apply for a Land Use Permit for the deck I had built. I have been working diligently since with LaShawn Rush to rectify this situation in order to move forward with my building permit request.
Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.Due to COVID the cost to build our deck was double the cost of what building it would have been prior to COVID with increased lumber prices and the increase of all supplies in general.
If there was construction or repair, on what date did it begin? What date did it end?
Who performed the construction or repair work?Myself
Was a survey of your property boundaries obtained?Yes
Prior to the construction or repair work, did you speak with anyone from the Planning and Community Development Department?No
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.
Thomas Lundquist
8826 E Point Drive
lunky68@hotmail.com
I have read and agree to the statement above.
