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
270-0070-00030
270-0070-00010
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.
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Enter Applicant Information
Landowner
Mary Alice Slick
1233 Wyncrest Ct
Arden Hills
MN
55112
(651)636-6477
maslick@comcast.net
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Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
Mary Alice Slick
1233 Wyncrest Ct
Arden Hills
MN
55112
(651)636-6477
maslick@comcast.net
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
5835 Echo Point Rd
Tower MN
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.--
Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?Yes
If Yes, please explain:The unit would have plumbing for kitchen and bath.
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 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 requesting a lake setback variance. We need an approximately 17 foot lake setback variance. The parcel is approximately .4 acres. It is a wedge shaped parcel. The ordinance setback , as far as we have been able to determine, is impossible to meet on this parcel. This is primarily due to a ledge rock which runs almost parallel to the mobile home currently on the property. In addition to the ledge rock, the septic tank and drain field limit the location of a dwelling. Also, a section of the parcel is designated a flood plain which limits construction in that area.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.The property would continue to be used as it currently is, that is, as recreational lake property for my husband and myself and our immediate family. The current dwelling is insufficient to meet our family gathering needs and is also old enough that it is starting to deteriorate somewhat. The greater square footage would make the property more functional and a stick built structure would add visual appeal to the site.
Describe the current use of your property.As noted above, our property is currently used as recreational lake property. The mobile home is not winterized, so the property is used only from May thru September each year. This would not change.
Describe other alternatives, if any.We have measured and re-measured and have found no other location on this site for a 24x36 foot cabin. We are open to suggestions. Someone else may view the sight and see something we are not.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?We think that a new, standard construction cabin will improve the property, both from the lake and on the site itself. The mobile home is 56 feet long and it parallels the lakeshore. It is a vinyl clad unit. A new cabin would be 36 feet long and 24 feet wide sitting at an angle to the Jake and set farther back on the property. Much Jess of it would be visible from the water and the Building materials would be geared to the lake setting. The color of the buildings on the property would be changed to earth tones. Neither of our Jake neighbors are able to view our property/buildings from theirs. This would not change.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.As noted above, our lake neighbors do not have a view of our property from theirs, so the impact of our variance would be negligible. Also, the view of the property from the lake would be improved. The building would be less visible, more attractive, and of a color that blends more with the surroundings.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.Right now, there is a large vegetation buffer between our lawn and the lake. This would be maintained. No trees between the lake and the dwelling would be removed. There are a few trees behind the mobile home that will need to be removed. These are not visible from the lake nor the road, so the site will not incur much change. There will be a crawl space rather than a basement, so the excavation of the area will be limited.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.The construction of a slightly larger cabin will make the recreational use of the property more functional and enjoyable for our family. The mobile home is getting older and more difficult to maintain in an attractive manner. We do not want it to become a blight on the property. Also, Jess of the dwelling will be visible from the lake and what is visible will be a more attractive structure.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.We would like to have a sturdy, stick built cabin on the site and would like additional square footage for an indoor gathering space. The cabin size we have chosen is the smallest foot print which would meet our needs for additional space. We don't think the mobile home can be maintained as well as an on-site constructed dwelling. The site has several restrictions, size, ledge rock, drain field, flood plain which limit the building location. Thank you for considering 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?
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.
