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.
Dennis
Longar
6963 Lydia Bay
Woodbury
MN
55125
6513234042
651-323-4042
dennis@longar.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
340-0042-01040
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
Dennis Longar
6963 Lydia Bay
Woodbury
MN
55125
(651)323-4042
Dennis Longar
(651)323-4042
Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
Dennis Longar
6963 Lydia Bay
Woodbury
MN
55125
dennis@longar.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
4507 Cedar Island Drive, Eveleth MN 55734
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?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.variance to remove the Non-Riparian lot rules for Standard subdivision in Res 7 zoning area. In plain terms removing the requirement to double the lot size. Situation is: cannot get enough lots out of the overall lot, and lot sizes will still be 2 times the size of the Raparian lots (on the lake shore). There is an existing structure on one of the lots, the home is 60' x 30' single level home with crawl space, measurment includes an Attached 2 stall garage. There is also a Pole building that is 24 X 36, Properties on this lot will take up less than 1/3 of the total 1.2 acre lot that is planned. House is currently attached to city sewer and city water. City Sewer and Water is available to all lots created and will be used for all lots. planned lot the house is on is 200+ feet wide.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.The plan is to break up the property into 5 buildable lots to be divided amongst the 5 property owners/ family members. The new lots created will be either recreational Cabin properties or Sellable lots, whatever each family member decides.
Describe the current use of your property.Single home on 6.8. Acre Lot, in Residential 7 zoning area attached to City Sewer and water.
Describe other alternatives, if any.There is no acceptable alternative at this time.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?The properties created will fit normally into the neighborhood, City sewer and water will provide low impact to lakeshore, also lake shore Raparian lot size is .5 Acre and 100 foot width. Lots proposed are 2 times greater in Acreage. The suggested platting will provide less dense lot / development, than other properties that exist in the non-riparian (North side of Cedar Island Drive). today. See example attached with this application.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.The neighborhood would have negligible impact, 4 new houses would potentially be put into place on the north side of Cedar Island drive. With the capability of Sewer and Water available, there will be little to no impact beside the potential to have 4 additional houses along the 1200 feet of road frontage. This is low impact compared to the .5 acre Riparian lots in place today.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.All lots and any homes build on those lots will require City sewer and water hookup to minimize environmental impact. All other rules and setback will be followed for Res 7 zoning.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.Each family member will be able to receive a single Cedar Island Drive road front property. As was the original plan when my father purchased this property, to be divide amongst his children.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.The riparian rules are generally for environmental Impact related to Sewer and water requirements for homes near a lake. With city sewer and water readily available, and with the existing Riparian (buffer zone to the lake) lots being .5 Acres this variance will provide no impact to the Lake or neighborhood.
IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.Cannot achieve Res 7 zoning and minimum lot size to create a reasonable amount of lots.
Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.Worked with Fayal township for potential rezoning to continue the Res 11 zoning on the north side of Cedar Island Drive. Worked through land plots and worked with Sprag Surveying who had several iterations of plans from my father before the property was moved to St Louis County planning. Where lot sizes were 1 Acre minimum, which my platt still surpasses.
Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.None.
If there was construction or repair, on what date did it begin? What date did it end?
Who performed the construction or repair work?none
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?Yes
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.
Dennis J Longar
dennis@longar.com
I have read and agree to the statement above.
