Planning and Zoning: Land Use
Inquiry Results

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

Duluth
Virginia
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
 
 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
 
 
Field is required.625-0011-03885
 Associated PINs
 
 
Field is required.625-0011-03886

 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.

 
Field is required.No

 Enter Applicant Information
 
Field is required.Landowner
 
Field is required.David & Joanne McLaughlin
 
Field is required.311 W Baker St
 
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Field is required.St. Paul
 
Field is required.MN
 
Field is required.55107
 
Field is required.(651)228-9178
 
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dave.mclaughlin@usfamily.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.
 
 
Field is required.David & Joanne McLaughlin
 
Field is required.311 W Baker St
 
Field is required.St. Paul
 
Field is required.MN
 
Field is required.55107
 
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Field is recommended.dave.mclaughlin@usfamily.net

 Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
 
Field is required.Yes
 
3056 Cty Rd Babbitt 55706
 
No
 
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US Forest Service
US Forest Service
Superior National Forest
8901 Grand Avenue Place
Duluth, MN 55808
 
MN Power
MN Power
Shore Land Traditions
30 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
 
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
MN DNR, Area Hydrologist
7979 Highway 37
Eveleth, MN 55734
 
MN DNR Land and Minerals
MN DNR Land and Minerals
1201 East Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
 
St. Louis County - Duluth
St. Louis County - Duluth
Government Services Center
320 West 2nd Street, Suite 301
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 725-5000
 
St. Louis County - Virginia
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.
 
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 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?
Field is required.Yes
 Is this project within 300 feet of a stream/river or 1,000 feet of a lake?
Field is required.No
 Is this project adding a bedroom?
Include home, garage, and accessory dwelling.
Field is required.No
 Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.
Field is required.1
 Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?
Field is required.No
 If Yes, please explain:
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 Is this project connected to a municipal or sanitary district system?
Field is required.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.
 
Field is required.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.
Field is required.We are applying to rectify an unforeseen situation that may have resulted in our property losing its "grandfather" status and becoming an improper subdivision. There was an unknown, undesirable and unacceptable encroachment by the neighboring property that was only discovered recently because of the sale of said neighboring property. Since our land occupied most of their backyard, including a corner of their garage, we agreed to deed 1/10 of an acre to them. If this good faith action were to result in our lot becoming an improper subdivision, then that would cause great harm to us and to the future use/sale/improvement of our house as I would not be able to obtain a permit to improve the property which has a house but no garage.
 Describe the intended/planned use of the property.
Field is required.The property would continue its current use as a seasonal residence. In the future I would like to replace some older sheds with a garage which would further improve the property.
 Describe the current use of your property.
Field is required.Seasonal residence.
 Describe other alternatives, if any.
Field is required.Working with St. Louis County planners, we tried to find several different alternatives such as swapping the 1/10 acre to avoid any decrease in my acreage but there was no good way to accomplish this. We also had to move quickly to avoid problems with the closing of the sale on the neighboring property. With only a few days in which to make things work out for the buyer and seller of the neighboring property, we decided, in good faith, to agree to deeding the 1/10th acre to the neighbor in hope that this would be understandable to the County and the variance, which would not be harmful to anyone, would be granted.
 If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?
Field is required.The variance would not change anything of the proposed use. IT would continue to be used as a seasonal home. In addition, if it were to be sold in the future, it would make a beautiful single family residence or starter home. It would be unnecessarily burdensome for us or a future owner to not be able to build a garage.
 Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.
Field is required.There would be absolutely no impact on any neighbors whatsoever.
 Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.
Field is required.There would be no immediate or future impact to the environment or landscape. If a garage/shed were to be built it would b eon the same footprint as existing shed.
 Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.
Field is required.As stated above, the variance would allow a reasonable and (in Northern Minnesota) a necessary option of improving the house and property by allowing a permit to be obtained in building a garage or new shed.
 Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.
Field is required.The variance is being requested on a property that is set back 157 feet from County Road 904 at its most northerly corner and if a garage were to be built, it would be at least 500 feet from the same road and can be barely seen from the road.
 IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

 
 Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.
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 Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.
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 Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.
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 If there was construction or repair, on what date did it begin? What date did it end?
 
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 Who performed the construction or repair work?
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 Was a survey of your property boundaries obtained?
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 Prior to the construction or repair work, did you speak with anyone from the Planning and Community Development Department?
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 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.
 
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 I have read and agree to the statement above.
Field is required.