Application 20-001040: 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.

Greg

Middle Name:--

Last Name: Field is required.

Ostrowski

Address Line 1: Field is required.

1023 20th Ave SE

Address Line 2:--

City:

Minneapolis

State/Province: Field is required.

Postal Code: Field is required.

55414

Business Phone: Field is required.

Mobile Phone:--

Home Phone:--

Fax:--

Email Address: Field is recommended.

ostro031@umn.edu

Preferred Contact Method: Field is required.

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

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.

488-0290-00210

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:

Other

Applicant Name: Field is required.

Greg Ostrowski

Address Line 1: Field is required.

1023 20th Ave SE

Address Line 2:--

City:

Minneapolis

State:

Zip:

55414

Primary Phone: Field is required.

(612)991-7752

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:ostro031@umn.edu

Contact Person Name: Field is recommended.

Greg Ostrowski

Contact Person Phone: Field is recommended.

(612)991-7752

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:

Greg Ostrowski

Address:

1023 20th Ave SE

City:

Minneapolis

State/Province: Field is required.

Zip:

55414

Primary Phone:--

Cell Phone:--

Fax:--

Email:

ostro031@umn.edu

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:3312 North Alden Lake Rd Duluth Mn 55803

Is this leased property?Yes

Leased From?MN Power

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.

Yes

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?

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.

Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.

Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?

Yes

If Yes, please explain:

SSTS Construction Permit Application attached #2

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.

The Lakeshore cabin I lease from Minnesota Power at 3312 North Alden Lake Road Duluth Minnesota 55803 has a 44 ft setback from Alden Lake (per the Alta Survey map that has been attached) The county ordinance is now a 100 foot setback. I am applying for a variance to build a new Cabin with an attached garage. (Total foot print = 28' by 60') with a 50 foot setback. (length=32 cabin+28 garage feet, width= 28 feet, height=22 feet) that is 25 feet from the west property line. After working with St. Louis county, My contractors have concluded this is the only place on the property to build that will meet wetland and FEMA requirements. With a finished floor elevation benchmark of 1,402.90 feet. 3.8 feet higher than the present cabin = 1,399.10 (top of water elevation of 1,393 feet). The attached land survey map prepared by Dave Evanson of Alta Survey incorporates (Kiff Samuelson's of Finite Earth ) wetland delineation and FEMA 100 year flood plain information. This structure's location and elevation will meet the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) requirements and FEMA and St. Louis County floodplain standards.

Describe the intended/planned use of the property.

Lakeshore Cabin with an attached garage 50 foot setback with running water and septic system.

Describe the current use of your property.

Lakeshore Cabin 44 feet setback, with outside pump and outhouse 75 feet setback.

Describe other alternatives, if any.

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

The cabins will all be similar along this side of the Alden Lake.

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

There will be no impact to neighboring properties.

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

My leased property has two Individual Sewage Treatment System (ISTS) inspection complaints ID No. 34284 and 34285. (the systems causing the complaint were present when I signed my first lease) and will be replaced by a working septic system. By following the land survey map, I have place my planned structure in the only available location on the property that complies with the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) and FEMA 100 year flood plan standards.

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

The ability to build a modern Lakeshore cabin with an attached garage that has a septic system and also increased room for activities.

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

I sent an email asking St.LouisCnty to respond to my delineation report and whether i needed a request for variance. The response stated: If you have questions, please let me know. I can send the correct applications to you once you determine the route you want to go. Pursuing a variance is the longest process and is not guaranteed to get approved. If performance standard or land use permit criteria can be met, those permits are issued over-the-counter. Thank you for getting the wetland delineation completed as it is important information in determining the next steps and available options. If you ultimately pursue a variance, the Board of Adjustment will be able to make a more informed decision with this information as well.

IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO A PERMIT VIOLATION, PLEASE ANSWER THESE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Describe your reasons county zoning ordinance requirements were not followed.

The two violations were because the cabin had been in active use for thirty some years and were not violations when the cabin was originally built.

Describe your effort to comply with the ordinance and to obtain a land use permit and/or other required permits.

I have spent $850.00 on a Delineation report from Finite Earth to comply with Wetland and FEMA requirements. $3,750.00 on a land survey map showing property boundaries and property elevation including all information from the delineation report and $630.00 for the variance permit application.

Describe any substantial investments, construction and/or repairs made to the property before you discovered you needed a variance.

No other substantial investment (please see above response). I have been waiting for the permits before my builder and septic system guys get working. (Ward Poppenberg and Tom Rovinsky) Alete Inc. (Minnesota Power's) Matthew Hagelin Property and Right of Way agent has been trying to sell me this property for over a year, because they are getting out of the land lease business. Matt told me specifically relating to my Cabin's lease, that MnPower replatted the property lines with the intention of adding to this property enough build-able land to have a septic system and garage to make the property more salable). I am one of the 10% who have not purchased their leased cabin property for the first Three lake area leased property put for sale. I wanted to wait and be assured the permits would available (to upgrade the property) before I purchase the land.

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?

Yes

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:Greg Ostrowski

Address:1023 20th Ave SE

City:Minneapolis

State:MN

Postal Code:55414

Email Address:ostro031@umn.edu

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