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
250-0020-01405
250-0020-01409
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
Brent R & Judy R Bullis
9507 Sky Lane
Eden Prairie
MN
55347
(952)232-8346
ben0816.1@gmail.com
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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.
Brent R & Judy R Bullis
9507 Sky Lane
Eden Prairie
MN
55347
ben0816.1@gmail.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
8940 Raps Road
Cook MN 55723
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.We have no viable means to place and remove our boat lift due to its size and the steepness of our shoreline. We have two boats and would like to build one boathouse but the boathouse needs to be larger than the approved size for our lake to allow both boats to fit. We could comply with the ordinances and build two boathouses one for each boat but this would not be in the best interest of the lake (west boathouse would be nearly on the lake and negatively affect west neighbor). WE have 413 feet of shoreline and 8 acres and almost have enough land and shoreline to be three boathouses. We only have one small green cabin of 840 sq ft that is 90 feet from the lake and blends into the thick tree cover. We believe it is in the best of Lake Vermilion for our property to have one additional dwelling rather than two. There several over-sized in lake boathouses in our general vicinity including Don Price our neighbor to the west who has a very large several stall boathouse in the water. The Menne's our neighbors to the east, have a variance approval onshore boathouse that is larger than what we are requesting. In addition, in the past few years, Mr. Beckman was allowed to build two dwellings (one of which is a huge house) on his 125 feet of shoreline, one property to the east of us. At the same time he removed nearly every tree from his lot.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.This is private property ans will remain a private single family residence even through we have the acreage to split into two parcels. We currently use our property seasonally from April to October for the time being, but we plan to retire and live permanently on the property within 5 - 10 years. The boathouse will be used to store the boats during the summer months so they do no have to remain in the lake by docks. In the winter we will may still store our b oats in our pole building.
Describe the current use of your property.This is private property ans will remain a private single family residence even through we have the acreage to split into two parcels. We currently use our property seasonally from April to October for the time being, but we plan to retire and live permanently on the property within 5 - 10 years. The boathouse will be used to store the boats during the summer months so they do no have to remain in the lake by docks. In the winter we will may still store our b oats in our pole building.
Describe other alternatives, if any.Alternative is we build 2 boathouse at the maximum sq ft for the lake since the size of our property will allow for such. It should be noted that the 2nd boathouse to the west will be rebuilt on the foundation which remains from a previous boathouse which is essentially right on the lake and in full view of many neighbors. This latter boathouse would not be optimal for the lake. We could also decrease the east boathouse to 15.3 ft wide by 34 in length and it would not need a variance but this would not be financially advantageous for us (only store one boat...no storage..... and it would look odd due to its rectangular shape) and this would not prevent us from building the 2nd west boathouse.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?As described above it will fit perfectly. The area we plan to put the boathouse is obscured from the east neighbors by thick tree cover and it will not be as big as some of the in water and onshore boathouses in the vicinity, the boathouse will be finished in the exterior with high quality siding and possibly stone in order to fit beautifully into the surroundings.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.They will not be affected/impacted. All three neighbors are in support of the proposed boathouse. We may be submitting subsequent letters of support from them. If not approved and two boathouses are built it will impact the west neighbors and boathouse will still be placed on the east property.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.The native ground on the east side of our property is already eroding from the significant rains in the past summer. The boathouse will be surrounded by significant rock layered on the ground to prevent soil erosion and runoff into the lake.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.The benefits of the variance is only one boathouse will be built rather than two. The east site for the boathouse is more optimal for preservation of the natural beauty of our property and the lake since it will be more surrounded by tree cover. Our shoreline will not have a huge boat lift in the water and we will be able to remove some of our sectional docks which were put in place to access the boat lift. Our boats will not be in the water for long extended periods of time by the docks. Prevent soil erosion with rock landscaping.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.We request a variance for one boathouse 25 ft wide by 34 ft in length to be placed on our east property in lieu of building two boathouses of maximum allowed sq ft one on our east aspect and the other on the west most aspect of our property.
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.
