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.
Carl
Babich
4305 Saint Mary's Drive
Eveleth
MN
55734
2182901447
ctbabich@gmail.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
340-0160-00220
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
Carl Thomas Babich
4305 Saint Mary's Drive
Eveleth
MN
55734
2182901447
--
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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.
Carl Babich
4305 Saint Mary's Drive
Eveleth
MN
55734
(218)290-1447
ctbabich@gmail.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
4305 Saint Mary's Drive
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.Yes
Total # of bedrooms on property after project completion.4
Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?Yes
If Yes, please explain:3 Bathrooms, 3 Showers, hookup for Laundry, Kitchen sink, and bathroom sinks
Is this project connected to a municipal or sanitary district system?Yes
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.I am building a new home with a walkout basement. This property is set on a Hillside on Saint Marys Lake with the lot narrowing from the lake to the road. If granted the variance there would be less ground/earthwork needed to prepare the building site for the new home versus if I did not get the variance. This would also allow for a safer access below to the lake shore by utilizing a walkout basement. I would like to preserve as much of the current property in its natural state as possible. The variance would allow me to not have to remove near as much earth and trees and won't negatively impact the shoreline. The house itself is already built over the edge of the the Hillside. The new house would utilize the original footprint of the old cabin as much as possible as not to destroy or damage the property.
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.The inteded/planned use of this property is for a permanent family home.
Describe the current use of your property.current use of the property is for a cabin use, it is 900 square feet on concrete block with no basement one level. One bath and two small bedrooms. This currently sits at about 57 feet from the shore and requires multiple stair switchbacks with railings to safely get to the shoreline.
Describe other alternatives, if any.There are no other alternatives. If I do not get the variance I would have to be forced to dig up a very significant portion of the existing ground on the property as well as removing trees, that if the variance was awarded I would not have to remove them. There would be a noticeable difference overall to the property. Also, the lot Narrows away from the lake so the setback would mean I would have to do more work to remove and disturb the ground and the trees towards my neighbors and the road. This would reposition the new house further back which could have an impact for my neighbors. My neighbors on both sides of me have nice long yards and with the variance this property has a long yard as well and I would like to protect the natural layout of the yard as well as keep it the same for my neighbors.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?I believe the variance will fit perfectly with the neighborhood in the area. Both of my neighbors are inside the 100ft setback. the neighbor to my south has a walkout basement and the neighbor to my north is about 67 feet from shore. This would look to match their setbacks and also would minimize the impact on the ground and trees (less ground/trees removed). Our yards would also stay open to the point where you could see from one yard down almost 3 or 4 houses. This would give all of the properties an Open spacious look. The overall image of the property should not change by taking down one structure and putting a new one up in practically the same place
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.since the current structure is already only 57 feet from the shore both properties on either side of the structure and not impacted at all. By being granted this variance the structure will still be in the same field of vision and will not impact them in any way
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.There will be considerably less use of heavy equipment on the property which will minimize the damage and disturbance to the property landscape. Overall considerably less soil and ground material to be removed, and noticeably less trees needed to be removed from the property. The overall image of the property would not change.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.The benefits will be that there will be considerably less modifications, disturbances, and damages to the existing environment of the property. (less ground removed, trees, grass, vegetation) The house will be built as a one level with walkout basement to minimize the overall structure footprint to preserve the natural layout of the property.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.I appreciate your time to review this application. I believe that by awarding this variance, this will allow me to have a house built with the least amount of disturbance to the property, its natural layout and natural vegetation. To not award this, there will be noticeably more changes and removal of natural soil, trees, and vegetation that would impact this property's natural layout considerably that could be avoided. Thank you
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.
Carl Thomas Babich
4305 Saint Mary's Drive
ctbabich@gmail.com
I have read and agree to the statement above.
