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.
Jean
Savat
2917 Frank St
st Paul
MN
55109
6512616318
jean@etofmn.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
387-0385-00210
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
Jean Savat
2917 Frank St
st Paul
MN
55109
6512616318
Jon Savat
(651)260-1737
Mailing Address Information.
This address can default from the address you selected. If the values defaulted are not correct, please enter the correct information.
Jean Savat
2917 Frank St
st Paul
MN
55109
jean@etofmn.com
Site Information
If there is no site address, the application will be forwarded to 911/Communications to assign one.
Yes
4573 Bradley Road
Tower MN 55790
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.3
Does this project include plumbing or pressurized water in proposed structure?Yes
If Yes, please explain:We are Building our new home.
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.ALLOW A SECOND PRINCIPAL DWELLING
We are grateful to own this land formerly known as Plotnick's Point. We understand the historic value and want the opportunity to preserve the character of this 1930's resort. We plan to build a 2-bedroom year-round home. The log cabin is considered the principal dwelling. It is a 1 bedroom, uninsulated, 440 sq ft vertical log cabin. It is charming, but far from a dwelling that could accommodate year-round living. No part of this building is within the 50 ft critical lakeshore. We plan to use this log place as a seasonal guest cabin. It would be tragic to remove this little historic log cabin.
REDUCED SHORLINE SETBACK OF 50 FT WHERE 75 IS REQUIRED
We have given a lot of thought to how to preserve and protect this beautiful land. One of our largest priorities is to keep as many of the gorgeous mature trees as we can. The views on the west/ northwest side of this point are outstanding! We are proposing to place our home over 100 feet from that shore in an effort to preserve that lakeshore and vegetation. It should be noted that we are not asking for the entire lake side of the home to be less than 75 feet from the shore. There is a 14 X 10 ft covered entry that protrudes from the middle of the home on the lake side that would be the closest point as close as 50 ft. From that point the rest of the cabin angles away from the lake on both sides. Both east and west side of the home will have a 75 ft plus setback. This placement allows for the lowest silhouette for our home and preservation of several large trees. If we were required to the entire structure back to 75 ft setback, it would involve higher ledge rock and building at a much higher elevation.
*Continued in question 2 to clarify variances due the space limitation*
Describe the intended/planned use of the property.We will be using this "dream home" as our primary residence with friends and family for the rest of our lives. We have had a place on Lake Vermilion for 33 years. Our intent is to minimize the environmental impact and keep our lake and lakeshore
natural and better than it is today.
*A STRUCTURE HEIGHT OF 32 FT WHERE 25FT IS ALLOWED
This property does have some unique hardships in building. One of them is the ledge rock which prohibits us from having a basement. With this slab construction we are intending to use the garage and space above the garage for storage. Having a second level will allow a smaller footprint. Minnesota winters make it smart to have a reasonable pitch to the roofline to prevent ice damming and too much weight from the snow.
A NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE WIDTH FACING THE SHORELINE THAT EXCEEDS 40% OF THE "LOT WIDTH"
Another unique hardship this property has is its unique shape. The definition of lot width is also somewhat of a hardship for this land as it is measured at its narrowest point. The width of the lot where we are hoping to place the home is over 40 ft wider than that narrowest point. The land is 1.3 acres and has 491 ft of lakeshore. 1.3 acres is 56628 square ft. Our new home and garage will cover 8.6% of the lot. It seems like the spirit and intent of this ordinance is to prevent too much house on a limited space. Total width 116ft
Describe the current use of your property.We have been using the property (resort) as our seasonal cabin/ cabins since we purchased it in 2020.
Describe other alternatives, if any.We have considered adding square footage to the current cabins and remodeling them according to county regulations. With approval of this variance, we will be removing 1000 square feet (3 buildings) from the critical lakeshore zone.
If approved, how will the proposed use, with the variance, fit into the character of the neighborhood/area?The property is private. We have discussed our plans with our adjoining neighbors. The current buildings are white with bright green trim and are quite noticeable from the lake. Our intent is to take those 3 buildings out of the critical lakeshore and ultimately make the color of the new and existing buildings that are staying, a darker, more natural color. We believe this is an upgrade to the lakeshore and better blend into the environment.
Describe how neighboring properties and the use of those properties will be impacted by the proposed use with the variance.This build will have little or no impact on our neighbors and their use of their properties. Our build will be well within the boundaries of the property lines.
Describe how negative impact to the local environment and landscape will be avoided.We acquired this land in Sept of 2020. Since then, we have spent a lot of time and thought to evaluate how we could best place our home to provide the least negative impact to the land. We are not placing the home where we could attain the best views because it would be at the cost of several large white and red pines along with some beautiful birch, maple and oak. We have designed, to the best of our ability to conform to the land. If we were required to move the building back to 75 ft we will need to build at a much higher elevation on ledge rock. The entire home would sit several feet higher, and we would need to more dramatically change the landscape and clear more of those mature trees that we really want to keep. Both factors would make the home considerably more obtrusive from any view from the lake and certainly more obtrusive than we would like our home to be. The plan we are proposing will have the least negative impact on this beautiful land. Proposed Structure will be above the flood plain Elevation of 1362.3. Proposed structure will be around 1365 ft.
Describe the expected benefits of a variance to use of this property.We hope to improve the lakeshore by removing 3 of the buildings in the critical lakeshore zone and continue to keep the rest of the property as natural and organic as possible.
We want to preserve as many of the gorgeous trees, especially those huge pines in the placement of our home.
Include additional comments that will clarify your request for the Planning and Community Development staff members and the Board of Adjustment.Placement of our proposed home with the requested variance will allow us to lose as few of the beautiful large pines we have on this property and minimize its footprint and silhouette.
Skyler Webb has been both helpful and professional in this process. She has helped us understand the ordinances and their intent. As a result, we were able to modify our original plans to be more in line with the intent of the ordinances.
Thanks for listening to our story.
To sum it up we just wanted you to know, we will be excellent stewards of this land.
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.
jean@etofmn.com
I have read and agree to the statement above.
