Morrison County board approves lakeshore variance for Holst property after stormwater, septic and floodproofing conditions

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment voted 6-0 on Jan. 26 to approve a variance allowing a proposed 34-by-40 home, an attached garage and a septic system to sit inside multiple setbacks at 34524 Aztec Road (Jefferson Beach), the board said.

Land Services staff described the request as a change from earlier plans: the applicant now seeks a dwelling 4 feet from the road right-of-way and about 1.4 feet from the north property line, with a drain-field septic and a structure that will meet a 20-foot roadside height standard. Staff cited portions of the Morrison County Land Use Ordinance (706.1b and 1301.34) and explained that a separate conditional-use permit would be required to allow the applicant’s proposed alternative floodproofing instead of raising the site on fill.

Applicant Darren Holst told the board the previous house was removed and that the revised design addressed prior concerns. “We did remove the house,” Holst said, adding that the revised roof design and gutters would reduce runoff compared with earlier plans.

Board members questioned dimensions, septic layout and floodproofing. Amy from Land Services summarized the history: an August variance had been approved for a different configuration, a later November request was denied, and the current application replaces those earlier land-use options. Amy noted that the septic setback from the lake meets the 50-foot requirement but that the lot sits inside a broader 75-foot building setback.

Several board members praised the applicant’s stormwater plan and the proposed time-dosed septic design. The county engineer, according to staff, did not object to the structure in its current location but would not support further encroachment on the road right-of-way.

After the board found in the affirmative on all six statutory criteria—harmony with the comprehensive plan, reasonable use, preservation of the character of the locality, unique practical difficulty tied to site conditions, causes of the need outside the current landowner’s actions, and that the difficulty involves more than economics—Marvin moved to approve the variance with the four previously stated conditions; John seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The board noted that the applicant must obtain a conditional-use permit to pursue the proposed alternative floodproofing (raising the basement floor roughly 2.2 feet above flood stage as described in the staff report) before building permits will be issued. Land Services staff advised Holst to follow up next week on timing and the conditional-use review.

The board recorded one outside contact: Land Services received a phone call from Mark Frisk in support of the application. With post-decision procedural items addressed, the chair recessed the meeting for five minutes.