Board continues lakefront home variance request to May 15 for redesign and septic review

The Wright County Board of Adjustment continued a proposal to build a new single-family home on a Cedar Resort lot on East Lake Sylvia to its May 15 meeting to allow the applicant time to consider revisions.

Planner Aaron Ogle said the proposal would place the new home about 60 feet from the ordinary high-water level where 75 feet is required and would include reduced side-yard setbacks and a septic system closer to property lines than county rules allow. The Township expressed conditional support because the plan moves the house farther from the lake and reduces impervious coverage; a nearby neighbor submitted a written statement raising no objection.

Consultant Bernie Miller and designer Brandon Scheuble told the board they had worked to balance lake setback, septic placement and impervious coverage, and said a full septic system would be installed. Board members questioned whether the plan could be redesigned to reduce the number of variances, whether the road alignment versus the platted right-of-way affects setbacks, and how stormwater would be managed. Several members said they were reluctant to approve five variances for new construction without stronger justification.

To allow the applicant to explore alternatives, the board voted to continue the item to May 15. The motion carried unanimously; the minutes record the continuation to allow staff and the applicant to examine options that could reduce variances and address septic and stormwater concerns.