The Fillmore County Board of Adjustment held public hearings on three variance applications in the Ag District at its June 17 meeting.
The county’s zoning ordinance details what is permissible in the Ag District in section 604.
Doug Lind, section 15 Norway Township, requested a 30-foot variance from the distance required for the construction of a structure from the centerline of a public road, in this case CR 10. He plans to build a two-bay bunker (60’ by 120’ with a 20’ by 60’ pad in front of the bunker) for silage storage on an existing rock pad. Because of the slope of the ground farther from the center of the road, he requested the variance to allow the structure to be built on the level.
There was no comment from township supervisors. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins read an email sent by Lowell Volkman, a neighbor, objecting to the variance. Volkman insisted other areas could be used for building the bunker.
The variance was approved as presented unanimously.
Aaron Burkholder, section 27 Bristol Township, requested a variance to allow him to keep his existing driveway while building a new driveway access for his business/shop (woodworking and cabinetry). The driveway would provide access to CR 15. The zoning ordinance only allows for one driveway in each one-quarter mile. A second access is allowed within a quarter mile provided one is intended for agricultural purposes and one is intended for a dwelling.
Burkholder said the second driveway access he is requesting is for public safety, so semis and large trucks will not be backing in from the road. It will also be safer for his young children to keep the business/shop traffic separate from his house driveway.
Andy Bisek said the second driveway was the practical solution from a safety point of view.
The variance was approved unanimously as presented and will be considered for final approval by the county board.
Marvin and Carolyn Hensrud, section 26 Arendahl Township, requested a variance from the the lot size requirement of 2.5 acres for a buildable lot. Only one dwelling is permitted per lot. The Hensruds have 3.97 acres and are unable to purchase the needed acre plus. They want to build a small guest cabin (12’ by 16’) near their existing dwelling for visiting children and guests. Their dwelling includes the original Gilbertson Schoolhouse built in 1895.
They live on the property about six months per year and expect the cabin would be used two to three weeks per year. They would connect the cabin to an existing septic system.
Adkins noted, if this variance were approved, it would be the first ever for lot size. Variances have been granted only for setbacks and distances. The ordinance requires 2.5 acres for a dwelling; also about half of the Hensrud property lies in the flood plain. She suggested they could add on to the existing dwelling, which would alleviate the need for the variance. The variance, if approved, would stay with the property. Trinity Johnson asked what will be the long term ramifications for this property, if the variance were approved?
The fact that the variance would stay with the property was an issue for the board members. Adkins said the issue here is this would be creating a second dwelling on a primary site. There was no comment from township supervisors or the public.
The variance was denied on a 4-1 vote. Gary Ruskell voted against denying the variance.
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