Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County schedules Sept. 16 hearing on driveway variance request along County Road 42
Summary
Goodhue County staff requested and the board voted to schedule a public hearing on a variance request for a second access on a parcel along County Road 42 in Zumbrota (Bridal) Township; staff denied the access permit based on spacing rules and the landowner applied for a variance on Aug. 7.
The Goodhue County Board agreed to schedule a public hearing for Sept. 16 on an application for a second driveway access on a parcel along County Road 42 in Zumbrota Township.
Public works staff told the board the property owner, Joshua Betcher, applied for an access permit in June for a second access. County staff denied the permit because the county’s access-management ordinance includes spacing requirements and the parcel already has an existing driveway that provides reasonable access. The owner then filed a variance application on Aug. 7.
Staff recommended scheduling a public hearing so the board can consider the variance and either approve or deny it. Several commissioners questioned whether conditions on the property or operation had changed to require another access; staff said no such changes were known and noted the owner could relocate the existing access within the parcel’s frontage if appropriate spacing could be met.
One commissioner argued that allowing a variance is reasonable in many rural scenarios and moved to schedule the hearing; another commissioner seconded. The motion to set the hearing passed when the chair called for the ayes.
If the hearing proceeds, the board will receive public comment and then decide whether to grant a variance from access-spacing requirements or require relocation of the existing access to meet county standards.
