Dunn County panel conditionally approves substandard access easement for Harmon lot pending town sign-off

Dunn County Planning, Resource and Development Committee members voted Sept. 3 to approve, subject to Sheridan town board concurrence, that a previously granted access easement is adequate to serve a newly created one‑acre lot owned by the Harmons.

County planning staff presented a certified survey map showing the one‑acre parcel containing a home and associated improvements and explained the lot otherwise meets county standards except for access. John (Planning staff) told the committee the easement was recorded in 2018 and “I certainly feel the the easement is adequate. It's in place. There's a driveway located over the top of it. It's serving 1 lot, which will never be further subdivided.” The committee approved a motion to accept the staff judgment, conditioned on subsequent approval by the town board; the committee chair called the motion carried after members said “aye.”

Why the decision matters: County land‑division rules require newly created parcels to have at least 33 feet of frontage on a public highway or on an access easement that connects to a public highway. The easement granted to the Harmons ranges from about 27 feet to 33 feet across its diagonal, dimensions the staff described as “substandard” compared to other ordinance thresholds. The committee's conditional approval avoids a variance process but leaves final local authorization to the Sheridan town board, which planned to consider the easement at its next meeting.

Committee discussion and staff analysis John reviewed the property's history, saying the Harmons purchased roughly 100 acres in 2005 and later acquired an easement from neighboring landowners in 2018. He noted much of the Harmons' land lies west of the Hay River and that a river crossing to enable larger future subdivision is unlikely, which influenced staff's assessment that the easement would realistically serve only the single new residential lot. John also pointed to the driveway already located on the easement in support of adequacy.

Committee members discussed procedural options before voting. One member suggested postponing until after the Sheridan town board meeting; staff recommended conditional approval so the committee would not need to reconvene if the town subsequently approves. A committee member moved to approve the staff finding “pending the approval by the town board.” The chair called for the vote, members said “aye,” and the motion passed.

What the approval does and does not do The committee's action was limited: it is a judgment under the county land‑division ordinance about whether the existing easement is adequate for the intended purpose (providing access to the new one‑acre lot). The committee explicitly framed the decision as an adequacy finding rather than a variance or full change to ordinance standards. Final effect is contingent on the Sheridan town board taking the same position at its meeting; if the town does not approve, the committee's conditional approval would not be the final step.

Next steps and parties Town Chair Dave Bartlett had reviewed the materials and informed county staff he did not anticipate issues but was not able to attend the county meeting; the Sheridan board was scheduled to consider the matter on Sept. 9. Applicants Taylor and Nathaniel Harmon attended the county meeting and were present to answer questions. County staff said applicants did not need to remain after the committee's action.

Ending The committee's conditional approval resolves the county's procedural review but leaves the easement's full authorization to the Sheridan town board. If the town approves as staff anticipates, the one‑acre lot's access will be treated as adequate under the county's land‑division process without a variance.