Crow Wing County board delays vote on Hunter Lake Acres preliminary plat after easement dispute

At a Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners meeting, county land services staff presented a preliminary plat for “Hunter Lake Acres,” a proposed seven-lot subdivision on parcel 95220590 in Section 22 of Wolford Township. Chris Pence, land services staff, told the board the parcel totals about 26.5 acres and that the planning commission and board of adjustment held a public hearing May 15, 2025, and “made a unanimous recommendation of the board to approve the preliminary plat of Hunter Lake Acres.” Pence added, “Staff have reviewed the file and concur with the recommendation from the planning commission and board of adjustment.”

The proposal calls for seven conventional-design lots. Pence said riparian lots must meet a minimum width of 200 feet and a minimum area of 80,000 square feet (about 1.84 acres); a single non-riparian lot is shown with a minimum area of 120,000 square feet. A 150-foot setback to the natural-environment lake is shown on the plat. Pence also noted that the packet includes a title commitment showing a 66-foot ingress/egress easement that benefits the platted property.

Several nearby property owners spoke during public comment to object to the proposed access and potential vegetation removal. Carrie Hoffman, who identified herself as the owner of the easement, said, “They do not have our permission to do that nor is the easement have that language in it. And in the state of Minnesota, it has to have it in there.” Hoffman said the dotted feature on the plat is a garage area and not stairways and argued that the easement language does not allow removal of trees and shrubs to build new driveways.

Colleen Clarine Rawlings, who described herself as a long-time Hunter Lake property owner, told the board the lake is small and environmentally sensitive and said, “Seven plots on this tiny area doesn't make any sense whatsoever.” She urged the board to consider impacts to the lake and neighbors.

County staff and the county attorney, Stephanie, said there is a recorded easement that provides legal access but that some issues raised by owners — including vegetation removal and negotiation of driveway locations — are civil matters for the landowners to resolve. Stephanie said, in part, that “there is an easement there” and that questions about removal of trees and other related disputes would typically be worked out between neighbors or, if unresolved, in civil court.

Commissioners asked questions about shared driveways and access points on County Road 30 and whether the highway department had reviewed proposed access locations; Pence said staff worked with the highway planner on access points and that the highway authority controls final driveway permits. Several commissioners and members of the public discussed whether proposed marketing of lots with the shown access had occurred before final approvals.

Commissioner Corning initially moved to approve the preliminary plat; after public comment and discussion the motion was withdrawn. The chair then announced a procedural postponement, saying, “As a chair, I'm gonna pull this and move it to the meeting on the 20 fourth for our agenda, for consideration at that time. In the meantime, have conversations, see if we can't work these issues out.” The board did not take a final vote on the plat at the meeting.

The planning commission’s findings of fact and the title commitment are included in the county packet. County staff advised the board that the planning commission recommended approval based on the submitted materials and that staff concurred, but staff also emphasized that certain disputes over vegetation and the scope of easement rights are outside the county’s plat-determination role and are generally civil in nature.