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Stearns County board upholds appeal, finds staff misinterpreted short‑term rental fire‑service requirement
Summary
After testimony from applicants, neighbors and staff, the board concluded documentation existed showing the property had been served by emergency responders and upheld an appeal of a staff denial of a short‑term rental license requirement related to fire‑department serviceability.
The Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Board on a unanimous vote upheld an appeal by property owners seeking the opportunity to apply for a short‑term rental license after staff had denied the owners’ request on the ground that the local fire department did not recommend licensing the property because of access concerns on Lilac Road.
The appeal centered on a single ordinance requirement for short‑term rental licensing: documentation from the local fire department that the property “can be served in the event of an emergency.” County staff had relayed a recommendation from the City of Avon fire chief recommending against approval because of access and winter conditions; the applicants provided records and photos they said documented successful emergency responses to the property over the last 20 years and argued the denial misread the plain…
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