Stearns County board grants variances for garage rebuild, after‑the‑fact decks at Ashview Road cabin

The Stearns County Board of Adjustment on March 13 granted multiple variances for a Lake Louisa property at 12862 Ashview Road, approving an after‑the‑fact request to leave illegal deck additions in place and a variance to allow replacement and modest expansion of an existing nonconforming garage, with a condition that a nearby water‑oriented lean‑to be moved to meet setback requirements before the garage project is completed.

The board voted after staff presented background showing the property is split‑zoned R‑1 in the areas affected, that portions of the site predate current controls, and that a mix of added structures and earlier unauthorized work triggered the application. Staff told the board that the replacement garage would be 18 feet 5 inches to the peak (the existing garage measured about 12.58 feet) and that one water‑oriented accessory (a lean‑to for firewood) sits about 9.7 feet from the side property line and partially within…