Board of Adjustment approves 5-acre split with Type 3 septic where Type 1 not feasible

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on March 18 approved a variance allowing the creation of a 5-acre split and installation of a Type 3 septic system where a standard Type 1 system would not be feasible.

Land Services staff member Amy summarized the staff report at the hearing, saying, “This is a variance request again, to allow the creation and development of a parcel that can't support a type 1 septic system,” and walked the board through aerial photos, a proposed parcel split and site photos included in the application packet.

Nut graf: The board granted the variance after the applicant’s septic designer documented a maximum of 10 inches of separation from the high water table at test borings — below the 12-inch separation typically required for a Type 1 system — and after board members concluded the request met the county’s variance criteria.

Board members and the applicant described the evidence. The applicant’s contractor submitted a letter stating the proposed building site is suitable for a slab-on-grade dwelling, and the applicant documented multiple soil borings. Amy told the board the applicants propose to purchase a 5-acre split from an existing 150-acre parcel and build on that split. She noted there are pockets of wetland on the larger parcel but “not on this proposed split.”

During a site-visit discussion, board members referenced field conditions and the testing: “There was actually 13 documented...boring sites that were tested,” the applicant said, and board members confirmed the site visit included multiple staff members. Board member Marv said he believed the proposal was consistent with the county plan, noting the site had been an old farmstead and that “they did numerous...borings and none of them showed adequate” separation for a Type 1 system.

Following the board’s findings on the standard variance questions — harmony with the ordinance and comprehensive plan, reasonableness of the request, impact on locality character, uniqueness of circumstances and whether hardship was more than economic — a motion to approve the variance was made by Brent and seconded by Marv. The board called for the ayes and the chair announced the variance was approved. Board members who voiced their vote on the record included Marv, Clint and John.

Ending: The staff contact for follow-up was Amy (Land Services); the chair directed the applicants to follow up with staff for any remaining permitting steps.