County tables Zimmerman winery permits, approves storage permit and adjusts Board of Adjustment membership

Sherburne County commissioners took several land‑use actions: they tabled two items concerning a Zimmerman farm winery until a May 5 date certain because the property lacked a required farm‑winery license; approved a conditional‑use permit for a personal storage structure; and approved an ordinance change to the county zoning code altering membership language for the Board of Adjustment.

Planning staff Mark Schneider told the board the Zimmerman applicants were issued a notice of violation March 10 because they did not hold a farm winery license and requested the board table both an interim use permit for occasional special events and a conditional‑use permit amendment. "They did not have a copy of their farm winery license … the applicant is working with the Department of Public Safety to resolve that issue," Schneider said, and staff recommended tabling the items to May 5 to allow time to clean up documentation.

Commissioners agreed to table both requests to May 5, a date certain, and the board cautioned members and the public to avoid ex parte contacts while the application remains active.

On the conditional‑use amendment the board debated practical conditions such as amplified music limits. Commissioner Felber noted earlier discussions and urged realistic standards: "When we first went through this conditional use permit, I suggested that we needed to add music the first time and we didn't … I think that's also unrealistic," and he recommended setting measurable decibel limits rather than a blanket ban on amplified music.

The board approved a separate conditional‑use permit for a personal storage building with findings and five conditions recommended by the Planning Advisory Commission. The motion to approve was made and seconded on the record and passed by voice vote.

On a broader planning governance issue commissioners considered an amendment to Sherburne County Zoning Ordinance Section 18 to change representation language for the Board of Adjustment from two members of the Planning Advisory Commission to one. Staff and the county attorney noted state law (Minnesota Statute 394.27) requires a Board of Adjustment but only a minimum representation from the planning commission. After debate the board approved revised ordinance language adding the words "at least" (so the code would require at least one Planning Advisory Commission member) and directed staff to review nomination and appointment procedures to encourage more than one planning commission member where feasible, and to add safeguards if a township removes a planning commission member who also served on the Board of Adjustment.

The board recorded motions to table, approvals for the storage permit, and adoption of the ordinance amendment; staff said it will return with wording changes and proposed nomination procedure updates for future consideration.