Beltrami County environmental staff outline targeted changes to shoreland ordinance
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Summary
Brent Drew of the county’s Environmental Services described a proposed shoreland ordinance update that consolidates the use table, adjusts deck and lot-size definitions, adds standards for resorts, solar collectors and harbors, and proposes longer permit validity.
Brent Drew of Beltrami County Environmental Services presented an overview of a draft update to the county's Shoreland Management Ordinance, explaining that the ordinance (originally adopted in 1992 and last updated in 2006) is overdue for revision and the current draft focuses on clarifying language and deleting unnecessary or confusing standards.
Drew said the update reorganizes the lakes and rivers list alphabetically, consolidates multiple use tables into a single, simpler use table and explicitly calls out certain disallowed uses (for example, airports, salvage yards and industrial uses). The draft adds a catchall that would allow other commercial uses only with planning commission review and a conditional use permit decision.
On specific standards, Drew said the ordinance will change the line between a deck and a patio from roughly one foot (12 inches) to 30 inches to align with building code and railing requirements; raise the minimum lot size for general development lakes (he cited Upper Red Lake as an example where the current 20,000-square-foot minimum is insufficient); and add a 15,000-square-foot minimum for sewered riparian lots where the Minnesota DNR minimum applies (this change accommodates Northern Township’s existing standards).
Drew also described new or revised sections covering setback relief for DNR-permitted harbors (to help parcels constrained by canals), guest-house height increased to a 20-foot minimum from 15 feet, clarified rules for patios and platforms, new standards for solar collectors near lakes, relocation of septic-system standards to the countywide septic (SSTS) ordinance, expanded earthmoving rules and new limits on beach sand blankets with alternative contained sand-play options to reduce erosion.
Drew said the planning commission held a public hearing April 7, made minor revisions and is expected to vote on a recommendation to the county board at its April 28 meeting; the draft will also require Minnesota DNR review and a letter of approval before final adoption. Drew recommended a county public hearing and possible board action in early May.
Commissioners asked several clarifying questions about decks versus patios and permit timelines; Drew said the department plans clearer examples and tables to make standards easier for the public to use.
