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After‑the‑fact shoreland retaining walls on Murray Lake approved with erosion-control conditions
Summary
A Stearns County property owner who self‑reported construction of two retaining walls in the shore impact zone of Murray Lake received a conditional use permit recommendation after the commission found the work would reduce erosion if mitigated; conditions require riprap at the outlet and removal of collected sediment from the shore impact zone.
The Stearns County Planning Commission on Oct. 16 approved a conditional use permit recommendation for an after‑the‑fact shoreland alteration on Murray Lake after the property owner self‑reported constructing two retaining walls on a steep slope within the shore impact zone.
Nick, Stearns County Environmental Services staff, said the 4.7‑acre parcel (Lot 2, Block 1 of Murray Lake Park) has slopes of 15%–30% in the project area and that the property owner contacted the county this summer to address the work done without a permit. "There are two separate retaining walls that were constructed on the steep slope areas within the impact zone," Nick said. He described the first wall as about 45 feet long and 3½ feet high and the second wall as about 17 feet long and roughly 1 to 1.4 feet high, with a rock weeper area built between the walls to capture stormwater flow.
Staff findings noted that about 20% of the lot is impervious, native shoreline vegetation elsewhere is intact and the septic system is compliant. Staff reported that the work was done by the property owner and not a separate contractor; the property owner, Richard Johnson, told the commission he undertook the work to reduce stormwater runoff and prevent loss of topsoil and that he regretted not obtaining a permit before beginning the work: "There was an oversight on my part ... I said let's go do it. And by the time I got started, I realized I should have went to St. Cloud and gotten the permit," Johnson said.
Staff recommended two conditions if the permit is approved: 1) place larger rock riprap at the outlet of the rock weeper to prevent scouring and movement of material into the lake, and 2) any sediment collected at the outlet or within the project area cannot be deposited elsewhere in the shore impact zone but must be removed from the shore impact zone.
Commissioners asked questions about whether the property owner planned any patio or other development in the flattened area between walls; Johnson said the work was designed to contain and disperse stormwater energy, not to create a recreational patio. Commissioners and staff also suggested the property owner consult with the local conservation district about vegetation and long‑term slope stability solutions.
A commissioner moved to approve the after‑the‑fact conditional use permit with the two staff conditions, the motion was seconded and carried. The commission directed that the item be forwarded to the County Board for final approval.
