Board approves garage variance on Sycamore Road; requires stormwater plan

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment voted Aug. 5 to approve a variance allowing Dawn Bankon (listed in the packet as Don/Bakken) to construct a detached two‑story garage up to the township road right‑of‑way and to exceed the county’s 25 percent lot-coverage standard, provided the property owner submits, receives county approval for, and implements a stormwater management plan.

Land Services staff said the property currently shows about 29.9 percent impervious surface; the applicant proposed a garage that would raise that to about 32.6 percent. Richardson Township submitted a letter of support for the garage and the township has already been consulted about the road location, staff said. Board members raised concerns about drainage and noted that much of the lot is wet and drains toward the road and into a ditch system; they recommended gutters and stormwater mitigation as conditions of approval.

The applicant said the garage is needed for winter vehicle/storage needs and that she would consider rain barrels or routing gutters toward the road. Board members also noted the unusual placement of the township road across part of the parcel, which reduces usable area and increases the effective impervious percentage. After discussion the board approved the variance and recorded a single condition: a stormwater plan must be submitted, reviewed and approved by Morrison County Land Services and then implemented by the property owner. The motion carried by unanimous aye votes.