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Board approves variant and conditional-use review pathway for Wingard family dwelling in Whitewater Township
Summary
The Winona County Board of Adjustment approved a variance to allow a new dwelling on class 3 soils on a child parcel of a 262-acre Wingard farm in Whitewater Township; the Planning Commission will separately consider the conditional-use permit for a dwelling on less than 40 acres.
The Winona County Board of Adjustment approved a variance to allow a new dwelling to be sited on class 3 soils on a child parcel of a 262-acre farm owned by Peter and Lisa Wingard in Whitewater Township. The application was noticed as a 3-acre parcel; staff said notice used the smaller acreage for clarity and that the Planning Commission would consider a conditional-use permit for a dwelling on less than 40 acres.
Planning staff (Lou) described the parcel and access from Beaver Ridge Drive, said the proposed building site is on class 3 (silt loam) soils with 6–10% slopes, and noted the selection was intended to minimize conversion of higher-quality soils and avoid steeper slopes and drainage ways to the east. Lou stated the parent farm operates a cattle enterprise (Beaver Ridge beef) and that the Wingards’ son, Lucas, is active on the farm.
Petitioner Lisa Wingard said the family has farmed the property for 35 years and that their son Lucas, who has farmed with them for 10 years, wants to live closer to help with cattle and farm duties. As she told the board, “We would love to see the legacy of our farm continue.” She and staff said the plan is not to convert substantial acreage to lawn and that most land would remain in agricultural production.
Board members discussed the competing goals of preserving agricultural land and supporting farm succession. Several members said family circumstances and the limited size of the parcel supported approval; one member said he would likely vote against a similar request by a non-family purchaser. The board voted to approve the variance as written, adopting staff and county-attorney findings and conditions; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with none opposed. The chair read the standard instructions on appeals to the district court and noted that the Planning Commission will address the conditional-use permit for a dwelling on less than 40 acres at its next meeting.
If the family proceeds, next steps include surveying and recording the child parcel, septic and well permitting, and the conditional-use review and any required building permits.
