Board grants setback variances to H & B Ag Services for storage building near Highway 14

The Winona County Board of Adjustment granted two setback variances to H & B Ag Services, represented by Greg and Jody Heim and partner Brian Bloom, to allow a new 60-by-120-foot storage building on an existing 2.2-acre agricultural-commercial parcel in Saint Charles Township. The requested setbacks were 100 feet from State Highway 14 (the ordinance requires 130) and 20 feet from the rear property line (the ordinance requires 50 feet).

Planning staff (Eric) described the site as an existing ag-oriented commercial yard with several buildings and truck access via a crushed-rock driveway. The proposal would locate the new building on the western portion of the parcel; the parcel is adjacent to a mix of township and municipal zoning and is near previously permitted adjacent lots. Eric told the board that the township reported no objections and that MnDOT was sent the project materials; MnDOT asked applicants to provide impervious-surface and drainage calculations so the county added a recommended condition to require MnDOT review of stormwater and drainage plans. As Eric said, “Our recommendation has been to support the granting of the variance” with the conditions listed in the staff packet and the MnDOT coordination.

Applicant Greg Heim said the new building would not be closer to Highway 14 than existing structures on the site and that contractors would bring in fill so the building pad would be built up rather than cut into the hillside; he said the intent is to preserve existing drainage patterns. The nearest residential neighbor sits to the south; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.

The board moved to approve the variances and adopt findings and conditions as presented and recited by staff, including the added MnDOT-review condition. The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote with none opposed. The chair read the standard 30-day district-court appeal instructions.