Stearns County Board of Adjustment denies multiple shoreland and bluff variances, approves one garage setback

At a Stearns County Board of Adjustment meeting, members approved a variance for a road‑setback garage addition for Reed J. Oster but denied three other variance requests that would have allowed construction inside bluff impact zones or closer than the required lake setbacks.

Board Chair (Madam Chair) opened the meeting and the board first considered Reed J. Oster’s application for an attached garage at 13773 County Road 7 in Fairhaven Township. Environmental Services staff reported the property is a half‑acre townsite lot with earlier attached additions; the proposed addition would sit about 81.5 feet from the county road centerline (100 feet required), a roughly 18.5% deviation, and would increase impervious coverage from about 15% to 21%. Reed J. Oster said the addition is “more space in my garage” and an investment. Board members noted neighboring properties have similar encroachments; George moved to grant the variance and the board approved it by voice vote.

Later the board considered three shoreland/bluff requests. For John and Cheryl Faber (Breezeway Shores on Horseshoe Lake), staff said the applicants purchased the lots in April 2024 after a prior home was lost to fire; the proposed 20×32 two‑story walkout dwelling would lie within the bluff impact zone and Horseshoe Lake is listed for mercury and nutrient impairments. Contractor Greg…