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Blue Earth County board denies short-term rental permit at Lake George after neighbor complaints about events and parking
Summary
The county board denied an after‑the‑fact interim use permit for a Lake George property after staff and planning commissioners found repeated parking and event-related rule violations and determined property owners did not act in good faith to address concerns.
Blue Earth County commissioners on Nov. 18 voted to deny an after-the-fact interim use permit for a short-term vacation rental at Lake George after staff and the planning commission recommended denial based on parking, events and repeated rule violations.
Planning staff told the board that photos submitted by neighbors in October showed cars parked in the public right of way on Frankie Dinky Drive and that the property’s online listing had indicated events were allowed. Scott Salisbury of Property & Environmental Resources said staff had worked with the property owners since March 2024, provided the county rules and parking maps, and concluded that the owners had not taken adequate steps to address repeated violations. The planning commission forwarded a 6–1 recommendation of denial to the board.
Why it matters: The denial turns on permit compliance and neighborhood impacts in shoreland areas, where parking, emergency access and allowable uses are common community concerns. Staff emphasized the county’s short-term rental standards prohibit parking in public rights of way and restrict commercial events over occupancy limits.
Applicant Pete Joas and his wife, Jen, said the house is their primary residence and is not an event center. "Our home is not an event center," Pete Joas told the board. Jen Joas said the VRBO listing's event option was corrected after staff identified it and asserted they have worked with county staff to create a parking plan. She also told the board the neighborhood covenants are set to expire Dec. 27.
Neighbors urged denial. Troy Leiferman and Stacy Wassey said the covenants and neighborhood design were intended for private family homes and raised concerns about privacy, traffic, right-of-way parking and loud gatherings visible from the lake. David Coleman told the board he believed the property is held by an LLC and that listings suggested high-price rentals and large groups.
After discussion, a motion to deny PC24-25 was made and seconded; the board passed a resolution denying the permit by voice vote.
Next steps: The board's denial is a final action by the county at this meeting; the transcript records that staff and planning commission findings formed the basis for the resolution.
