Planning commission recommends rezoning of Rush Lake Trail parcel to Rural Residential

The Chisago County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to recommend rezoning a 5.24‑acre parcel at 52153 Rush Lake Trail (PID 06.00248.00) in Nessel Township from Agricultural (AG) District to Rural Residential (RR) District to allow construction of a 32‑by‑60‑foot (1,920 sq ft) storage building, Land Services Coordinator Beth Gervais said. Commissioner John Sutcliffe moved adoption of Resolution No. PC2026‑0101; the motion passed 7‑0.

Gervais told the commission the parcel is currently developed with a single‑family dwelling but is considered substandard in the AG District because its depth is approximately 200 feet, short of the AG minimum depth of 300 feet. She said the AG setbacks consume roughly 185 feet of the lot depth, leaving no reasonable area for the proposed accessory structure, while the RR District’s setback requirements would allow the building to be placed in compliance with county rules. “Variances are considered a ‘last resort,’” Gervais said, and she referenced the county’s “Pyramid of Discretion” when explaining options available to the commission.

Staff reported that the Technical/Plat Review Committee met with property owner Joseph Knutson on Dec. 10, 2025 and identified no technical concerns; the Nessel Town Board considered the request on Dec. 9, 2025 and recommended approval. Knutson attended the hearing but offered no additional testimony; Commissioner Jim McCarthy questioned whether the applicant’s submitted site plan was drawn to scale, and Knutson said he had worked with Environmental Services staff member Cahill and was confident required setbacks would be met.

Commission discussion noted two points of local concern. Commissioner Dave Whitney questioned whether the RR district should be limited by proximity to water because the subject property lies across the road from the adjacent RR zoning; Gervais responded that the county’s stated purpose for the RR District does not require immediate adjacency to a body of water and that RR districts are used generally to provide a transition between lower‑density rural areas and areas more urban in character. Commissioner Chip Yeager asked whether the request constituted spot zoning; staff said it did not because the parcel is immediately adjacent to an existing RR District.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory to the Chisago County Board, which will consider the rezoning request next. Staff also noted the county is arranging for Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership consultants to appear at the Feb. 5, 2026 Planning Commission meeting to discuss potential improvements to the Shoreland Management Ordinance.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the agenda (7‑0), elected Jolene Wille chair for 2026 (7‑0), elected Chris DuBose vice chair (5‑2; Wille, Sutcliffe, DuBose, Yeager, Leivian for DuBose; Whitney and McCarthy for McCarthy), approved the Dec. 4, 2025 minutes (7‑0), accepted materials into the record (7‑0), recommended that the 2025 Commission/Board policy be adopted as 2026 rules of order (7‑0), cancelled a Jan. 15 special work session (7‑0), and adjourned at 7:30 p.m. (7‑0).