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Morrison County Board of Adjustment approves small deck variance on Fish Trap Lake
Summary
The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on April 14 approved a variance allowing James “Jim” Bedkkey to square off and slightly enlarge a nonconforming lakeside deck at Fish Trap Lake, citing minimal shoreline impact and planned erosion controls; the decision was unanimous.
The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on April 14 approved a variance for James “Jim” Bedkkey to add a 2-by-20-foot infill to an existing nonconforming deck at his Fish Trap Lake property.
Darren, a land services staff member, told the board the parcel is a nonconforming lot (about 100 feet of lake frontage) and that structures on the general development lake must be set back 75 feet from the ordinary high-water level. He said the home was built in 1976, the dwelling sits about 63.8 feet from the lake and the existing lakeside deck about 58.6 feet. The requested infill would square the deck and slightly change impervious area, which the applicant estimated at roughly 0.1 percent of the parcel.
Applicant Jim Bedkkey confirmed Darren’s description, said the 1990 permit referenced in the file did not appear in the title abstract, and said the project will remove deteriorated railroad-tie steps and a small concrete pad and reduce the number of deck footings. “Everything he’s stated is correct,” Bedkkey told the board, later thanking staff: “I found the county staff very helpful throughout the entire process.”
Board members who visited the site described little shoreline erosion and supported the application as minimal and restorative. Board member John said the request was modest: “Forty square feet of added deck … is probably the most reasonable and least invasive application I’ve ever seen,” and other members noted the removal of treated railroad ties and plans for plantings or a rain-garden-style feature to manage runoff.
There was no public testimony. The board answered the six statutory findings in the affirmative and (motioned by Marvin, seconded by George) unanimously approved the variance. The board directed Bedkkey to proceed with permitting through land services and not to undertake work without approval.
The approved variance applies only to the land and runs with the property; the applicant must comply with permitting conditions and any required erosion-control measures before construction begins.
