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Houston County board grants 1,000-foot variance for house near feedlot in Caledonia Township
Summary
The Houston County Board of Adjustment approved a motion to grant a 1,000-foot variance to the county's 1,320-foot feedlot setback requirement after hearing from applicants and one written public comment raising traffic and privacy concerns. The board cited minimizing impact to prime cropland and an existing building site in its findings.
The Houston County Board of Adjustment voted to grant a 1,000-foot variance from the county's required 1,320-foot setback for a dwelling from an existing feedlot, the board said at a joint meeting with planning staff.
Edward Voit, the applicant whose name appears on the filing along with Karen Voit, Kevin Voit and Jessica Kilhoffer, told the board he and his wife have "owned that property for 35 years" and that the plan is now to build east of an existing well after repairs made the well usable. He said the well has "150 ft of casing" and that moving the house site increased the distance from the feedlot by about "90 ft." He also said septic permitting and other approvals remain to be completed.
Staff advised that the application and public notice cover the SE quarter of section 27, Township 102, Range 6 in Caledonia Township and that a hearing on the application will be held in the Houston County Commissioner's room on Feb. 26, 2026. Amelia of the Environmental Services staff read the public notice and the board's written analysis, which recommended that using the existing building site would limit impacts to prime agricultural land.
One written public comment, read aloud by staff, came from Diane Walser, who said the proposed driveway placement near the Welcher driveway on Highway 44 "could create a hazardous situation" given increased traffic and asked that a traffic and safety assessment be conducted prior to approval. The letter also said the proposed house would be "directly across from ours, resulting in a clear and unobstructed view of our front porch and windows," and asked the board to consider privacy and neighborhood character.
Board members reviewed the standard variance criteria in their findings, including harmony with official controls, practical difficulties, and that the request is an area variance rather than a use variance. The board's analysis noted the applicants own more than 60 acres in the area, that the proposed dwelling is a permitted use, and that locating on an existing building site would reduce impacts to prime cropland.
During deliberations members discussed measured distances and whether to word the approval as an exact footage or "approximately" to allow flexibility for final site plans and septic testing. After discussion a motion was made and seconded "to grant a variance of 1,000 ft to meet the required 1,320 ft setback for a dwelling from an existing feedlot." The roll-call vote recorded Ken Anderson, Dean Hoppel, Franklin Han and Dave Klinsky voting in favor; Wayne Runge was not present.
The board did not adopt additional conditions specifically requiring a traffic study or nitrate testing; staff noted septic and access permits would still be required and that state or highway-level permits could apply for access onto Highway 44. Amelia and Jeremy, staff members present during the hearing, told the board that manure-handling at the nearby feedlot includes periodic removal and that some buildings use bedding packs rather than free stalls.
The board thanked the applicants and moved on to scheduling matters before adjourning. The formal public hearing notice gives members of the public until Feb. 17, 2026 to submit comments to the Environmental Services Department or the zoning office to be included in packet materials ahead of the Feb. 26 hearing.
