Clay County board approves variance to subdivide lakeside parcel in Barnesville

The Clay County Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance that allows an applicant to subdivide part of a roughly 90-acre lakeside parcel at 27451 South Highway 34 in Barnesville, approving the request with the condition that both resulting parcels pass sewage-system inspections and that any nonconforming systems be reconstructed.

The request, presented by Matt (staff member), asked relief from the county’s 10-acre minimum lot-size requirement for the Special Protection Low Development shoreland overlay so the owners could split about 6 and 12 acres from the larger parcel (parcel ID 28.027.0102). Matt told the board the property contains two residential structures though “only one dwelling is permitted per parcel,” and that the applicants proposed following an established tree line for the new lot boundary and keeping existing solar arrays on their retained property. He told members that Minnesota Department of Transportation would not allow an additional access onto State Highway 34, which influenced the proposed lot layout.

Applicant Laura Elely identified herself on the record and described the history of the buildings and why the couple now seeks to subdivide. “We lived in [the metal building] for 18 years while we built our house,” said applicant Laura Elely. She and John Elie said they now plan to subdivide part of the property to sell as they near retirement.

Board members asked factual questions about the lot-size standards, wetlands and lake depth, and access options. Matt explained that under Clay County’s shoreland overlay the minimum lot size is 10 acres—stricter than typical state shoreland minimums—and that much of the proposed 10-acre lot would include water; he said roughly three to four and a half acres of the proposed lot would be water and thus not count toward the county’s land-area minimum. The board also discussed the requirement that sewage treatment systems be conforming; staff said systems are assumed to be conforming now but that inspections will be required when the property is sold.

After the public hearing closed with no public comments, the board moved through the required findings in the Clay County Land Development Code and the county comprehensive plan and agreed the variance met the criteria (practical difficulty, no significant adverse effect to surrounding properties, minimum necessary relief). Leo moved to approve the variance and Travis seconded; the motion carried. The approval includes the explicit condition that both parcels must pass septic inspections and that any nonconforming sewage treatment systems be reconstructed per county shoreline rules.

Mr. Jacobson (staff) also announced a land‑use training on August 7 in Waite Park for board members, and the chair said the board plans to consider additional in‑house training at a future meeting.