Morrison County board denies variance for larger lakeshore home and septic at Green Prairie Fish Lake

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on May 12 denied a request from Gerald and Rose Laverne to replace an existing mobile home with a larger dwelling and to place a septic system within wetland setback areas on property bordering Green Prairie Fish Lake.

Amy, a Land Services staff member, laid out the proposal in a staff report: the applicants asked for a footprint of up to 30 by 90 feet (2,700 square feet) for a dwelling with a proposed closest distance of 50 feet from the lake where the county requires 75 feet, and 14.2 feet from a wetland where a 25-foot setback is required. She said the proposed septic would be a type-3, time-dosed box mound system resulting in a 0-foot wetland setback. Amy cited ordinance sections 706.1 and 1103.1 and noted a comment from the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District about historic flooding in the area.

“The dwelling is proposed to be 50 feet from the lake, 75 feet is required, and 14.2 feet from the wetland and a 25 foot setback is required,” Amy said in her presentation. She also warned that if fill is brought in to raise the lowest floor, the permit would require a stormwater-management plan and that stormwater “cannot be directed directly to the wetland.”

Applicants Dave and Sandy Laverne said they have not finalized whether the house would be manufactured, modular or stick-built. Dave Laverne told the board the existing mobile home has not been flooded in recent years, and that the family’s portion of land has become wet over time: “We have not been flooded,” he said, and later added, “we have also lamented at the loss of land … it’s wetland now.”

Neighbors and board members raised concerns about the proposed scale and placement. Board member Clint asked, “Why so much bigger than what it is now?” noting the request would put roughly three times the current building footprint into a small building envelope. Marvin also said the request was large for the site: “You’re asking for a lot for that piece of property right now.”

During public comment, nearby resident Hannah Hollingamp said raising or moving soil on one lot historically floods lower properties on Green Prairie Lane and asked for clarity on how stormwater would be managed. “I would just want reassurance that it’s not gonna flood out the neighbors in this process,” she said.

Board members reviewed the six statutory criteria required for a variance under county ordinance and Minnesota law and reached mixed answers on several findings. After deliberation, board member Clint moved to approve the variance and George seconded. The chair conducted a roll call; each recorded vote was “no,” and the chair announced the variance request was denied. The chair told the applicants the denial was final for tonight and directed them to work with Land Services staff during business hours to address the board’s findings and consider alternative designs.

The board also approved the meeting minutes from April 14, 2026, and adjourned at 7:04 p.m.