Planning commission recommends approval of after‑the‑fact permit for Copper Road dining area

The Morrison County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of an after‑the‑fact conditional use permit for a dining area created from a converted garage at 7832 Copper Road in Scandia Valley Township.

Vice‑Chairman Marvin Trettel called the hearing to order on May 26, and staff presented the application and supporting materials. Amy Kowalzek, appointed secretary, entered Sections 506.8 and 704.5 of the Morrison County Land Use Control Ordinance into the record along with aerial and oblique photos, a staff report and a note that 79 neighboring property owners were notified and three written comments were received.

Applicant Jeff Garlie told commissioners the structure was intended for seating and seasonal use. "We were going to create a seating patio area but all I could do was replace the garage," he said, adding, "The idea was to always use this area as seating." He said the space has one fixed bench, a mix of round and square tables, a sliding glass customer entrance and a separate staff entrance, and that it is used for dining, parties and small events during warm months.

Commission members focused on public‑health infrastructure and operations. Brent Lindgren asked whether the space has heat and restrooms; Garlie confirmed there is no heating, no kitchen and no restrooms inside the structure. Kowalzek reported that because the building contains no kitchen the Public Health Department's requirements are less strict but that the property's septic system remains unresolved. Kowalzek said the county needed "90 days of measured flow to get the best information" to complete a proper septic design and that prior septic design work had been prepared by people the county considers unqualified.

Commissioners discussed possible conditions tied to the permit recommendation, including requiring measured septic flows, a timeline and deadlines for a septic design and installation, limits on months of operation, and a condition that the dining area not reopen next season if the septic system has not been updated. Applicant Jeff Garlie said he hoped to have the septic completed this summer and indicated he would accept timing conditions.

A motion to recommend approval of the after‑the‑fact conditional use permit with conditions was made by Brent Lindgren and seconded by Clint Kathrein. Voting sheets were polled and the motion passed unanimously. The commission recorded the recommendation and scheduled the application to be heard by the Morrison County Board of Commissioners on June 2, 2026.

The meeting approved May 12 minutes, noted that Grege Colombe will replace member John Kunelius, and adjourned at 6:46 p.m.