Planning commission approves variances, CUPs and plats; tables two lakeshore rebuilds

The Crow Wing County Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment approved multiple land‑use requests on June 18, 2026, while tabling two lakeshore rebuild proposals so applicants could supply additional design and survey information.

The board approved an after‑the‑fact variance for Ryan and Nicole Wensman to legalize a detached garage built closer than the required side setback, with conditions requiring an erosion and sediment control plan and a stormwater management plan to be submitted by Oct. 1 and implemented by Dec. 1, plus board‑added conditions addressing neighbor concerns and runoff. Board member John O said the owner ‘‘proceeded in good faith’’ and argued against penalizing the property owner for an administrative permitting error: ‘‘I don’t think the government can punish a property owner for their own mistake.’’

The commission also approved a lakeshore addition at Young Lake for Salvatore Spacito — a 1,836 sq ft addition with a proposed 123 ft setback where 150 ft is required — after staff confirmed a four‑bedroom type‑one septic design met setback requirements. A second application for a partial second‑story and porch expansion at Lower Whitefish Lake (Ted Jurley) was approved; staff noted the addition does not move the structure closer to the lake and a septic design had been approved.

A conditional use permit was granted to Jake Gilchrist for shore stabilization which authorizes moving approximately 1,246 cubic yards within Shore Impact Zone 1 to correct erosion and an incidental wet area, subject to DNR‑recommended revegetation and protection of the existing ice ridge. The Planning Commission also amended a U‑Haul conditional use permit to allow two additional storage buildings and revised site layout; staff confirmed impervious cover remained under commercial shoreland thresholds. The commission recommended approval to the county board for the Adne Lake Conservancy preliminary plat (two lots) and for a land‑use map amendment to convert a 34‑acre parcel from Agricultural/Forestry to Rural Residential‑10; both are scheduled for county board action July 14.

Votes at a glance • Wensman after‑the‑fact variance — approved (motion carried). Conditions: erosion control plan and stormwater management plan; gutters and neighbor mitigation added by the board. • Schmidz variance (Hanks/Bay Lake) — tabled for applicant to explore moving the rebuild farther from the lake and return with revised plans. • Joan Brand variance (Bay Lake, represented by Dan Carlson) — tabled for septic feasibility and survey clarification (designer documentation requested). • Spacito variance (Young Lake) — approved with standard staff conditions. • Jurley variance (Lower Whitefish Lake) — approved with standard staff conditions. • Gilchrist CUP (shoreline stabilization) — approved with seven conditions including DNR recommendations. • America Real Estate Co. (U‑Haul) CUP amendment — approved with 12 conditions. • Adne Lake Conservancy preliminary plat — recommended to county board (five staff conditions); county board final July 14. • Melanowski land‑use map amendment to RR‑10 — recommended to county board; county board final July 14.

What the board asked for next Board members repeatedly asked applicants for clear septic design documentation where holding tanks were proposed and for plans showing how additions could be moved farther from shorelines. The commission noted it would reconvene applicants after they submit revised surveys, septic designer input or revised siting plans.

The commission closed the meeting after a brief administrative update on July meeting dates and said a county staff review following the Wensman permit identified a single permitting error amid roughly 1,300 permits issued last year.