Royalton council approves variance for resident’s oversized shed, asks Planning & Zoning to revise rules

Bruce Kloss, a Royalton resident, received city approval May 20 to build a 32-by-44-foot accessory shed on his 5.2-acre property at 520 7th St SE (property ID 44.0075.003), a structure larger than current zoning rules allow. City Administrator Rian Hofstad reviewed Kloss’s variance request during a special Royalton City Council meeting at the Royalton City Center.

The council opened a public hearing on the variance at 6:35 p.m.; no public comments were received. After the hearing, Councilmember Verley moved to approve the variance and to have the Planning and Zoning commission review the city’s zoning ordinance to add accessory-building sizing provisions tied to lot size. Councilmember Cimenski seconded the motion, which passed with all present voting aye. At roll call the three members present were Lanners, Verley and Cimenski; two members, Weiss-Pesta and Sowada, were absent.

The approved variance permits construction of the 32' x 44' shed on Kloss’s 5.2-acre parcel at the listed address. The council’s motion also explicitly directs the Planning and Zoning commission to consider amending the zoning ordinance to incorporate accessory-building sizing based on lot size, a change that would require review and any future formal ordinance amendment process by the city. The meeting record does not specify revised numerical limits or a timeline for the Planning and Zoning review.

The special meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.; the public hearing opened at 6:35 p.m., closed at 6:41 p.m., and the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m. The official meeting minutes are signed by City Administrator Rian Hofstad.