Morrison County Board of Adjustment approves variance for Faber lakeshore addition with conditions

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on June 9 approved a variance allowing Jerry and Bridget Faber to add onto a nonconforming lakeshore structure at 3007 Thoroughfare Dr., Scandia Valley Township, with conditions that include a stormwater plan, restoration of an informal driveway to the boathouse and a septic inspection.

Chairperson Brent Lindgren opened the meeting at 6:47 p.m. and presided over the public hearing for the Fabers’ variance application; Amy Kowalzek, the board’s appointed secretary, entered Section 706 of the Morrison County Land Use Control Ordinance, aerial and lake-view photos, four site photos and staff-report highlights into the record. Staff mailed 114 notices to neighboring property owners and reported no written comments were received before the hearing.

Nor-Son Custom Builders’ representative Amy Dirkes told the board the proposed addition would sit on existing impervious concrete, would not alter the original log portion of the house or rise higher than the existing structure, and that gutters on the new work would face away from the lake. “The addition to the structure is on an area that is already impervious surface of concrete. There would not be any excavation for this,” Dirkes said. Later in questioning Dirkes described limited excavation of about five feet down and noted the patio would be removed.

Board members raised site and environmental concerns. George Sandy asked about the septic system; Kowalzek said a septic inspection would be required if the variance is granted and Bridget Faber said the system had been inspected when they purchased the home in 2025. Sandy and others pressed whether the addition could be located elsewhere on the large lot; Dirkes said other locations risked more runoff toward the lake and that the proposed area is not within the vegetated bluff.

The board also referenced a Development Review Team note that “Shannon from SWCD” recommended removal of the informal driveway to the boathouse. Bridget Faber told the board she would restore that driveway if the condition were imposed. Member Clint Kathrein said stormwater should be directed away from the lake or managed to slow runoff and asked that a stormwater plan be included as a condition.

Lindgren noted the board has historically been reluctant to approve bluff variances but said the site visit indicated the structure would have been built farther back under earlier standards. After discussing conditions, George Sandy moved to approve the variance with conditions; the motion was seconded by Greg Colome and passed unanimously. The board closed the public hearing at 7:29 p.m.

New business included scheduling site viewings for June 18 and, because July 3 is a holiday, proposing July 6. The board also asked that requests for information sent by any member be shared with all members via the portal. The board approved minutes for May 26, 2026, and adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

The variance approval is recorded in the official minutes; the board’s conditions require a septic inspection, a stormwater plan acceptable to staff, and restoration of the informal driveway to the boathouse as discussed during the hearing.