Board allows home replacement inside road setback for Prisbella; cites site constraints

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment on June 23 approved a variance for Darren Prisbella to build a new dwelling 28 feet from the road right-of-way where the county requires a 40-foot setback.

Amy, land services staff, presented the request and the site materials: the existing manufactured home (placed in 1995) currently encroaches into the setback and the applicant proposes to remove that unit, build a slab-on-grade replacement in approximately the same location and add an attached garage. Staff noted roughly half the 5-acre parcel is wetland and that the existing well and sewer location, plus nearby wetlands, constrain where a larger dwelling and garage can be located.

Board members who inspected the site said moving the house to meet the full setback would interfere with existing outbuildings and sewer/well placement and could push development closer to wetlands. The county engineer attended the development-review meeting and had county staff stake the right-of-way prior to the hearing; board members said the engineer raised no objection to the proposed location. One board member said removal of an encroaching deck reduces the overall right-of-way impact.

The board answered the finding-of-fact questions in the affirmative and voted to grant the variance by roll-call vote. Staff told Prisbella to proceed with permit applications; the applicant had submitted the permit application and payment, and staff indicated processing would resume once documentation was complete.

Next steps: applicant to complete permit paperwork with Land Services and obtain building permits.