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Planning commission approves setback variance for River Acres Road garage
Summary
The Cottage Grove Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a variance to allow a 2,176 sq ft detached accessory structure at 8077 River Acres Road to sit 10 feet from the corner property line instead of the standard 20 feet, citing lot shape, septic placement and preservation of mature trees.
The Cottage Grove Planning and Zoning Commission on June 22 approved a setback variance (case V2026-016) allowing a new 2,176-square-foot detached accessory structure at 8077 River Acres Road to be sited 10 feet from the corner property line where a 20-foot setback normally applies.
Planner Kelly Becker told the commission the subject property is described in the staff report as an 81-acre lot adjacent to the Mississippi River in the Murka River Neighborhood Overlay District and is zoned R3, low-density residential under the 2040 comprehensive plan. Becker said the applicant proposes replacing an existing 756-square-foot detached garage with the larger structure and expanding a portion of the driveway to align with the proposed garage doors; staff recommended approval subject to the findings and conditions in the staff report.
The applicant’s representative (recorded in the meeting as Mr. Couturia) said the family has a pontoon boat and a small truck camper that they need to store and that there is no attached garage on the home. “We wanted to have that side fit that length,” he said, describing storage needs and noting limited alternative buildable area because of lot shape, septic fields and slope constraints.
Becker and the applicant explained that development standards in the Murka district and the lot’s constrained geometry limited compliant locations for the structure. Staff noted that accessory structures are permitted in the front yard of the Murka district when other bluff and shoreline setbacks apply, and that the city’s combined detached allowance for properties without an attached garage can reach about 2,200 square feet — a threshold the applicant cited when sizing the building.
The chair opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke. In discussion, commissioners said the proposed location backs up against city-owned right-of-way rather than a private neighbor and otherwise meets development standards. Commissioner Britain moved to approve the variance subject to the staff report findings and conditions; Commissioner Madison seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Under the meeting record, staff said the city council is scheduled to act on both items at its meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2025. The commission’s approval will be forwarded to the council for final action.
