Board allows Strandbergs to retain home separated from dairy farm despite setback shortfall

The Morrison County Board of Adjustment granted a variance allowing Ryan and Catherine Strandberg to retain ownership of a 5‑acre parcel that contains their home even though that parcel, once separated from a tier‑2 dairy farm parcel, places the house roughly 125 feet from the nearest animal holding area — short of the 660‑foot setback required for a nonfeedlot residence.

Amy (Land Services staff) explained the applicants intend to sell the dairy farm and retain their home; the farm sits on a 70.59‑acre parcel and the associated feedlot residence is on a 5‑acre parcel. Staff noted that setbacks are reciprocal and that if the farm operation later changed tier or expanded, additional permitting or variances could be required. Several board members emphasized those future consequences and discussed alternatives (e.g., life estate), but most concluded the board could find the necessary practical difficulty and other findings to allow the variance.

Applicants and a prospective buyer (public commenter Dave Van Hill) described hardship at having to move after many years in the home; the board weighed the long tenure, the applicants’ stated difficulty of moving and the potential impacts on future owners. After deliberation, the board answered the required findings in the affirmative and approved the variance by roll‑call vote.

The board recorded that variances run with the land (not tied to the current owner) and cannot include a sunset; staff noted the potential for future complications if the farm changes hands or expands.