Sherburne County board grants Jordan Wohlwend 22-foot setback variance for Clear Lake garage

The Sherburne County Board of Adjustment on June 11 approved a 22-foot variance from the cul-de-sac right-of-way at 8251 116th St SE, allowing property owner Jordan Wohlwend to construct a 32-by-40-foot detached garage.

Planning staff told the board the 2.73-acre parcel lies within the Mississippi Recreational River District and is subject to a conservation easement that covers roughly 1.8 acres from the river into the back yard, preventing development toward the river. Staff estimated the property's proposed impervious coverage at about 7 percent (the shoreland limit is 25 percent). The applicant's septic system is about 27 feet southwest of the planned accessory building.

"It can't go towards the river because of the conservation easement," applicant Jordan Wohlwend said, explaining the garage placement was constrained by the easement, the septic location and a retaining wall on the east side of the house. Board members also confirmed the garage will be stick-built, that a permitted second driveway already exists, and that the driveway will remain class 5 during construction.

Board member Bud Stimmler moved to approve the variance with two conditions: the applicant must obtain a permit and pay associated fees, and the variance is only valid if acted on within one year. Boaz Erickson seconded. The board answered each Findings of Fact question affirmatively, citing the cul-de-sac and conservation easement as exceptional circumstances and concluding the variance would not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. The motion carried unanimously.

The approved variance allows the applicant to proceed to the building-permit stage; staff will enforce the conditions and ensure the project meets applicable septic and shoreland rules before final inspections.