Board of Adjustment approves setback variance for Andrew Chontos' Volga property

Brookings County's Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on June 4 to approve application 2026VAR008, granting setback variances to property owner Andrew Chontos to add a 10'×16' covered porch and a 17'×17'6" sunroom at 21499 458th Ave (Volga).

The application was considered during the regular meeting of the Brookings County Planning & Zoning Commission acting as the Board of Adjustment. County staff reported the parcel has two front-yard requirements: 150 feet from the center of 458th Ave (Brookings Co. Rd. #11) and 133 feet from the center of 215th St (a Lake Sinai Township dead-end road). The porch was proposed at 138 feet from 458th Ave (a 12-foot variance) and at 62 feet from the center of 215th St (a 71-foot variance); the sunroom was proposed at 96 feet from the center of 215th St (a 37-foot variance). Public notices ran in the Brookings Register (May 19 and 26, 2026) and the Volga Tribune (May 21 and 28, 2026), and letters were sent to adjoining landowners, the Lake Sinai Township chair and clerk, and the Brookings County Highway Department.

Applicant Andrew Chontos told the board the proposed changes would have limited impact because "the variance impact would be little as the township road dead ended in the lake, being lake access so traffic on it was limited." Commissioners and staff confirmed 215th Street is a low-use dead-end primarily serving local lake access and noted no written comments were received from the township or neighboring landowners.

Commissioner Tim Paulson moved to approve the variance; Commissioner Darrel Kleinjan seconded. The vote was recorded as Kelly VanderWal-aye, Paulson-aye, Storhaug-aye, Kleinjan-aye, DeGroot-aye, Jorenby-aye, Trooien-aye, Ford-aye (8–0). Findings of fact were reviewed and filed. No additional conditions or follow-up actions were recorded at the meeting.