The Sherburne County Board voted unanimously last week to amend the county’s zoning ordinance regarding accessory buildings.

 

The amendment allows  “personal storage structures” on land that does not already have a home. 

 

“For as long as I’ve been here - 22 years, the rule in our ordinance is you cannot have an accessory building without a primary structure, which would be a home,” said Zoning Administrator Nancy Riddle.

 

Until the amendment was passed last week, it was against the county’s ordinance to have an outbuilding on a lot without a home.

 

Riddle said people have been discussing the issue for years, but until now, there was never an agreement on what type or size of building would be allowed.

 

After a survey was sent to townships for their input, a proposed amendment was brought before the county board in February. But it was tabled and sent back to the planning commission for more discussion.

 

Some of the main issues were where buildings could be allowed and what size should be allowed.

 

Riddle said it’s been a item of contention, especially in developments where someone wants to put up a building. The county has allowed people to build an outbuilding without a house if they get the house permit and the outbuilding permit at the same time. But sometimes it backfires.

 

“There was an outbuilding that did cause quite a bit of an uproar,” she said. “They actually told us they were going to build a house and never did.

 

People get upset in a development when that happens.”

 

In some cases, said Riddle, the building becomes more than just a place to store things. 

 

“A lot of the things we discussed were not getting these buildings too big, because if you don’t have a home there, ultimately, it will probably turn into a business.”

 

That’s one of the reasons the amendment doesn’t allow accessory buildings on platted lots.

 

Commissioner Rachel Leonard said she knows of a case where someone would like to erect a building on a lot in a development that doesn’t have a home on it.

 

Riddle said the property owner can still go before the board of adjustment and try to get a variance.

 

Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said they would review requests on a case by case basis.

 

“The variance process would be the way to go. Then the variance members could see how it lays out,” he said.

 

Under the amendment, a personal storage structure is an accessory structure for non-commercial use that can be permitted as a conditional use in agricultural and general rural districts as the only structure on a parcel.

 

The structure would be limited to 1,200 sq. ft. on a parcel less that 2.5 acres and up to 1,800 sq. ft on parcels 2.5 acres or larger - with a maximum height of 25 feet.

 

No plumbing or floor drains are allowed in the structure.

 

The board approved the amendment.

 

“It give us some opportunities that people didn’t have before,” said Schmiesing. “We’re constantly looking at trying to do things better.”

 

In other zoning activity, the board approved the final plat of Goenners Farm Addition, consisting of an existing residence and farm buildings on a five-acre lot split from 50.83 acres on River Road in Clear Lake Twp.