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CROW WING TOWNSHIP VARIANCE APPLICATION
Please read the variance application in its entirety before submitting the application. Applications must be submitted
30 days before the Planning Commission meeting. The full land use ordinance is available at Town Hall and online at www.njpacoop.org/crowwingtownship.
WHAT IS A VARIANCE?
A variance is a legally permitted deviation from the provisions of the ordinance as deemed necessary by the Planning Commission
when the strict interpretation of the Ordinance would create undue hardship and be impractical because of circumstances related
to lot size, shape, topography or other characteristics of the property. The deviation from the Ordinance, with any attached
conditions, must still be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Ordinance. Variances cannot be given to create a land
use that is not permitted in a zone.
The Planning Commission must consider the following when evaluating a variance application:
1. Is the variance request in harmony with the purposes and intent of the Land Use Ordinance?
2. Is the variance consistent with the Comprehensive Plan?
3. Is the property owner proposing to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the Land Use Ordinance?
4. Is the need for a variance due to circumstances unique to the property and not created by the property owner?
5. Will the issuance of a variance maintain the essential character of the locality?
6. Does the need for a variance involve more than economic considerations?
APPLICATION:
A. Applicant shall complete Variance Application provided by Zoning Administrator and submit to Zoning Administrator 30
days prior to scheduling public hearing.
B. Application shall be accompanied by nine (9) prints of site plan drawing complete with, as a minimum, the information
from Variance Checklist.
C. Application shall be accompanied by application fee made payable to Crow Wing Township. This fee does not cover the
Land Use Permit, which must be filed separately, if necessary.
D. The Planning Commission holds their monthly meeting on the second Monday of the month at 6:00 PM at Town Hall. Meetings
are held as needed, so coordinate with the Zoning Administrator for placement on the agenda.
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
REVIEW:
A. The Zoning Administrator reviews the application for completeness and assigns a reference number to the application,
plans, and any other attachments. The applicant will be notified within ten days if additional information is required to
complete the application.
B. After receipt of a completed Variance Application and supporting documents, the Zoning Administrator shall schedule
a public hearing date on the Planning Commission's agenda for the earliest possible opening. Applicant will be notified by
mail of the date and time of the public hearing.
C. The Zoning Administrator will prepare a Staff Report on the application. The Staff Report will be available for public
review at Town Hall and at www.njpacoop.org/crowwingtownship typically one week prior to the scheduled meeting date.
D. The Township Fee Schedule is based on average processing and review costs for all applications. When costs exceed the
original application fees, the applicant shall reimburse the Township for any additional costs. Such expenses may include,
but are not limited to, payroll, mailing costs, consultant fees and other professional services the Township may need to obtain
in reviewing permits. The Township may withhold final action on any application and/or hold the release of such permits until
all fees are paid.
ACTION:
A. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on the variance application.
B. At the conclusion of the public hearing, and after consideration of the testimony presented, the Planning Commission
shall make a decision on the application. The application can be approved, denied, or tabled in order to gather additional
information.
C. Appeals of the Planning Commission decision are made to the Town Board.
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
CROW WING TOWNSHIP
VARIANCE APPLICATION
Name of Applicant ___________________________________
Property Address (E911#) ____________________________
Mailing Address _____________________________________
(if different than above)
City, State, Zip ______________________________________
Phone ________________ Local Phone ___________________
Email _________________________________________________
Applicant is: Legal Owner ( ) Contract Buyer ( )
Option Holder ( ) Agent ( )
Other ________________________________________________
Title Holder of Property (if other than applicant)
Name _________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________
City, State, Zip ____________________________________
Signature of Owner, authorizing application (required )
______________________________________________________
(By signing the owner is certifying that they have read and understood the instructions accompanying this application.)
Signature of Applicant (if different than owner):
_______________________________________________________
(By signing the applicant is certifying that they have read and understood the instructions accompanying this application.)
Property ID # (15 digit # on Tax Statement)
_______________________________________
Zoning District _______________________________
What are you proposing for the property? State nature of request in detail: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
What changes (if any) are you proposing to make to this site?
Building: ______________________________________________
Landscaping: ___________________________________________
Parking/Signs: _________________________________________
APP # _____________
Date ____________________
Fee _____________________
(for office use only)
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
The applicant should be prepared at the public hearing to explain the unique hardship for the proposed variance. A hardship
is defined as a condition whereby the property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed
by the official controls, the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to his property not created by the landowner,
and the variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. Economic considerations alone shall
not constitute a hardship if reasonable use for the property exists under the terms of the Ordinance. Please complete all
of the following questions:
(1) What are the unique circumstances of the parcel size, shape, topography or other characteristics that make strict
interpretation of the Ordinance impractical?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(2) How is granting this variance consistent with the intent of Crow Wing Township's Land Use or Subdivision Ordinance?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(3) How will reasonable use of the parcel be deprived if the variance is not granted?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(4) What other options, either conforming or non-conforming, have been considered and why were those options not chosen?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(5) Describe the impact on the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity. If there is no impact, explain
why.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(6) Describe character of the area and the existing patterns and uses of development in the area.
How is this proposal consistent with those patterns and uses?
_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
(7) Describe the impact on the capacity of existing or planned community facilities (sewer, drainage, other). Describe
if additional facilities will be required.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(8) Describe the impact on the character of the neighborhood in which the property is located.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(9) Describe the impact to traffic on roads and highways in the vicinity, and expected traffic generated by this application.
Is there adequate parking available to accommodate the proposal?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(10) Discuss any environmental limitations of the site or area.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(11) Please include any other comments pertinent to this request.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
CROW WING TOWNSHIP
VARIANCE CHECKLIST
_____ Completed application, including signature of property owner
_____ Fee
_____ Nine prints of the site plan (11" x 17" maximum size, 8.5" x 11" preferred)
_____ Sewer Compliance Inspection Report (if ISTS)
_____ All current Township charges paid
_____ No outstanding violations
_____ Site plan as close to scale as possible with the following information, as a minimum (unless waived by P&Z Administrator)*:
____ Legal Description of Site
____ Size of parcel and dimensions
____ All existing structures, their square footage, height, distance from all property lines and setbacks (including road,
bluff and lake OHW level) and each other
____ All proposed structures, their square footage, height, distance from all property lines and setbacks (including road,
bluff and lake OHW level) and each other
____ Location on the parcel of existing and proposed sewage treatment systems (ISTS) and wells and their distance from
property lines, structures and each other
____ Existing and/or proposed square footage of the driveway (gravel and paved), access roads, parking, sidewalks
____ Proposed landscaping, screening and drainage plans (required)
____ Location of the subject property (a copy of the tax map can be used)
____ Name of record owner/title holder of property
____ Approximate location of existing and proposed water courses, wooded areas, and other significant physical features
____ Approximate location of any proposed signs
* Under certain circumstances, the Planning Commission may require a professionally prepared property survey, stormwater
management plan, and/or landscaping plan.
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
CROW WING TOWNSHIP CONTACT INFORMATION
Planning and Zoning Administrator:
Justin Burslie
Sourcewell
PO Box 219
Staples, MN 56479
Phone: (218) 895-4151
justin.burslie@sourcewell-mn.gov
REVISED: JANUARY 2020
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