At its Nov. 20 meeting the Crow Wing County Board of Adjustment approved two separate variance requests for lakeshore and roadside setbacks.

On the Goodrich Lake property at 36855 Bonnie Lakes Road, the board approved a variance to allow a 30‑foot lake setback where 75 feet is ordinarily required for proposed dwelling additions. Staff noted the proposal retains the existing building line and that the addition “is holding the existing building line,” an argument the board accepted before a unanimous vote to approve the variance with conditions.

Later the board considered a multi‑variance request for the Sean Kirkpatrick Trust property at 8421 North Clamshell Lane in Ideal Township. The request included a 4‑foot road right‑of‑way setback where 35 feet is required for an attached garage addition, reduced lake setbacks (63, 50 and 40 feet where 75 are required) for a covered patio, a septic tank and a proposed dwelling, and installation of a new Type‑1 septic system.

Staff noted the township recommended approval and that the county’s shoreland requirement (75 feet) is more restrictive than the state septic standard (50 feet). Chris told the board that the proposed septic tank would meet the state standard and that the new drain field would move the system farther from the lake than the existing layout, likely improving water‑quality risk: “It’s gonna be a new drain field, so it'll be much better for the water quality of the lake as well.”

A neighbor, Michael Valley, asked for clarity about the environmental risk of a drain field at 40 feet versus 50 feet. Staff explained that modern septic design requires three feet of separation to a dry soil layer and that properly constructed systems meeting those separation requirements are intended to treat effluent before it reaches groundwater or surface water.

Both variance motions were moved, seconded and carried by the board. Staff reiterated that permits from Land Services and adherence to the stated conditions are required before construction begins. Board members emphasized that future changes to approved structures would require a new application and approval by the board.

These approvals complete the board’s business for Nov. 20; the county’s Land Services department will oversee permitting and condition compliance.