June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Board approves changes to guest quarter rules
With approval of this option for homeowners, the county board also voted to opt out of the new state law giving people the option to place a temporary dwelling structure on their property while caring for an ill family member for six months to a year.
Cass commissioners believe the county's approach to offer guest quarters or cabins to homeowners makes more sense, because the homeowner can use it for family or friends, healthy or ill and for an unlimited time.
Until now, Cass has allowed guest quarters or cabins only with a variance. Now that it will be allowed with a standard permit, people will not have to apply for a variance unless they have reason to want a guest house larger than 700 square feet or cannot meet other building site requirements.
Earlier, the board considered making 900 square feet the maximum size, but Minnesota DNR noted state law stipulates a 700-square-foot maximum. Generally, county ordinances are required to be at least as strict as state law.
The county ordinance does require larger lot sizes than the state before guest quarters or cabins are allowed.
Cass' guest quarters or cabins may include a sleeping area, a kitchen area and a bathroom and are connected to the main house on the property. Initially, the planning commission wanted to prevent renting of guest quarters or cabins, but removed any reference to prevent renting in the final draft.
The county board concluded staff would not have a way to monitor rentals if they occur and that Minnesota Department of Health rules might more effectively monitor any rental of these cabins as they do other types of rental units like resorts.
Another issue considered was the possibility of allowing horses to be kept on lots riparian to waterways. In the end, the board left language as it was. It reads: "Domestic animals commonly kept as pets are allowed on all parcels." In other portions of the ordinance, horses are on the list for farm animals.
Environmental Services Director John Ringle reported that department has issued 17 percent more land use building and private sewer system permits the first half of this year, compared with last year or 534 permits in 2016 and 478 in 2015.
Ringle thinks the relatively mild winter contributed to a decrease from 215 applications the first half of 2015 to 87 the first half of 2016 for shoreland alterations. He said there was little ice damage to shorelines this year during the spring melt.
There were 43 variances issued the first half of 2015, compared with 38 this year. There were 11 conditional use permits issued each year the first half. There were no minor subdivisions of land either year and only one plat filed last year-none so far this year.
Commissioners Neal Gaalswyk and Jeff Peterson are serving as a board committee to research a possible board policy on establishing a lake improvement taxing districts if lake associations request it. Recently Norway Lake Association by Pine River inquired about a possible special district.
Rima Smith-Keprios, who oversees the county's aquatic invasive species program, reported to the board she received and paid bills for $102,024.75 through June of the $510,000 budgeted this year to prevent the spread of AIS in Cass lakes. She said some expenses have been incurred, but not billed. The total so far does not include any July bills.
She reported the highest number of violations of state law on cleaning boats of invasive aquatic species have been found at Gull Lake accesses.
Roosevelt Lake in southeastern Cass is the only lake so far this year where a new infestation has been found. There, Eurasian milfoil and curly pondweed was found in two places.
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