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BACKUS - New construction in Cass County started out ahead of 2013 in the first quarter of 2014, but has fallen behind during the spring and summer months.

The county issued 694 land use permits for new buildings and sewer systems through September this year, compared with 756 in 2013. That also is below the 754 issued in 2012.

By township, the highest number of new land use permits in the third quarter of 2014 were the 25 issued in Woodrow Township between Hackensack and Longville, with the next highest, the 22 issued in Crooked Lake Township near Outing.

Variances declined from 72 in 2013 to 60 in 2014 through September.

Conditional use permits increased from 13 in 2013 to 21 in 2014. Shoreland alteration permits also increased from 111 in 2013 to 126 in 2014.

There were four requests for minor subdivisions in 2013 third quarter, but have been none in 2014. Last year, two plats were filed, but only one in the third quarter this year.

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