---

BACKUS - Cass County Environmental Services Department has processed fewer permits for new construction, variances, shoreland alterations and land subdivisions this year than last year. Only conditional use permits are up.

Through the third quarter of the year, the number of land use permits for new buildings, private sewer and water services dropped 7.64 percent. There were 733 issued in 2010 and 677 issued this year.

Variances dropped from 89 to 64, a 28.09 percent decline. There were 3.09 percent fewer requests for shoreland alterations, with those permits dropping from 97 to 94.

Minor land subdivisions have declined from four in 2009 to three in 2010 to two through the third quarter of 2011. The department has processed only one new plat each of the last three years.

The department issued 27 conditional use permits during the first three quarters of 2009, 14 in 2010 and 16 this year.

Woodrow Township between Hackensack and Longville, Crooked Lake Township by Outing, Ponto Lake and Powers Townships by Backus and Shingobee Township by Walker each had over 20 new land use permits issued.

Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.[[In-content Ad]]

---