Lake of the Woods County Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 P.M. on January 7, 2026 

Ken Horntvedt opened the meeting at 7:00 pm with the following members present: Tim Nordlof, Tom  Mio, Marshall Nelson, Wes Johnson, Ken Horntvedt, Dave Marhula, and Nancy Dunnell. Others present  were Land and Water Planning Director Josh Stromlund.  

Introductions of Board of Adjustments/Planning Commission members took place. Approval of the Agenda: Mio/Marhula. All in favor. 

Election of Chair: Nomination of Ken Horntvedt by Marshall Nelson, seconded by Mio. All in favor. Election of Vice Chair: Nomination of Marshall Nelson by Tom Mio, seconded by Marhula. All in favor. Approval of Meeting Minutes: October 1, 2025 – Motion to approve – Nordlof/Dunnell. All in favor.  Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None.  

Planning Commission – New Business 

– Consideration of Conditional Use Permit #25-06CU by Blue Line Consulting, LLC: The  NW1/4NW1/4, Section Nine (9), Township One Hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range Thirty four (34) West (Chilgren) – Parcel ID#17.09.22.000. Applicant is requesting an amendment to  Conditional Use Permit #22-14CU, to allow an additional structure to operate as a Short-Term  Vacation Rental in a Rural Residential Development (R2) Zoning District. 

David Hahn represented the Blue Line Consulting to discuss the request and answer questions from the  board. The board discussed the information in the application. The board then moved on to the findings of  fact.  

Name of Applicant: Blue Line Consulting Application Number: 25-06IU 

Date: January 7, 2025 

Location/Legal Description: NW¼NW¼ Section 9, Township162N, Range 34W  

Project Proposal: Applicant is requesting an amendment to Conditional Use Permit #22-14CU, to allow  an additional structure to operate as a Short-Term Vacation Rental in a Rural Residential Development  (R2) Zoning District. 

1) Is the project proposal consistent with the Lake of the Woods County Comprehensive Land Use Plan? YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Short-term Vacation Rental. 

2) Is the project proposal consistent with maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare? YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? No Change. 

3) Is the project proposal consistent with the goal of preventing and controlling water pollution, including sedimentation and nutrient loading?  

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not?

4) Will the project proposal not adversely affect the site’s existing topography, drainage features, and vegetative cover?  

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

5) Is the project proposal’s site location reasonable in relation to any floodplain and/or floodway of rivers or tributaries? 

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not?  

6) Has the erosion potential of the site based upon the degree and direction of slope, soil type and existing vegetative cover been adequately addressed for the project proposal? 

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

7) Is the site in harmony with existing and proposed access roads?  

YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? County Road 

8) Is the project proposal compatible with adjacent land uses? 

YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Rural Residential 

9) Does the project proposal have a reasonable need to be in a shoreland location? YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

10) Is the amount of liquid waste to be generated reasonable and the proposed sewage disposal system adequate to accommodate the project proposal? 

YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Per application. 

11) Will the visibility of structures and other facilities as viewed from public waters comply with Section 901 of the Zoning Ordinance?  

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

12) Is the site adequate for water supply and on-site sewage treatment systems? 

YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Per application. 

13) Are the affected public waters suited to and able to safely accommodate the types, uses, and numbers of watercraft that the project proposal will generate. 

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

14) If the project proposal includes above ground or below ground storage tanks for petroleum or other hazardous material that is subject to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements, has a  permit been sought? 

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X )

Why or why not? 

15) Will there be fencing and/or other screening provided to buffer the project proposal from adjacent properties? 

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not? 

16) If signage is associated with the project proposal, has the applicant demonstrated the need for the number and size requested, and minimized the visual appearance as viewed from adjacent properties to the extent  possible?  

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A ( X ) 

Why or why not?  

17) If the project proposal will generate additional traffic to or from the site, has the applicant adequately demonstrated how the additional traffic and parking is to be addressed?  

YES ( X ) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Plenty of on-site parking. 

The specific conditions of approval are as follows: Previous Conditions apply as per 22-14CU – Conditional use permit terminates upon sale or transfer of the property 

– Quiet time from 10pm-5am 

– Must post local contact information in the dwelling 

– Must meet Minnesota Department of Health regulations  

The Lake of the Woods County Planning Commission hereby recommends to the Lake of the  Woods County Board of Commissioners that this proposal be: 

Approved as Presented ( ) Approved with Conditions ( X ) Denied ( ) Motion to approve with conditions by Marhula, seconded by Johnson. All in favor. 

– Consideration of Interim Use Permit #25-09IU by SQ Properties, LLC: Lot 4, Block 2 Rainy River Retreat, Section Twenty-four (24), Township One hundred Sixty-two (162) North, Range  Thirty-two (32) West – Parcel ID# 19.62.02.040. Applicant is requesting an Interim Use Permit  as required by Section 401.B of the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance to operate a  Short-Term Vacation Rental in a Residential Development (R1) Zoning District. 

Name of Applicant: SQ Properties, LLC Application Number: 25-09IU Date: January 7, 2026 Location/Legal Description: Lot 4, Block 2, Rainy River Retreat Parcel Number: 19.62.02.040 

Project Proposal: Applicant is requesting an Interim Use Permit, as required by Sections 1106 of the  Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance, to operate a short-term vacation rental in a Residential  Development (R1) Zoning District. 

Sarah McCarthy attended via conference call to represent SQ Properties LLC and to discuss the request  and answer questions from the board. The board discussed the information in the application. The board  then moved on to the findings of fact.

1) Is the project proposal consistent with the Lake of the Woods County Comprehensive Land Use Plan? YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Growth corridor. 

2) Is the project proposal consistent with maintaining the public health, safety, and welfare? This  includes the following items: 

• Safe drinking water or other approved  alternatives 

• Compliant septic system and sized  accordingly 

• Smoke/carbon monoxide alarms • Fire extinguisher(s) 

• Emergency contact list of numbers • Egress windows 

• Evacuation plan and fire safety protocols 

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Per application. 

3) Is the project proposal compatible with adjacent land uses? 

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Resort area. 

4) Is the site in harmony with existing and proposed access to the property?  

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Pickeral Trail NW. 

5) Will the project proposal increase traffic to and from the site? If so, has the applicant adequately  demonstrated how the increased traffic is to be addressed?  

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? No change. 

6) Has the applicant adequately addressed how parking is to be addressed on the property? YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? On site. 

7) Is fencing and/or screening needed to buffer the project proposal from adjacent properties? YES ( ) NO (X) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? Residential area. 

8) If signage is associated with the project proposal, has the applicant demonstrated the need for the  number and size requested, and minimized the visual appearance as viewed from adjacent properties  to the extent possible?  

YES ( ) NO ( ) N/A (X) 

Why or why not? 

9) What is the maximum number of occupants and is this reasonable for the project proposal’s location? YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? 8 people as per application. 

10) Are the proposed periods of use and operation reasonable in relation to the project proposal’s  location? 

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? As per application.

11) Are the quiet hours reasonable in relation to the project proposal’s location? 

YES (X) NO ( ) N/A ( ) 

Why or why not? As per application. 

The specific conditions of approval are as follows (Check all that are applicable to this request):  

X The interim use permit terminates five (5) years from the date of approval or upon sale  or transfer of the property, whichever occurs first. 

N/A The septic system is sized for the maximum occupancy identified in the application. X The maximum occupancy is limited to the identified number in the application. X The established quiet hours are as identified in the application. 

N/A A valid Certificate of Compliance for the septic system is required. X No on street parking is allowed. 

X If applicable, applicant must meet the Minnesota Department of Health requirements. 

Additional Conditions are as follows: Door in bedroom 2 must not be blocked unless a big enough egress  window is installed. 

The Lake of the Woods County Planning Commission hereby recommends to the Lake of the Woods  County Board of Commissioners that this proposal be: 

Approved as Presented ( ) Approved with Conditions (X) Denied ( ) Motion to approve with conditions by Nelson, seconded by Dunnell. All in favor. 

 January 7, 2026 _____________________________________ Date Ken Horntvedt  Chair, Planning Commission 

This is in accordance with the Lake of the Woods County Zoning Ordinance 

With no further business before the Planning Commission, Mio made a motion to adjourn, seconded by  Marhula. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.