Planning Commission / Board of Adjustment

Meetings

  • Meets for field review tours and public hearings occur on a monthly basis
  • Occasionally, if application volume is high, two tours and hearings are held on succeeding days

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Agendas and Minutes for Planning Commission / Board of Adjustment

Members

Board Member Term: 1 year

  • Jeff Peterson (non-voting, ex officio)
  • Bob Kangas (alternate)

Citizen Term: 3 years

  • Patrick Rafferty, District 1
    Term: January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025
  • Bill Fitch, District 2
    Term: January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2023
  • Mike Froehlig, District 3
    Term: January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2024
  • Retta Freeman, District 4
    Term: January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2024
  • David Hendrickson, District 5
    Term: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025
  • David Tanner, At Large
    Term: September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2025
  • Ken LaPorte, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
    Term: January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2025

Overview

The Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment is comprised of 7 citizen members consisting:

  • 1 from each Commissioner District (5)
  • 1 from the SWCD
  • 1 appointed at large

The duties of the Commission are to:

  • Oversee the preparation of County land use ordinances and plans
  • Review and act upon applications for: 
    • Conditional uses permits
    • Variances
    • Subdivision plat approval
    • Manufactured housing subdivisions
    • Environmental assessments
  • Other matters as directed by the County Board of Commissioners in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 394

A majority of the members must be residents of the portion of the county outside the corporate limits of municipalities. No more than one voting member of the PC/BOA may be an officer or employee of the County. No voting member of the PC/BOA shall have received, during the two years prior to appointment, or during his term of service, any substantial portion of his income from business operations involving the development of land within the county. The County Attorney acts as the legal advisor to the PC/BOA.