Before applying for a Public Hearing all applicants must attend a Development Review Team (DRT) meeting with the Land Services Office. The application and information on these meetings is below.

DRT Information & Dates (PDF)

DRT Application (PDF)

The DRT application and any additional documents can be mailed or emailed

Planning Commission / Board of Adjustment (PC/BOA)

Effective April 1, 2021, the membership of the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment is combined.  The PC/BOA consists of five voting members representing each of the five commissioner districts.  The Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment act as separate boards.

Meetings

• Annual Schedule (PDF)
• Agendas for the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission are available on the Agenda Center page
• Minutes for the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission are available following approval.
  
  Please call the Land Services department at 320-632-0170 to verify times and locations.

Board of Adjustment

This Board has the exclusive power to order the issuance of variances from the terms of any official control, including restrictions placed on non-conforming structures. This board can also hear and decide appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Land Services Department.

What is a variance?

A Variance is a modification or variation of the provisions of the Morrison County Land Use Control Ordinance (PDF) where it is determined by reason of special and unusual circumstances relating to a specific lot, that strict application of the ordinance would cause practical difficulty, or that strict conformity with the provisions of the ordinance would be unreasonable, impractical or unfeasible under the circumstances.

Decisions from the Board of Adjustment must be appealed through District Court action.

Applications

Note:  If your variance is in shoreland zoning you must include a Shoreland Variance Packet (PDF)

After the Fact Variance Application (PDF)

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is an advisory committee to the County Board. 

Their duties and responsibilities include hearing, reviewing and offering recommendations for: 

• Conditional Use Permits
• Interim Use Permits
• Planned Unit Development applications
  
• Rezone applications
• Subdivisions

The Planning Commission is also involved with amendments and changes to the Land Use Control Ordinance (PDF), the Mississippi Headwaters Board Ordinance and the County's Comprehensive Plan (PDF).

Applications