NEW ULM - The Brown County Planning Commission approved renewing an existing conditional use permit (CUP) Tuesday to continue allowing a private campground next to Mound Creek County Park, west of Comfrey.
The 10-year permit application by Gary and Mary Schenk allows four camping sites in the A-1 Agricultural Protection Zoning District in Stately Township.
Conditions include no access to Mound Creek County Park before or after park closing (sunset to 8 a.m.) or before of after county-established seasonal park opening and closing dates.
Commissioners approved a final plat application for a multi-lot split by Charles and Karen Beranek for an existing homestead to be split into two lots to allow new home construction in Cottonwood Township.
Zoning Administrator Laine Sletta said county subdivision platting of land uses previously defined by the assessor's office should be defined by planning and zoning to help the commission do its job.
"We're finding lot splits we never knew about," Sletta said.
He added that according to legal advice from attorney Scott Anderson, time period limitations for CUPs should only be used for things like gravel pits.
Regarding feedlots, permits would be considered inactive only after feedlots were not used for five consecutive years. Permits would be considered active after four years of inactivity.
Commissioner Brian Tohal said permit timelines were a way for the commission to control violations by pulling permits if conditions were not followed.
"It's a way to keep things in line," Tohal added.
Assistant Zoning Administrator Desiree Hohenstein said a number of county feedlots have not be inspected.
She added that planning and zoning permit application requirements will now include CAD (Computer-Aided Drafting) GIS property images.
The next Planning Commission meeting was set for 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17, 2012.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).