the uh planning and zoning meeting to order. First uh order of business is uh approval of the meeting minutes from last month. I'd move approval. >> You move to approve. Do we have a second? >> A second.
>> Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I hearing none. Unanimous. Meeting's approved. Move on to the first order of business. staff. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first item on
the only item on the planning commission agenda tonight is the conditional use permit submitted by Martha Williams. Dana, I don't know. Wait, turn it on. >> Oh, yeah. Turn on. >> There we go. All right. Uh, so this is a conditional use permit for a home
business at 1545 East Highway 61 zone single family residential within the Northshore Management Zone. The applicant's property includes 70 acres. The parcels entirely within the single family residential zone district. The home business activity is a listed
conditional use in the R1 zone district and the properties within the Northshore Management Zone. The applicant proposes to use an accessory structure on the property to offer yoga classes year round. The frequency is anticipated to be up to 14 classes per week, 90minute hot yoga classes with eight people per
class. In your packets on the bottom of page one is figure one, a stu the studio where yoga classes are proposed to be operated out of. For zoning considerations, as a reminder, a conditional use is an activity or use that would not be appropriate if allowed outright in any
number, but which if controlled as to the number, location, and activity could be consistent with the comprehensive plan and not be injurous to the public health, safety, or general welfare. The review of each proposed use must determine that it will or will not be compatible with the standards of a zoning ordinance, and if it is found to
be, must attach conditions to ensure this continued compatibility. This property is located within the Northshore Management Zone Shorland area of Lake Superior in the single family residential R1 zone district. The principal purpose of the single family R1 zone district is to provide for
residential uses at a higher density generally adjacent to or near developed areas, major roadways or other sources of services, multiple residential units, mobile home parks, and limited commercial uses are allowed on a conditional use basis in this district. The single family residential zone
district allows for home business as listed conditional use. Home business is defined in the Cook County zoning ordinance as follows. A commercial or minor industrial business use conducted on the same property on which the owner's home is situated, which may employ no more than five persons who are not residents of the owner's home, which
is consistent with rural residential lifestyle, and which is established and operated under such conditions that the use may not be a nuisance to or otherwise incompatible with the surrounding area. For background, the county tax records indicate uh that this property has a
house, garage, storage, building, and outouse. The application states the current use of the property is permanent residence, which allows for the application to be um meeting that home business definition. The property also has a vacation rental license. The applicant has explained that the short-term rental is operated when the
family lives up the Gunland Trail during an intermittent time periods over the year. for site conditions and considerations. Uh for septic system, the environmental health officer has provided a memo indicating that an outhouse or portaotty should be provided as a condition of the proposed use due to the frequency and
duration of classes. Uh there are no issues with impervious surface coverage primarily because there's no additional structures being proposed. Uh there is no wetlands or slope concerns. For noise, the proposed use shouldn't generate additional noise. For lighting, the application does not indicate there'd be additional lighting. This
could be discussed as to whether the proposed activity intends to add outdoor lighting. For safe access, there is a driveway accessing Highway 61 to the property. The application states there is adequate parking for up to 10 vehicles, two of which are in the garage
and eight that are in the driveway. For public noticing, the application was legally noticed in the Cook County News Herald on February 20th, 2026. 19 letters of notification were sent to adjacent property owners as well as county departments and the Northshore Management Board. We received two
written correspondents uh from the adjoining property owners and a memo provided by the environmental health officer. Ed Plamer of 1534 East Highway 61 identified no issues with the proposal. and William Humans and Andrea Larson of 1544 East Highway 61
identified four issues with concerns uh primarily related to no commercial signage on Highway 61, a septic inspection to determine sizing, parking as depicted on the site sketch, and no overflow parking on Highway 61, and no new buildings or additions relative to the small lot size. Obviously, the
original memos are in your pocket. for staff consideration for facts and findings. Um we've listed some some draft findings for your consideration that might be amended. Number one, the use conforms to the land use or comprehensive plan of the county. The
Cook County land use guide plan states for the east end of the county. Most of the east end of Cook County is undeveloped forested areas or rural lands with low density residential uses. Most economic enterprises are home businesses, home occupations, sustainable farmsteads, and occasional rural industry such as a small-scale
sawmill. There's a commercial goal to provide commercial facilities to meet the needs of residents and visitors with policy number 44 stating home occupations and home businesses are appropriate uses in all zone districts that permit residences. Number two, the use is compatible with the existing neighborhood. The use, this
use is compatible with the existing neighborhood so long as conditions addressing lighting, parking, signage, etc. are met. Number three, the use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding area of uses permitted by right in the zone district. Home business is a listed conditional use in
the R1 zone district and the location and character of the proposed use is considered to be consistent with the desirable pattern of development in the area. The location and character appear to meet the land use guide plan goals. Conditions should be considered to mitigate unintended growth considering the nature of the substandard lot and
limiting areas. Staff recommendation for consideration. The proposed use appears nonp problematic with surrounding land use patterns and zoning so long as parking is provided on site and there is a facility provided for guests to use the restroom approved by the environmental health officer. One comment letter indicates concern with
signage. Cook County has a sign ordinance that grants property owners certain rights to signage on their property. Specifically, section 8.01 allows for a signed permit in the R1 zoned property meeting certain requirements. Note that the illumination of a sign would still require a
conditional use permit. I've included a snapshot of that R1 zone district sign requirements. The planning commission should consider the potential findings listed uh and modify or amend or adopt as they determine appropriate after the public hearing for recommendation of the
Cook County Board of Commissioners. The following conditions could be considered. Number one, the property shall be in compliance with Minnesota Rule 7080 and the Cook County Septic Ordinance. The home business shall be supported with an on-site wastewater treatment for the clients due the frequency, number, and length of stay.
Number two, no parking on Highway 61. Number three, signage must comply with Cook County sign ordinance. And number four, this home business conditional use permit allows for yoga classes up to eight clients per class, no more than 14 classes per week within the existing accessory structure. And number five,
all local, state, and federal regulations must be adhered to. That's all I have, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Are the applicants here? Is there things you would like to offer the board for consideration?
>> I think um well, first of all, thanks for having us. Um and second, uh we do have a history of of uh running a business like this. I don't know if you would like to know that or not, but we ran a yoga studio in Minneapolis for 20 years.
It really um takes a lot of of HVAC knowledge, you know, and planning to run a hot yoga class. It needs to be 105° and 40%
humidity. And we thought long and hard about whether or not we wanted to open a business in Grand Marray and came to the conclusion that we it wouldn't be able to support the the population in Grand Marray won't be able to support um you
know a $250,000 yoga studio. So, we've thought a little bit smaller and tried to do this smarter. Um, and did speak to both of our neighbors who we love very much um who I believed would be the most
um impacted by this and they both agreed and said they thought it was a great idea and um so we know this business well. I think that's what I'm trying to to inform you
of. And uh we never intended to have a sign and won't have a website. This is really just about those of us in Cook County already who have had the great benefit of practicing hot yoga to be able to do it for health
reasons. >> So it will be very small. >> Thank you. Um, anyone from the public who would like to address open for public comment? Seeing none, we can close for public comment and discuss amongst the board
here. Um, any uh thoughts as you've looked at both the findings of fact and the uh conditions that staff has offered? >> Um, Mr. I don't I didn't I drove by the
site. I didn't really see any issues. Um fact that they've talked directly to any neighbors makes makes a lot of >> beneficial. >> Yeah. >> I have one question. >> Um it says permanent residence. Is this
one homesteaded? >> Yes. >> I didn't know if you were homesteaded up or homesteaded down. Uh, go ahead. >> That's it. >> I think, yeah, I mean, I think it's a good illustration of the utility of
allowing home businesses. Um, I I appreciate hearing the rationale of, you know, looking at the business prospects of investing in opening a studio and then using what you have. So, it makes a lot of sense to me. >> Yeah, I particularly appreciate that
you've already got quite a bit of experience with the HVAC requirements. um the family member that loves it. So, I've heard about it. Um one of the um conditions put in here is 14 classes a week. Are you you're
comfortable with having this because once this gets passed by the board, you're that's what you're limited to. >> I think for a few years it'll be about six classes a week. >> Okay. 14 is 214 is fine >> would be
>> um I would be very surprised but we thought we would >> talk about the the biggest possible use rather than the smallest use so that if it does grow >> um you know I al I also teach at
Northhouse Folk School. I have two other jobs so um this will not be my primary job. It is mostly so that Eric and I can practice yoga again. >> All right. Um, and then the lighting.
Uh, typically people want to go before work and after work, late season around here, it gets doesn't get light until quite a bit later. Um, so is there a concept of of how you're going to provide lighting for people to walk from
their cars up to the facility? people will need to be very informed about about that this is not um this is not a a yoga studio where they come and they drop in like they're used to in the Twin Cities. Um they'll need to bring a
lot of like mats and towels for themselves um and be informed well ahead of time. So once a month we plan to have an informative class for new people. So, we will not be having drop in people um
because of the lighting. Eric was a member of the Dark Sky Society. We we don't we will not be having outdoor lighting or signage. So, if if they can't see in the dark, they'll have to have a headlamp. That will be sort of one of the things that people know.
>> The reason I ask is we have 1.2 million visitors to this county a year. I can just imagine someone in one of these hotels finding out that you're available >> or a lot of people finding out you're available. >> We will we do not plan on having drop in
classes. No one will um show up who is not very well informed about what is about to happen. >> And there is lighting so that one can see the path to that building you saw from the picture. But there won't be any additional lighting. It's not necessary.
It's the path from the parking lot. You know, it's about from me to you that from the building to where the cars are. So, and there's already lights on the house and that shed has a light, >> but there won't be any new lighting. >> No, no requirement for additional lighting. >> No.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Any uh further discussion on the board? We have a motion in light of staff findings and facts and recommendations. >> I have a motion to approve.
>> Um the I'm bad at that part. >> Uh so we'll help out a little bit. So what we do is we make a motion to approve as stated accepting the findings of fact as provided by staff and concurring with
their recommendations. >> So I make a motion to approve >> conditions re with their recommended conditions. Y >> as stated uh the in in accordance with the staff's findings of fact and
recommendations uh the conditional use permit for uh Eric and Martha Williams. >> Have a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Just wanted to double check that does include the conditions.
>> Yes. We have a second. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any. >> The recommendation is ready for forwarding to the commissioners. >> Unanimous.
>> Unanimous. >> Unanimous. >> I'll bring that to the commissioners at their next action. >> Thanks, guys. >> That's our last item of business. Correct. That's it. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Okay, we have a motion to adjurnn.
>> I will second that motion. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> I meeting is closed. Meeting is adjourned. We're >> going to do >> adjustment. See you later. Yep. See you.