Dreckman seeks variance to build storage units at former mink ranch

Rock County Commissioners will consider an ordinance change to include storage units as a conditional use on zoned agricultural land during an Oct. 5 public hearing.
The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ room of the courthouse.
Land Management Director Eric Hartman brought the proposed zoning change to commissioners Sept. 7 as a recommendation from the County Planning Commission.
Hartman said his office received a petition earlier this year from Rich Dreckman of RSD Development, Luverne. 
He requested that the former mink ranch property northeast of Luverne near the Blue Mounds State Park be rezoned from its current A-1 limited ag classification to residential.
At that time, Dreckman proposed building up to six homes on the 10 acres of land. 
However, an onsite investigation of the Vienna Township property revealed the land was not conducive to onsite septic systems.
“That original idea was not going to work, so he withdrew his application for rezoning that property for residential and put forth the request to allow self-storage in an A-1 district,” Hartman said.
On Aug. 30, the zoning commission took up Dreckman’s rezoning request and also suggested adding storage facilities as a conditional use to A-2 general agriculture classified properties.
In the ordinance change, the commission defined self-storage facilities as “a building or group of buildings containing separate, individual and private storage space of varying sizes for lease or rent for varying periods of time.” 
 
Commissioners approve tax abatement
In other business, the commissioners reinstated the veterans’ disability waiver to Alice Hansen’s home on East First Street in Hardwick.
Due to a system error, the property was assessed $628 in property taxes for 2021. Commissioners unanimously abated that amount.
As a widow of a disabled veteran, Hansen is eligible for the program.
A special assessment fee of $42, however, was paid by Hansen and will not be refunded.