Two variances denied, two granted: the after-the-fact lot in Tofte fails

The Cook County Board of Adjustment worked through five variance requests on October 14, and the night split cleanly: the two requests that asked the board to bless something already done, or to build close to a lake, went down. The two modest ones went through.

The hardest case was first. Bill Huggins asked the board to approve, after the fact, the creation and sale of a 0.58 acre lot in the Tofte General Commercial district, where the zoning ordinance requires a minimum of one acre (parcel 25-021-4355, file 2026-18V). The board walked the variance criteria one by one, the way it does for every request, and the chair reminded the room how the test works: “if you fail any one of these, the whole thing goes down.” A member moved to deny, adopting the staff findings. Nobody spoke against the denial. The variance failed.

Taylor Pontius, at 5281 West Highway 61, asked for a deck and a 54 square foot addition at a road setback of 126 feet where 130 is required, a difference the hearing established had been checked both ways with a tape measure. The board approved it with the staff’s two conditions, with one member opposed.

Colten Fors asked to add two additions to a non-conforming cabin at 274 East Deeryard Road, 31 feet from the ordinary high water level of Deeryard Lake where 100 feet is required, and to relocate an accessory building. The applicant, who lives in Iowa, took part remotely. The board voted unanimously to deny. Land Services Director Neva Maxwell delivered the result and offered to schedule time to discuss alternatives.

Gina Joyce, of 1488 Croftville Road, asked to tear down and replace a non-conforming garage at up to 23 feet tall and a 30 foot setback where 50 is required. The board approved it, adding one condition of its own to the staff’s list: drainage from the site must be directed toward a suitable vegetated area, to reduce concentrated runoff. “Right now the runoff is going into the garage,” a member noted, to laughter.

The fifth request, Liv Sulerud’s addition at 1473 Gunflint Trail, 39 feet from the Devil Track River, was postponed to the November 12 hearing.

Votes (from the meeting video and packet; formal minutes are published with a later packet)

Bill Huggins, 2026-18V, after-the-fact substandard lot, Tofte: DENIED (no opposition to the denial)
Taylor Pontius, 2026-19V, deck and addition at 126 foot road setback, 5281 W Hwy 61: APPROVED with two conditions (one member opposed)
Colten Fors, 2026-V6, additions at 31 feet from Deeryard Lake, 274 E Deeryard Rd: DENIED unanimously
Gina Joyce, 2026-21V, garage replacement, 1488 Croftville Rd: APPROVED with staff conditions plus a drainage condition
Liv Sulerud, addition at 1473 Gunflint Trail: POSTPONED to November 12, 2026

Spending

None.