Laserfiche WebLink
Chairman and Members of the Board of Adjustments, <br /> This is a request for variance of greenhouse construction at 19215 Tyler Street, <br /> Elk River, MN, 55330. <br /> As a prologue, let us provide some background information to the Board of <br /> Adjustments of activities and conversations conducted prior to our purchase of this <br /> property. <br /> First, we looked at many farms in several counties over a period of two years <br /> before coming across 19215 Tyler. This approximately 7 1/2 acre farm seemed ideal <br /> for us to continue to expand our floriculture and vegetable growing operations. Please <br /> note that we do not conduct on-site sales but contract or cater to Farmers Markets, <br /> Bachmans, Lunds, Twin City Produce, and other off-site firms. At the very end of the <br /> growing season we may have pumpkins and corn shocks for short-term on-site sales. <br /> Next, prior to purchase, our Realtor, Al Cooper of Burnet Realty assured us it <br /> was properly zoned for farm operations since our predecessors ran a truck farm <br /> operation with on-site sales and also boarded horses. Our own conversations with the <br /> IDElk River city offices assured us that this property was zoned for nursery operations. <br /> Based on those conversations we felt assured that our vision of a farm operation was <br /> permitted. We then made the decision to purchase this property. <br /> Therefore, we respectfully request variance based on the following five factors. <br /> 1. Denial of variances would cause bankruptcy since the greenhouse <br /> will become a major revenue producer for the farm. We sold a property after moving <br /> the bulk of our perennial plant stocks in order to gain the financing for this new <br /> purchase. Denial of variances will marginalize the farming operations to a point at <br /> which we may not be able to meet mortgage payments, seed loans, and machinery <br /> payments, in addition to insurance and improvements. <br /> 2. Denial of the greenhouse permit would reduce this farming operation <br /> to normal outdoor season crop times instead of a ten-month floriculture greenhouse <br /> business. Projections of our business plan indicate that 30% of our revenues will be <br /> based on the greenhouse-dependent floriculture business. This 7 1/2 acres, even if <br /> fully cultivated and intensively farmed is not projected to break even without the <br /> • supporting floriculture operation. <br /> 3. This ordinance would deny us, the Petitioners, of rights enjoyed by the <br /> crop and dairy farming neighbor in the immediate vicinity. Two houses away are <br />