Painting shop and shoreland alterations get go ahead in rural Frazee

Contributed photo
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners. Front row L-R: Bob Lahman (District 4, Vice Chair), Wayne D. Johnson (District 2, Chair), Sean Sullivan (District 5). Back row: Kurt Mortenson (District 3), Dan Bucholz (District 1).

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved a new solar system consisting of 200 panels on Rose Lake on Tuesday, June 24.

A Conditional Use Permit Application was approved for The Mark and Karman Rheault Trust to construct two ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar system, or simply solar PV system,  a power system that converts sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials called photovoltaic cells.

One ground mounted solar system will be residential and will consist of 100 panels. The second ground mounted solar system will be commercial and will consist of 100 panels, according to the Planning Commission report. The proposal will be located on Rose Lake Drive in Hobart Township.

Property Owner Mark Rheault represented the Conditional Use Permit Application. Paula Dosch submitted an email addressing concerns regarding the construction of solar panels. The email addressed concerns about the visibility of solar panels from the lake, residential panels and commercial panels and the eagles that have nested around the area and other wildlife.

The audience was polled with no one speaking for or against the Conditional Use Application, which is required through the Renewable Energy Ordinance (REO), rather than the Shoreland Ordinance. The requirement is necessary for any solar farm with an output of 40 kilowatts. According to Land & Resource Management Director Chris LeClair, this setup will produce up to 80 kilowatts.

The motion passed the planning commission with all members in favor, as it did with the county board.

Commercial Painting

A Conditional Use Permit Application was approved for William and Rebecca Seaberg and Lovin Lake Life LLC to build a commercial painting and pre-finishing shop with a showroom available for viewing by appointment only. 

The recommended approval was presented with one condition: The soil treatment area for the septic system (holding tanks) must be protected with iron posts and snow fence.

The proposal is located on a proposed 2.5 acres located in the southwest corner off 505th St. and 397th Ave., Frazee, in Gorman Township and is within 1,000-feet of Silver Lake.

Shoreland Alterations

A Conditional Use Permit Application regarding an earth moving request for construction of a new single-family dwelling with 4,298.76 cubic yards of shoreland alterations by owners Matthew and Bridget Cullen.

The proposal is located on Lake Seven Rd., Frazee, in Hobart Township, on Scalp Lake.