Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is a seven-member group appointed by the County Board of Commissioners (one member is a County Commissioner) who act as an advisory commission to the County Board. Their role is primarily to make recommendations to the County Board of Commissioners on rezoning/zoning map amendments, zoning text amendments and Conditional Use Permits. The Planning Commission is not a final decision-making body. Final decisions are then made by the Waseca County Board, and appeals from those decisions are heard by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Amendments or Rezones:

An amendment may modify the text of the County’s Zoning Ordinance or any of the County’s other official land use controls such as the Land Use Plan, the Feedlot Ordinance, Floodplain Ordinance, Shoreland Ordinance, and Subdivision Ordinance, or it may modify a zoning district designated on the County’s official zoning map. An amendment to a zoning district is called a rezone.

Conditional Use Permits:

There are some land uses that are not permitted in certain districts which may be acceptable if specific conditions are attached to protect the adjacent property owners and the public interest. These uses require a review process. The review process is called a Conditional Use Permit and includes an application processed through the Planning & Zoning Office. The Planning Commission conducts the Public Hearing at their regular meetings. The findings of fact from the Planning Commission are forwarded to the County Board with a recommendation for approval or denial. The County Board may attach conditions to an approval to protect the adjacent property owners and the public interest.

Conditional Use Permits are subject to all applicable requirements of the Waseca County Zoning Ordinance and other pertinent County, State and Federal Regulations.

Information of the creation, powers and duties of the Planning Commission can be found by reviewing Section 7.02 of the Waseca County Unified Development Code.

Application, Review and Decision Procedures:

A. Application: Landowners or their authorized representatives must submit a completed application online by visiting the Permits and Forms section of the Department’s page with all supporting documentation including the below listed. Section 3.07 of the Waseca County Unified Development Code. 

  1.  Proof of ownership and or owner authorization. 
  2.  Legal description of the property
  3.  Survey showing: 
    • Existing structures, proposed additions, proposed structures, and property lines. 
    • Location of existing and/or proposed septic system(s), and well(s). 
    • Distance between the proposed building or addition and centerline of roadway, ordinary high-water mark of lake, river or stream, all property lines, and existing buildings, septic or well. 
  4. Landscaping and or drainage plans
  5. Soil maps 
  6. Narrative describing the request and outlining the circumstances (hardship) which make the request necessary and unique.
  7. The Planning & Zoning Administrator may require additional data to justify the hardship. 

B. Fee: The application fee is $500.00 (non-refundable). The Board of Commissioners may periodically adjust fees. There is also a fee of $46.00, IF a Conditional Use Permit is approved. 

C. Processing: After receipt of a completed application form and fees, the Zoning Administrator will review the documents and will work with the applicant to ensure that all necessary information has been submitted. Staff will draft a report and recommendation and forward it to the Planning Commission to be heard at the next meeting.  

D. Public Hearing and Notices: 

  • Notice of the Public Hearing will also be published in the official County newspaper 10 days before the date of the hearing. 
  • Notice of the Public Hearing will be sent to all affected property owners within a quarter mile, the affected township, and all municipalities within two miles.
  • Public Hearings are held by the Planning Commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The applicant, and any other interested party, will be given an opportunity to speak for or against the proposal. 
  • Public Hearings are conducted both online and in-person on the hearing date. 

E. Decision:  The Planning Commission may either:

  1. Recommend approval of the request with such attached conditions as are necessary to ensure proper development of the property and to protect surrounding areas.
  2. Recommend denial the request.  
  3. Forward the request without recommendation; or  
  4. Table the request pending revision or submittal of additional information. 

F. County Board Decision: The Board of Commissioners will consider the recommendation of the Planning Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting and may:

  1.  Conditionally approve the request subject to terms and conditions specified and made conditions of the approval. 
  2.  Deny the request. 
  3.  Refer the request back to the Planning Commission for further review. 

G. Appeals: If needed, appeals from the decision of the Board of Commissioners are heard by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. 

H. After Approval: If a request (conditional use permit or rezoning) is approved, a certified copy of the approval document shall be filed with the County Recorder.

Note: The Conditional Use permit or rezoning request shall run with the property. Changes in ownership shall not affect it once granted. 

Processing Time: 

Processing times varies from 5-8 weeks from the submittal of a complete application. This depends on the date of application submittal and the date of the Planning Commission meeting. Applications must be completed, submitted with all supporting documentation and the appropriate fees by the application deadline. Visit the Public Hearing Calendar for the application deadlines.

Agenda, Minutes and Packets: 

Agendas and meeting packets are available prior to the meetings: