Building activity in county’s rural townships reached record lows in 2009

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The Carlton County Planning and Zoning Office issued a total of 251 zoning permits in 2009, the lowest number since such figures were first recorded by the county in 1972. The trend represents the second year in a row that permit applications for construction in the county’s rural townships fell to unprecedented levels. In 2008, the county issued 311 permits.

In his annual report to the Carlton County Board this week, Planning and Zoning Director Bruce Benson cited that the total cost of construction and improvements in the county related to building activity during 2009 was an estimated $8,427,170.

Of the zoning permits issued in 2009, Benson’s report stated 37 were for new homes (as opposed to 55 in 2008), 47 for home additions, 20 for cabins, four for cabin additions, nine for mobile homes and two were mobile home additions.

On the positive side, the county issued zoning permits for four commercial buildings in 2009, up from just one in 2008.

The balance of the permits issued in 2009 were permits for accessory buildings or additions.

In a year-by-year comparison, Benson’s report showed that Carlton County issued the greatest number of zoning permits in 1977, with 113 issued for houses, 73 for cabins and seven for commercial construction.

Most of the permits for new home construction in 2009 were issued in Barnum, Blackhoof and Twin Lakes townships, with six each. The commercial activity was limited to Wrenshall, Mahtowa, Twin Lakes and Perch Lake townships, with one each. Barnum Township ranked highest in permits for cabin construction, with four.

The county report did not include new construction activity for Thomson Township or the cities of Cloquet, Moose Lake, Barnum, Wrenshall or Cromwell, all of whom issue their own permits.

Tags: carlton county, news, zoning, permits, construction