07-10-2007 BA MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS
HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007
Members Present: Chair Stevens, Commissioners Anderson, ,Austad, Scott and Westgaard
Members Absent: Commissioners Lemke and Staul
Sta~f Present: Planning Manager Jeremy Barnhart, Senior Planner Sheila Cartney, Planner
Chris Leeseberg, Recording Secretary Debbie Huebner
1. Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Board of Adjustments
was called to order at 6:48 p.m. by Chair Stevens.
2. i Consider July 10. 2007 Board of Adjustments Agenda
3.
4.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD TO APPROVE THE JULY 10, 2007 BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENTS AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Consider Board of Adjustments Minutes -Minutes were not available.
Consider Request for a Variance by American National Bank for Sign Height. Case No.
V 07-05 -Public Hearin
Planner Chris Leeseberg stated that a 10-foot high sign for American National Bank was
approved in March 2007 as part of their conditional use permit. They axe requesting afive-
foot variance to have the sign height be 15 feet. Staff feels that Criteria #1 and #2 cannot
be met, and therefore, are recommending denial of the request.
Chair Steven opened the public hearing
Robyn Arneson, American National Bank, 17267 Yale Street -Stated that their sign is
not visible when coming from the west, when the parking lot is full. She noted that they host
a large number of meetings at the bank and the parking lot is often full. She distributed
photos of the sign visibility and of other signs in the area.
There being no further public comment, Chair Stevens closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Austad agreed that the visibility from the west is limited.
Commissioner Scott stated that he was inclined to support a 5-foot height variance.
Commissioner Westgaard stated it would be a struggle to approve the request, since the
standards were addressed in the PUD agreement, with a goal of limited the signage. He
stated he would not want to set a precedent for straying from the standards. Chair Stevens
stated he felt the corridor was becoming cluttered and concurred that the PUD standards
were designed to limit signage to a minimum, and he felt the developer of the PUD clearly
understood this. He stated he supported staff s recommendation for denial. Commissioner
Board of Adjustments Minutes
~u~y lo, 200
Page 2
Anderson concurred with Chair Stevens and Cotninissioner Westgaard. He stated the
standards are already in place and he was opposed to changing them now, when there are
still other vacant lots in the development.
Commissioner Austad stated that he understood staffs recommendation, but felt that there
are special circumstances, since there is a huge Pontiac sign blocking view of the bank's sign,
when driving from the west.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO DENY THE VARIANCE REQUEST BY
AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK ,CASE NO. V 07-05, BASED ON THE
FOLLOWING FINDINGS:
1. VARIANCE CRITERIA #1 IS NOT MET, LITERAL ENFORCEMENT
WOULD NOT CAUSE UNDUE HARDSHIP, AS THE APPLICANT DOES
HAVE A SIGN WHICH IS VISIBLE.
2. VARIANCE CRITERIA #2 IS NOT MET, THERE IS NO HARDSHIP THAT
IS CAUSED BY SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
Commissioner Westgaard stated that the applicant should continue to work with staff in
exploring alternatives to achieve their goal.
Adjournment
There being no further business, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD
ADJOURN THE MEETING.
meeting of the Elk River Board of Adjustments adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
fully submitted,
Ott
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Huebner
ng Secretary