02-12-2008 BA MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS
HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008
Members Present: Chair Stevens, Commissioners Anderson, Austad, Lemke, Scott, Staul and
Westgaard
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Planning Manager Jeremy Barnhart, Senior Planner Sheila Cartney,
Recording Secretary Debbie Huebner
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 6:30 p.m. by Chair Stevens.
Consider February 12. 2008_Board of Adiustments Agenda
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LEMKE TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 12, 2008 BOARD
OF ADJUSTMENTS AGENDA WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGE:
ITEM 3.2. - REQUEST BY PAMELA RORWICK FOR LOT FRONTAGE
VARIANCE, PUBLIC HEARING -CASE NO. V 08-02 -
WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
3.1. Reduest by Loucks Associates for Sign Variance (Sonic Restaurant), Public Hearing -Case
No. V 08-02
Ms. Cartney presented the staff report. She explained that the applicant is requesting two
variances; 1) a variance to the number of wall signs and size, and 2) a variance to the number
of order board signs and size allowed. Ms. Cartney reviewed the details of the requests.
Staff recommends denial of the variance for more than three wall signs, but does
recommend approval of the variance to allow the additional menu boards with the
conditional that that the preview board be 12.47 s. f. or less, and the order board be 21.38 s. f.
or less.
Chair Stevens opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Chair Stevens
closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Westgaard stated he concurred with staff's recommendation. Commissioner
Anderson also concurred, stating that he did not see a reason to start setting a precedent for
allowing the additional wall signs and could not support that variance request.
Commissioner Scott stated he also supported staffs recommendation. Commissioner Staul
stated he felt it was clear the proposed graphics were wall signs, and that there are other
graphic options that could be utilized which would fall outside of the sign ordinance.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD TO DENY THE REQUEST BY LOUCKS
ASSOCIATES FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL WALL SIGNS, BASED ON THE
FINDING THAT THE CURENT SIGN ORDINANCE WILL BE UPHELD.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Commissioner Westgaard stated that the second variance request for the preview board
seems to be consistent with the industry, and he was in favor of supporting the request.
Commissioner Anderson concurred. He felt the preview boards help facilitate faster
ordering time, and that there are other examples of these types of signs in the city.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEMKE AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER AUSTAD TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE REQUEST TO
ALLOW TWO MENU BOARDS AT THE DRIVE-THRU AND AS PROPOSED
NOT EXCEEDING 33.85 SQUARE FET, WITH THE FOLLOWING
CONDITION:
1. THE PREVIEW BOARD SHALL BE 12.47 SQUARE FEET OR LESS AND
THE ORDER BOARD SHALL BE 21.38 SQUARE FEET OR LESS.
MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING.
The meeting of the Elk River Board of Adjustments adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
R,e/s~pec~,t'fu'lly submitted,
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Debbie Huebner
Recording Secretary