City Council Resolution 2026-82 (Variance denial - B4 Second Access)CITY OF MONTICELLO
WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2026-82
RESOLUTION DENYING AN APPEAL TO VARIANCE DENIAL FROM THE
MINIMUM LOT FRONTAGE FOR A SECOND ACCESS DRIVE
IN THE B-4, REGIONAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
PID 155-029-002050
WHEREAS, the applicant has submitted a request for a variance from the City's zoning
regulation requiring 125 feet of lot width for each access drive; and
WHEREAS, the applicant's property has approximately 190 linear feet of lot width; and
WHEREAS, the City's zoning ordinance requires 125 feet of lot width for each driveway
access from a public street; and
WHEREAS, the requirements for variance consideration are identified in the City Code,
Section §153.028 (C), which include the following considerations:
1. Whether there are unique conditions on the property that create practical difficulties in
putting the property to what would ordinarily constitute reasonable use;
2. Such conditions may not be solely economic in nature, nor created by the applicant.
3. The variance must not be a use variance, or undermine the purposes of the zoning
ordinance.
4. The variance must not grant a privilege that is denied to others similarly situated, nor
deny privileges commonly granted to others.
5. The variance must result in a use that is consistent with the character of the
neighborhood, and the intent of the zoning ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, acting as the Board of Adjustment and Appeals,
held a public hearing on August 41", 2026, on the application and the applicant and members of
the public were provided the opportunity to present information to the Planning Commission;
and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission denied the request for variance following the
review and hearing, based on findings in their adopted Resolution 2026-37; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all of the comments of the Planning
Commission, the public, and the staff report, which are incorporated by reference into the
resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has found that the property is of adequate size under the
relevant zoning ordinance standards to accommodate reasonable use of the property; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has found no unique conditions that support a finding of
practical difficulties in putting the property to reasonable use under the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has found that while other properties in the zoning district
have more than one driveway access, those parcels often have adequate lot width or predate
the relevant ordinance requirements; and
WHEREAS, the access drives are proposed to provide access to 7th Street, a major
collector roadway with substantial traffic volumes and existing turning conflicts; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has found that additional driveway access points beyond the
minimum number required have the potential to exacerbate traffic conflicts and endanger
traffic safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Monticello has reviewed the applicant appeal
dated August 5, 2026 and makes the following Findings of Fact in relation to the denial of the
variance appeal:
1. The subject property meets or exceeds all dimensional requirements of the applicable 13-
4 zoning district.
2. The subject property does not appear to have any unique or special conditions that
create practical difficulties in putting the property to a reasonable use under the
requirements of the B-4 zoning district.
3. Unique conditions that create practical difficulties in putting the property to reasonable
use are a requirement of the City's consideration of variances from the generally
applicable zoning regulations.
4. While other nearby parcels have multiple access drives, they are each examples of
development that predate the applicable limitation on driveway spacing and lot width,
or have adequate lot width to meet the standard without variance.
5. The subject property fronts on 7th Street, and major collector of high traffic volumes and
turning conflicts.
6. Additional turning conflicts beyond the minimum necessary to provide reasonable
access to individual properties, would create new conflicts and endanger traffic safety.
7. The original Conditional Use Permit granted in May of 2026 remains in place, and the
property owner can utilize that permit to put the property to reasonable use without
the requested variance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF MONTICELLO, MINNESOTA: that
the City Council of the City of Monticello, Minnesota, hereby denies the appeal of the denial of
variance for a second access drive for the subject property findings herein.
ADOPTED this 24th day of August, 2026 by the City Council of the City of Monticello,
Minnesota.
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Lloyd iSart, ayor
�Wk
+Jenifer Schr er ity Clerk
HEREBY CERTIFY that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution presented to and
adopted by the Municipality of Monticello, County of Wright, State of Minnesota, at a duly
authorized Municipal Council Meeting held in the Municipality of Monticello, Minnesota on the
24th day of August, 2026, as disclosed by the records of said Municipality on file and of record
in the office.
Municipality of Monticello
Jen fifer S h ei r, City Clerk