Planning Commission Minutes 03-13-1984
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
March 13, 1984 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Don Cochran, Richard Carlson, Ed Schaffer.
Members Absent: Jim Ridgeway, Joyce Dowling.
Staff Present: Gary Anderson
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Don Cochran at
7:44 P.M.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held February 14,
1984, and the Special Meeting Held March 8, 1984.
Motion by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Richard Carlson, to approve the
minutes of the February 14, 1984, Planning Commission Meeting.
Motion approved unanimously. Motion by Richard Carlson, seconded
by Ed Schaffer, to approve the minutes of the March 8, 1984,
Special Planning Commission Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
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3. Public Hearing - Variance Request to Allow More Sign Height than
Maximum Sign Height Allowed, Applicant - Stuart Hoglund.
Mrs. Stuart Hoglund was present to propose her husband's request
to allow additional sign height for the proposed sign for the
proposed new 48 unit motel building. Mrs. Hoglund indicated the
need for the additional height to attract motel business to their
proposed motel building. The Hoglund's property for the proposed
48 unit motel falls within 800 feet of the freeway, therefore,
allowing a pylon sign to be constructed. Planning Commission members
questioned as to other signs having been constructed and the sign
height variances that were granted to them. Zoning Administrator
Anderson pointed out Mr. Hoglund was the initial applicant for a
sign variance on the Silver Fox Motel pylon sign, therefore, a
maximum of 60 feet in height, a variance of 28 feet, was granted.
Also there is the freeway Standard pylon sign, which is also a 60
foot maximum height sign. Also Perkins and Americ-Inn sign is
60 foot maximum height. Commission member Don Cochran questioned
the validity of the existing sign ordinance. Zoning Administrator
Anderson countered with the sign ordinance is set up with businesses
along the freeway being at the same height as the freeway only
adjacent to the freeway on a service road. Due to the location
of some existing buildings, for instance McDonalds, Perkins, Country
Kitchen, and having a roadway, County Road 25, which passes over
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Planning Commission Minutes - 3/13/84
the freeway, the location of the businesses are lower
than the existing roadway which goes over the top. This, therefore,
necessitates additional height to attract freeway exposure. Motion
by Richard Carlson, seconded by Ed Schaffer, to grant a 28-foot
variance to the existing 32 feet maximum requirement to a maximum
sign height of 60 feet. Motion carried unanimously.
4.
Public Hearing - Variance Request to Allow More than the Maximum
width for a Driveway Access, Applicant - Pump and Meter Service.
Zoning Administrator Anderson explained on a map the proposed
development of the vacant lot next to the existing Tom Thumb
building. The proposed new access would be located in the southeast
corner of the existing vacant lot. The maximum width of the drive-
way allowed is 24 feet. The applicant is requesting a 16-foot
variance, which would be a 40 foot wide driveway access. The
applicant proposed to use the existing Tom Thumb entrance as also
the entrance for the proposed development on the vacant lot.
Motion by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Richard Carlson, to approve
the driveway access width variance of 16 feet from 24 foot driveway
width to 40 foot driveway width. Motion carried unanimously.
5.
Public Hearing - Conditional Use Request to Allow a Pet Shop in a
B-4 Zon~, Applicant - Joel Erickson.
Joel Erickson, along with his co-partners John and Carolyn Frank,
were present to discuss their plans for a proposed pet shop in the
new Metcalf and Larson building. Mr. Erickson, speaking for the
group, indicated his intentions to sell pets, puppies, kittens,
birds, and small fish, along with the supplies that would go along
with these animals. Mr. Brad Larson, part owner in the Metcalf
and Larson building, was also present and indicated that they have
no problems with Mr. Erickson's request to have the pet shop in
their building. Any potential problems would have to be worked
out between the renter, Mr. Joel Erickson, Carolyn and John Frank,
and the owners of the building, Metcalf and Larson. Planning
Commission members saw no problem with this and that any problems
would deal virtually between the leasee or renter and the owner.
Motion by Richard Carlson, seconded by Ed Schaffer, to approve the
Conditional Use Request to allow a pet shop in a B-4 Zone. Motion
carried unanimously.
6.
public Hearing - Variance Request to Allow a 6'6" Open Porch and a
2' Garage Encroachment into the Front yard Setback, Applicant -
Larry Kohnert.
Zoning Administrator Anderson indicated to Planning Commission members
Mr. Kohnert's request to build a 24' x 26' attached garage to his
existing 24' x 36' split entry home. The proposed attached garage
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would encroach 2 feet into the front yard setback. Mr. Kohnert would
also like to build an open porch onto his existing house. The
supporting post for the porch would encroach 6'6" into the front
yard setback. Zoning Administrator Anderson also indicated to
Planning Commission members that he had received no input or
complaints from any of the concerned residents within the area of
the proposed property. Mr. Kohnert was also present and indicated
his plans to build the attached garage and open porch onto his
house. The reason for encroachment into the front yard setback
would take away the existing row-like effect of the houses, the
houses being built exactly 30 feet from the existing road, which
is the required setback. Motion by Richard Carlson, seconded by
Ed Schaffer, to grant the Variance Request for a 6'6" open porch
encroachment and a 2 foot attached garage encroachment to the front
yard setback. Motion carried unanimously.
7.
Public Hearing - Conditional Use Request to Allow More Than Five,
Including Family's Own Children, in One Foster Home, Applicant -
Michael Dahmen.
Mr. and Mrs. Dahmen were present to discuss with Planning Commission
members a possible Ordinance amendment to allow more than six
children, including family's own children, in an R-l Zone. They
also wanted to ask, as a Conditional Use, that it be allowed in
an R-l Zone. Zoning Administrator Anderson received a few phone
calls from concerned residents in the area; however, no residents
were present at tonight's meeting. Zoning Administrator Anderson
did pass some of the comments on to Mr. and Mrs. Dahmen. Questions
raised were the following: The number of children to be cared for;
they indicated one would be the maximum amount they could have, one
more additional child to their five children of their own, six being
the total number in the household. 2) The age of the child that
they would be taking care of; they indicated the age group would
run from 3 years to 11 years of age. Zoning Administrator asked
them why they went to a private foster care licensing agency rather
than a governmental agency, Wright County Human Services" right
here in Wright County. They answered they went to a private agency
over the Wright County Agency because they could get a child in the
age group which they felt they could handle, age 3 through 11. Wright
county only had available teenage children for foster care. Zoning
Administrator asked them if they fully understood Rule No. 1 in the
State Licensing Guidelines as recommended by the State Department
of Welfare. They countered that they are fully aware of all the
obligations required of them as a license applicant under Rule No.1,
State Department of Welfare Licensing Guideline. Planning Commission
members, seeing no objection to a family taking on foster care of
a foster child, not holding any obligations to them as far as re-
quirements within the zoning Ordinance, motion by Ed schaffer, seconded
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by Richard Carlson, to amend the Ordinance in an R-l Zone to allow
as a Conditional Use foster care or day care to allow more than
five, including family's own children, in one foster care home,
with the following condition: 1) That the applicant follow the
State Department of Welfare's Licensing Guideline in regard to
Rule No.1. Motion carried unanimously. Motion was then
entertained by Richard Carlson, seconded by Ed Schaffer, to approve
the Conditional Use Request to allow more than five children, including
one's own, in a foster care home. Motion carried unanimously.
Additional Information Items
Additional information items were then presented.
Reminder that the next tentative date for the Monticello Planning
Commission Special Meeting will be held on March 26, 1984, at
6:00 P.M. A motion was then entertained from planning Commission
member Richard Carlson, seconded by Ed Schaffer, to approve the
next regularly scheduled Monticello Planning Commission meeting
be on April 10, 1984, at 7:30 P.M.
Motion by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Richard Carlson, to adjourn
the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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Gary ~ ers'on
Zoning Administrator
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