Alexandria Township
Alexandria,
Minnesota 56308
Minutes
of the meeting of 5-19-08
A meeting of the Board of Adjustment of
Alexandria Township was held on the 19th Day of May 2008 at the Alexandria
Township Conference Room, 610 Fillmore Street.
ROLL CALL: Members present were Bryon Alstead, Joel
Dahlheimer, Jim Casper and Roger
Thalman. Also present were Deputy Clerk Bonnie
Fulghum and Zoning Administrator Ben Oleson.
Chairman Thalman recessed the
meeting at 6:30 p.m. to open the public hearing on the variances for Wayne
Virkus and Midwest Machinery Co.
Mr. Wayne Virkus is applying for
a variance to construct a 6x6 addition to an existing utility shed to enclose
a new well line. The main issue is that
the original well went bad and a new well needed to be dug. Since there is no basement, the water line
needed to be brought up outside of the home, where it is subject to
freezing. The proposed structure would
prevent freezing of the water line.
Zoning Administrator Oleson
stated that he could not find permits for the deck or shed currently located on
the property. He said that the county
records do not show the existence of the shed; however, it purportedly has been
existing since before 1992.
The board discussed the two
conditions recommended by staff.
Chairman Thalman asked the applicant if he agreed with the
conditions. Mr. Virkus took issue with
condition no. 2 which required a separate variance application to allow for the
continuation of the existing open deck on the northwest side of the cabin and
the stairway on the southwest side of the cabin as well as a survey. Mr. Virkus stated that the lot was surveyed
last year; however, he questioned the reliability of the survey due to the
construction on Hwy 81 and the fact that property/right-of-way boundaries are
yet to be established. He also contends
that he bought the property two years ago in good faith. He had no knowledge that permits had not been
properly applied for.
Alstead, seconded by Dahlheimer,
made a motion to recommend approval of the variance including condition no. 1
of the staff report, omitting condition no. 2.
Roll: Dahlheimer yes, Alstead
yes, Casper yes, Thalman yes. Motion
carried unanimously.
Midwest Machinery Co. was
applying for a variance to install a 30-foot O.A.H. pole sign, replacing the
current sign. The new sign does not meet
right-of-way setbacks, setback restrictions between signs on the same side of
the road or height restrictions. The
applicant is proposing the sign be placed ten (10) feet from the right-of-way
and the proposed height for the bottom of the sign is roughly 18 feet. The zoning administrator said that the
variance is actually in three parts: setback between signs; height
restrictions; and right-of-way setbacks.
His recommendation is to approve the right-of-way setbacks and the
setbacks between signs, but to deny the height restriction.
Midwest Machinerys
representative, Jeremy, said he would
like to propose another option wherein his company would utilize a 25-foot sign
which would be 12 10-5/8 in. from the ground.
He would also be willing to remove the Arctic Cat sign.
Dahlheimer, seconded by Casper,
made a motion to approve the variance with the conditions as outlined in the
staff report, said conditions to allow the installation of a 25-foot sign which
would be at a maximum of 12 10-5/8
from the ground and to require removal of the Arctic Cat sign. Roll:
Dahlheimer yes, Alstead yes, Casper yes, Thalman yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
Respectfully
Submitted.....
Approved this _____ day of________, 2008
_______________________________ ______________________________
Bonnie
Fulghum, Deputy Clerk Roger
Thalman, Chairman