PL MINUTES 02191985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-6- 1 The Manager mentioned that there was a history of granting similar variances 2 recently, citing a 10 or 11 foot variance for Ed Brown 's property, as well as the 3 variances granted for the Ruth Smith home and the house next to the Hertog 4 development. However, he cautioned -against using precedents for justifying 5 variances, indicating he perceived each case should be judged on its own merits. 6 7 When Commissioner Hansen wondered if the request should be tabled to enable the 8 petitioner to come back with a new proposal , Commissioner Madden made the following 9 motion for purposes of discussion: 10 11 Motion by Commissioner Madden and seconded .by Commissioner Bjorklund to recommend 12 the Council grant a five foot sideyard total area variance to the City Ordinance 13 requirement for 15 feet to construct a 26 foot garage and room addition to the 14 home of James R. Tjernlund at 3124 Silver Lake Road as he proposes finding that 15 the applicant had indicated he could not add to his 750 square foot home in any 16 other manner because of the steep dropoff of his property to the rear. 17 18 Voting on the motion: 19 20 Aye: Madden, Franzese, Wagner, and Hansen. 21 22 Nay: Bowerman and Bjorklund. 23 24 Motion carried. 25 26 Commissioner Bjorklund reiterated the reasons he would be opposing the motion • 27 before the vote was taken and the applicant asked for permission to address these 28 objections after the vote. When the exchange became personal , the Chair shut 29 off_the_dis6ussion._ 30 31 At 8:40 P.M. , the Chair opened the public hearing to consider the petition from the 32 Mobile Hi-Fi Sound Center, 2550 Kenzie Terrace, for a variance to the Sign Ordinance 33 which would allow display of a 3 X 6 foot "sandwich board" type of sign in front 34 of that establishment during the regular business hours. The total areai.of the 35 proposed free-standing sign would be 36 square feet. 36 37 The notice of hearing was read by the Chair and no one present reported failure to 38 receive the notice or objected to its content. Mr. Childs reported receiving no 39 calls either for or against the request. 40 41 In his February 19th memorandum, the Manager had indicated that the applicants 42 had been advised that staff would be recommending denial of the request because 43 approval would not be in keeping with the intent of the City Ordinance and would 44 pose long term enforcement problems for staff as do the similar signs permitted 45 gasoline stations and for open houses. He had also mentioned that the business 46 already had identification on the southeast side of the building. 47 48 Fred Denn, who, along with Larry Matthes, his partner in the business, had signed 49 the application, was present and reiterated many of his statements on the applica- 50 tion which he perceived justified his having additional signage for his business. 51 Mr. Denn indicated that he believed signage in the front of the building would • 52 increase the business by 50% and would cut down on some of the ."hostility" dis- 5 3 played by some of his customers who have difficulty finding the business. He 54 said many of these customers are "leery of a hole-in-the-wall business" and the 55 business owner contended the shop was almost impossible to find for customers