2013.08.05 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for August 5, 2013 Page 5 of 6 Denial of Variance for Fence at 6010 146th Street North At its July 25, 2013 meeting, the Board of Zoning considered the request of David Ettesvold for a variance to allow a six-foot high privacy fence in a front yard on property located at 6010 146th Street North, where a maximum of four feet is allowed by ordinance. Staff provided to the Board background and an analysis of the variance approval criteria. Staff's findings were that the variance request did not meet the approval criteria and recommended denial to the Board. No one besides the applicant spoke during the public hearing. The Board agreed that the variance request did not meet the approval criteria and recommended denial of the variance to the City Council. Staff mentioned to the Board that recently several requests have been received to allow fences six feet in height in a portion of the front yard on corner lots. Staff stated that if the Board believes the fence regulations should be reviewed, it should make a recommendation to the City Council to authorize the Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) to review the fence ordinance. The Board thought that the fence ordinance should be reviewed and made a recommendation to the City Council to authorize the ORC to review the fence ordinance. City Planner Rachel Juba presented this to the Council and indicated there were two people who had contacted City Hall who were opposed to the fence. Applicant David Ettesvold explained how he thought his situation was unique because his townhome was a single level home on a corner lot with no backyard. He said Geneva Avenue was heavily traveled and noisy. The fencing would only be on a portion of the lot, and he showed the Council pictures, saying that he did not think there was a line of sight issue. Council Member Weidt stated it does create a line of sight, and it brings down the visual appeal of the neighborhood. The Council generally agreed that the ordinance needed to be studied and perhaps changed. Haas made motion, Bronk seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2013-26 APPROVING A VARIANCE TO ALLOW A SIX-FOOT HIGH PRIVACY FENCE IN A FRONT YARD ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6010 146TH STREET NORTH. Ayes: Bronk, Haas, Petryk Nays: Klein, Weidt Motion carried. Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to direct staff to bring the ordinance to the Ordinance Review Committee to have it reviewed. All Ayes. Motion carried. Yellow Ribbon Network Report Council Member Chuck Haas and Council Member Phil Klein reported to Council on the Yellow Ribbon Network activities held recently. Last Saturday, 658 pounds of wish -list items were packaged and sent to troops in Afghanistan. This was made possible with the proceeds from Hamburger Night. The YRN will be sponsoring a family and providing gifts for the Gold Star Family Weekend. On August 30th, the YRN will be hosting a picnic at the Veterans Camp.