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02-17-1981 PCM cMINUTES HUTCHINSON PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981 1. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Hutchinson Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Don Erickson at 7:30 P.M. with the following members being present: Ted Beatty, Roland Ebent, Larry Romo and Elsa Young in addition to Chairman Don Erickson. Absent were Bill Backen and Clint Tracy. Also attending were City Administrator Gary Plotz and Acting Building Official Homer Pittman. 2. MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated January 21, 1981 and the special meeting dated January 28, 1981 were unanimously approved on motion by Ted Beatty and seconded by Elsa Young. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR VARIANCE SUBMITTED BY BLOCHER ADVERTISING CO. Chairman Don Erickson opened the hearing at 7:33 P.M. with the reading of publication # 2401 as published in the Hutchinson Leader on Friday, February 6, 1981. Mr. Plotz, City Administrator, pointed out the section on billboards in our zoning ordinance is found on page 104 and parts of its contents are unclear and could be interpreted in different ways. Chairman Erickson asked Mr. Plotz how the City Attorney felt on this matter. Mr. Plotz replied he hadn't heard anything from him but he anticipated that he would have attended tonight. However, he was not present. Mr. Curt Sauer, representing Blocher Adv. Co., explained to the Commiss- ion that several companies have come to them asking for advertising in the Hutchinson area. He went on to say a variance is needed because they want to place a billboard within 480' of a residential property and the ordinance states 500'. Mr. Becker, representing Emma Becker, owner of the property where sign is to be placed, stated he had talked to the neighboring property owner, Mr. Zabel, and he has no objections. Mr. Beatty asked if a permit was necessary from the state since this sign would be on a state highway. Mr. Sauer replied after the city had issued him a permit he would then to the state and request one. The city's are more restrictive than the state's. Acting Building Official, Mr. Homer Pittman, explained two separate sign permits would be necessary, one for each side of the sign. Hutchinson Planning Commission Minutes - Feb. 17, 1981 Page 2 Discussion followed concerning the matter of whether or not vision of motorists might be impaired by the sign. It was determined if the sign were set back far enough it should not have any affect. Mr. Sauer stated they have billboards in both Willmar and St. Cloud and have had no problems. He went on to suggest perhaps they could issue the conditional use permit for a period of one year with re- newal yearly. Mr. Ted Beatty made a motion to close the hearing at 8:18 P.M. Sec- onded by Larry Romo the motion unanimously carried. Mr. Ted Beatty then made a motion to reject the request for a variance on the basis this is a unsafe place for a billboard and the wording in our zoning ordinance is not clearly stated. Due to the fact there was no second, the motion died. Mr. Larry Romo then made a motion to recommend to the City Council to grant the requested variance for one year with a renewal yearly. Sec- onded by Roland Ebent, the motion passed with Elsa Young, Roland Ebent and Larry Romo viting in favor and Ted Beatty being opposed. b) CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SUBMITTED BY BLOCHER ADVERTISING CO. The hearing was opened at 8:20 P.M. by Chairman Don Erickson with the reading of publication # 2400 as published in the Hutchinson Leader on Friday, February 6, 1981. Mr. Plotz reminded the Commission that this is in an IC -1 zone so therefore, the setbacks must be determined by them. Discussion followed and due to the fact the drawing did not show exact measurements of lot area and depth it was determined perhaps the set- backs could be determined by the Building Official and staff. The hearing was then closed at 8:33 P.M. on motion by Ted Beatty and seconded by Elsa Young. The motion carried unanimously. Elsa Young then made a motion to recommend to the City Council the granting of a conditional use permit to the applicant providing it meets with the approval of the Building Official and staffs recommend- ation of setback requirements and that it be renewed yearly after one years time from the completion date. Seconded by Larry Romo, the mot- ion passed with Elsa Young, Don Erickson, Roland Ebent and Larry Romo voting in favor. Ted Beatty was opposed. Hutchinson Planning Commission Minutes - Feb. 17, 1981 Page 3 4. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Ted Beatty, council representative, explained to the Commission that the City Council felt the portion on sidewalks in the Capital Improvement Policy presented by Clarence Simonowicz needed further consideration. Much discussion followed but no decision was arrived at. All felt they needed more time to study it so it will again be discussed at a later date. 5. NEW BUSINESS a) ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chairman Don Erickson opened nominations for chairman. Mr. Roland Ebent made a motion to nominate Don Erickson for chairman. Ted Beatty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Mr. Ted Beatty then made a motion the board cast a unanimous ballot for Don Erickson for chairman. Seconded by Elsa Young, the motion unanimous- ly carried. Chairman Erickson then opened nominations for vice-chairman. Mr. Larry Romo made the motion to nominate Bill Backen for vice-chair- man. Ted Beatty seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Mr. Ted Beatty then made a motion the board cast a unanimous ballot for Bill Backen. Seconded by Elsa Young, the motion carried unani- mously. Chairman Erickson opened nominations for secretary. Mr. Ted Beatty then made the motion to nominate Elsa Young for secretary. Roland Ebent seconded the motion and it unanimously carried. Mr. Beatty then made a motion the Board cast a unanimous ballot for Elsa Young for secretary. Seconded by Roland Ebent, the motion unanimously carried. 6. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 9:23 P.M. on motion by Ted Beatty and seconded by Elsa Young. The motion unanimously carried.