HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Adjustment Minutes 04.10.1990 4
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
LAUREL, MONTANA 159044
April 10, 1990
The Board of Adjustments meeting of April 10, 1990, was
brought to order at 7:30 p.m. with the following me~ers
present:
Andy Muri, Chairman
Marvin Carter
Johnny Goodman
Robert Western
Members absent:
Bruce Teeters
Others present:
Joe Bradley, City Attorney
Jim Worthington, City Engineer
Sharon Brown, applicant
File No. 90-01- Sharon Brown, Sierra Seasons
Fee paid, advertised two times in the Laurel Outlook. No protests
received.
Sharon Brown stated that she would like to place a neon sign
above her rental building. She would like to extend the sign
out 2 feet beyond what the Uniform Sign Code allows.
Sharon stated that her reasons for this is to create more
visability for people who are driving by the store. The building
to the East of her has an awning type of structure on the front
and if she places her sign where code says she feels that it
would not be visible to people driving West on Main Street. She
has put $1200.00 into the sign, and now finds out she can't
use it.
She feels she has a hardship because of this and the fact that
the neighbor's awning is in the way.
Jim Worthington states that Mrs. Brown was going to rent the
building next to Joe Bradley where Mouse Trap Computers had
previously been. But, she ended up not renting that building
and rented the building just around the corner. She had already
bought the sign before deciding to rent a building elsewhere.
Jim was unable to OK her sign placement (on the new building)
because it didn't adhere to the Code. So, Jim suggested she
go before the Board of Adjustments for a variance.
Sharon states that if she gets an OK on the variance she would
probably only go 5 feet out, instead of the 6 feet she asked
for, as she thinks she can find some mechanics that would work
at 5 feet.
Joe Bradley states that the City of Laurel adopted the Uniform
Sign Code in 1986. He feels that because signs are allowed in
the Central Business District she is actually not asking for
a variance. He feels that the Board of Adjustment is to act
as a Board of Appeals in this case to determine only if Jim
gave her the correct information as to the sign placement.
That is the limit of the Board's powers tonight.
Joe states that all of the sign's placed along Main Street are
more than likely grandfathered in and that he is sure they don't
meet code. But, that is not the issue. All signs that go in
now have to meet code.
Discussion on criteria to meet to approve the request. Joe goes
through the list.
Cal's letter is read into the record (see attached).
Discussion on the variance requested by Yellowstone Bank in 1988.
Andy Muri feels that there is no hardship on the part of Sierra
Seasons application. He feels it can be placed in the correct
spot and still be seen by the public driving and walking by.
Sharon Brown adds that she has had quite a few people come into
the shop and state that they were unable to find the building
easily. She states that the Wickert Apartment sign obscures
alot of vision.
Jim Worthington states that he has tried to help Mrs. Brown as
much as possible. He has made a few suggestions as to correct
sign placement. He suggested she come'before the Board tonight.
The consensus of the Board is that the sign would be visible if
placed in the correct spot. The suggestion is made that Mrs.
Brown put a neon sign i~ the window to attract customers. Also,
the sign could be placed at a snow-plow.angle and be quite
effective.
Mrs. Brown states that a neon sign is quite expensive and she
feels the snow-plow angle sign wouldn't be visible enough.
Joe Bradley states that because the application does not meet
the seven criteria it should not be'granted.
Motion by Andy Muri, seconded by Bob Western that the
application be denied because it did not meet the 7 criteria.
Motion carried 4-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl/ ' -nd, Secretary
P.O, BOX 10
PHONE: 628-8791
City of Laurel
LAUREL, MONTANA 59044
Board of Adjustment
DEPARTMENT
April 9, 1990
Board of Adjustment
Laurel, Montana
Dear Board Members:
I am returning from a Free Trade Conference of
Senator Baucus's in Great Falls at the time of
your meeting and am unable to attend.
Regarding Petition #90-01: I have reviewed the
site, the statutes, and similar past cases.
do not see where the applicant is suffering other
than an economic hardship brought about by the
purchase of too large a sign.
As in the past, I cannot recommend approval of
such a request unless a specific hardship caused
by the particular site or unique to the particular
site is the reason for the variance request.
The Board reviewed a similar application in 1988,
and for your reference ! have included minutes of
that meeting. In Application #88-06, circumstances
beyond the applicant's control, i.e., eventual
complete loss of the sign, were part of the reason-
ing behind the Board's reoommendation for approval.
Application #90-01 involves a complete new sign for
new business, and Laurel's sign code needs to be
adhered to.
Cai Cumin ~
Planning Director
City of Laurel is an EEO Employer