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Variance Board Meeting City Council Chambers, 2660 Civic Center Drive Minutes - Wednesday, June 04, 2008 1. Call to Order Chair Daniel Boerigter called to order the Variance Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. and reviewed the role and purpose of the Variance Board. 2. Roll Call & Introductions City Planner Thomas Paschke called the Roll. Members Present: Chair Daniel Boerigter and Member Jim Doherty. Staff present: City Planner Thomas Paschke; Associate Planner Bryan Lloyd; and Economic Development Associate Jamie Radel. 3. Approval of Minutes MOTION Member Doherty moved, seconded by Member Boerigter, to approve meeting minutes of April 2, 2008 as presented. Ayes: 2 Nays: 0 Motion carried. 4. Communication from Staff: Brief Discussion of potential changes to the zoning ordinance to broaden “administrative deviations” to zoning requirements (currently known as Setback Permits). Associate Planner Bryan Lloyd sought comment from Commissioners on providing for expanded administrative approval of minor deviations from code requirements, as part of the language revisions for clarity and consistency currently being drafted. Examples of proposed “minor” deviations were discussed, such as defining those impervious surface variance requirements that were routine in nature (i.e., stormwater mitigation), with minimal impact, estimated at less than a total twenty percent (20%) increase. Mr. Lloyd noted that anything over that percentage would still go before the Variance Board as is current practice; and further noted that the administrative approvals would continue to be reviewed by the Development Review Committee (DRC) made up of staff department representatives. Discussion included past examples that would have applied; differences in non-lakefront versus lakefront setback requirement provisions; and calculations of impervious coverage percentages by staff. Chair Boerigter opined that the current process seemed to work well for Variance Board review, and noted that the Board’s schedule was not currently overloaded, recommending that the Variance Board continue approvals for all variance requests. Chair Boerigter also noted that the current process assured that public notice of a hearing for the application was provided and gave neighbors an opportunity to speak to the matter if they felt the need, and allowed for a more transparent process. Commissioner Doherty echoed Chair Boerigter’s observations; and while not opposed to administrative approval, preferred the current process, and recommended caution in considering revising the process. 5. Adjournment Chair Boerigter adjourned the meeting at 5:44 p.m.