12-05-1983 Special~I
CITY OF RICHFIELD
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
December 5, 1983
7:00. P.M.
The meeting was called to~order by Mayor John Hamilton at 7;05 p.m.
Council present: Bunce, Hassenstab, Kirsch, Ludeman, Priebe and Hamilton
The mayor announced that the purpose of this meeting was to convene a joint
meeting of the Council and Punning Commission to receive and discuss the report
of the Joint City Council/Planning Commission Variance Committee. A packet of
information, including the committee report, had previously been distributed.
Planning Commission Chairman Mark Ahlquist reviewed the purpose of the
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committee -- to examine how variances are considered by the Council and Planning
Commission, the legal basis for the granting of variances, and potential im-
plications of city actions on variance requests.
Committee member Steve Quam presented information concerning the require-
meats of state law and city ordinances, and discussion followed among council
and planning commission members and staff concerning the. legal aspects of
variances. In particular, state law and city ordinance criteria for the
granting of variances and precedents created by granting variances that do not
meet these criteria were discussed.
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Committee member Kirsch presented the committee's recommendations for
procedural changes in the handling of variance requests. These included
• establishing findings of fact for the ordinance criteria and periodic joint,
Council and Planning Commission reviews of the Comprehensive Plan and zoning
ordinance to determine whether changes might be warranted.
Committee member Kirsch outlined the advantages and disadvantages
of alternative procedures to hear variance requests. The Joint City Councill
Planning Commission Variance Committee recommended a separate Board of
Adjustments with a possible provision to permit a decision of the Board to be
appealed to the council.
Special Council Meeting -2- December 5, 1983
Committee member Hassenstab commented on some of the political consideratio
involved in the vaxiance process and in particular, how these affect council
decisions.
A discussion followed concerning the recommendations of the committee.
Mayor Hamilton and Chairman Ahlquist agreed that a further meeting would
be necessary to complete this subject matter.
The next joint meeting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 19,
Iss3.
The meeting was adjourned at 8;35 p.-
Date Approved;
January 9, 1984
Sylv R. Bergh City rk
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