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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/01/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Board of Zoning Appeals - RegularI/fSt. Louis Park Meeting: City council M I N N E S O T A Meeting date: July 18, 2022 F �cricnce Lffti n +he Flack Consent agenda item: 4i Official minutes Board of Zoning Appeals January 6, 2021 Members Present: Jim Beneke, Imran Dagane, Matt Eckholm, Courtney Erwin, Jessica Kraft, Tom Weber Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Gary Morrison, Jacquelyn Kramer 1. Call to Order— Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of Oct. 21, 2020 Commissioner Weber made a motion, and Commissioner Eckholm seconded, to approve the minutes of Oct. 21, 2020. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. 3. Public Hearings A. Variance to allow more than 10% class 3 architectural materials on building fagades at 1349 and 1357 Pennsylvania Ave. S. Applicant: Patrick Juetten, on behalf of Waypoint Development LLC Case No.: 20 -31 -VAR Jacquelyn Kramer, associate planner, presented the staff report. She pointed out the front brick facades of the existing buildings were painted and did not meet the zoning requirements. The buildings were built in 1962 and the applicant recently painted the facades. The applicant attempted to remove the paint in several areas and got an estimate of $7500 to remove the paint. The applicant is concerned the facade may be damaged in the stripping process and is therefore requesting a variance to retain the painted brick far ade as is. Ms. Kramer added the city council approved the zoning code amendment that reaffirmed painted brick as a class 3 material on October 19, 2020. Ms. Kramer explained staff findings and staff recommends motion to deny the variance request. She noted one email was received in support of the variance which is included in the staff report. Commissioner Weber asked if the entire fagade is painted or only the front of the building. Ms. Kramer stated this variance request refers only to the front of the building which is brick. Commissioner Beneke asked if the variance is denied along with asking for stripping off the paint, if it is a burden, if the applicant can be given an extended timeframe to remove the paint. City council meeting of July 18, 2022 (Item No. 4i) Page 2 Title: Board of Zoning Appeals minutes of January 6, 2021 Ms. Kramer stated there has been no timeframe set. Mr. Morrison stated the applicant would be given until spring to remove the paint if the variance is denied. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. Patrick Juetten, the applicant, stated the biggest concern is the potential damage in removing the paint from the brick. The stripping process involves a heavy-duty chemical process, and he feels the cure may be worse the disease, noting this as the reason for bringing forth the variance. The Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber stated he understands this was not done with malice and was a mistake. However, he noted the council has said one of the goals of the ordinance is to keep the natural look of the brick in place. He added this is what the city would like to preserve, noting the BOZA understands the applicant did not do this with malice. Commissioner Erwin agreed and added the commission will need to address these class 1, 2 and 3 materials going forward and how buildings can be made to look modernized. Chair Kraft agreed and noted since the council did recently update this ordinance, it seems this is the direction they want to see the city go, and that will need to be respected. Commissioner Eckholm stated he is not offended by how the building looks, but this variance request is after the fact and the steps taken were wrong. He added a precedent will be set if this is approved. If this was a variance before the painting had taken place, there is no guarantee it would have been allowed. The process needs to be followed. Commissioner Beneke agreed and worried about setting precedent here. He stated he does not see any compromise that works here. Commissioner Eckholm made a motion, and Commissioner Erwin seconded, to deny the variance to allow more than 10% class 3 architectural materials on building facades at 1349 and 1357 Pennsylvania Ave. S. as presented to the BOZA. The motion to deny the variance passed on a vote of 6-0. The Chair directed staff to prepare the resolution denying the variance for her signature. 5. Other Business - None 6. Communications -None 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:24 p.m.