1990 08 13BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS MINUTES
AUGUST 13, 1990
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jay Johnson
Willard Johnson
Carol Watson
STAFF PRESENT:
Sharmin A1-Jaff
Paul Krauss'
Willard Johnson opened the meeting.
Variance request for installation of a portable chemical toilet
during the summer seasons on the recreational beach lot located on
Minnewashta Parkway across from Linden Circle Minnewashta Creek
homeowners. Sharmin A1-Jaff presented the staff report. Willard
Johnson opened the public hearing. Nancy Christenson,
representative of the Minnewashta Creek Homeowners Association,
indicated that the Association plans to screen -the portable
bathroom. When they first created this specific beachlot there
were five families living in the neighborhood, today there are 60
families, the majority of which use the beachlot. Minnewashta
Parkway is a busy road. There is a crosswalk but it is always
ignored. She indicated that the toilet can be chained to prevent
tipping. They do not plan on putting it in this year but they are
requesting that approval be granted for next year. They plan on
putting it in starting Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The type of fencing is going to be a redwood fence and Nancy
Christenson indicated that the beachlot~is very well maintained and
they plan on keeping it that way. They do not want to become
offensive to anybody. Willard Johnson indicated that he has
received complaints about City portable toilets at parks that have
an offensive smell. Nancy Christenson indicated that if need be,
they will clean the toilets every day.
Jay Johnson indicated that in the staff report there was an
incident where a toilet was tipped in Minnetonka and whether Paul
Krauss would elaborate on that. Paul Krauss said that Libbs Lake
is located at the far southeast corner of Lake Minnetonka. The
City maintains a beach and one night a vandalism incident took
place where two portable toilets were tipped into the bay. The
bacteria count was very high as a result and they had to close the~
bay for the entire summer season. Paul. Krauss also'indicated that
this might not be the case in Lake Minnewashta. The
characteristics of Lake Minnewashta might be,different than that
bay, but the chance of vandalism is still there..
Jay Johnson wanted to know the difference between City and private
beachlots. He indicated that there is no difference between a City
bathroom and a private bathroom. He said that the City should
start working on an environmental-ordinance. It does not have to
be a part of the zoning ordinance, but that is the direction staff
Board of Adjustments and Appeals Minutes
August 13, 1990
Page 2
should go with creating an environmental ordinance. Paul Krauss
indicated that the difference between a private bathroom on a
beachlot and a City bathroom on a beachlot is the City monitors
portable bathrooms in parkls on a daily basis; and has direct
control over them. In a case where it is a private beachlot, the
City would be faced with a difficult inspection problem. Jay
Johnson recommended that staff take a look at the City as a whole
to see what is a temporary use and how it is monitored such as on
July 4.
Willard Johnson closed the public hearing. Jay Johnson moved to
deny the variance. Carol Watson seconded the motion. All voted in
favor.
Jay Johnson moved to request staff to further investigate portable
bathrooms and create an ordinance pertaining-to portable bathrooms.
Carol Watson seconded the motion. All voted in favor.
Approval of Minutes: Carol Watson moved to approve the minutes
dated July 23, 1990. Willard Johnson seconded the motion. All
voted in favor.
Willard Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting. Jay Johnson seconded
the motion. All voted in favor.