16-01 Findings of Fact VarianceCITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
FINDINGS OF FACT
AND RECOMMENDATION
VARIANCE
IN RE:
Application of Jeff Helstrom for a variance from the number signs, maximum sign display area
and maximum sign height allowed on property zoned Agricultural Estate (A-2) — Planning Case
2016-01, property address 825 Flying Cloud Drive.
On January 5, 2016, the Chanhassen Planning Commission met at its regularly scheduled
meeting to consider the application of Jeff Helstrom for a variance to the number signs,
maximum sign display area and maximum sign height. The Planning Commission conducted a
public hearing on the proposed variance preceded by published and mailed notice. The Planning
Commission heard testimony from all interested persons wishing to speak and now makes the
following:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The property is currently zoned Agricultural Estate District, A-2.
2. The property is guided in the Land Use Plan for Office and Agriculture.
3. The legal description of the property is shown in the attached Exhibit A.
4. Section 20-1253. Variances.
The city council, upon the recommendation of the planning commission, may grant a
variance from the requirements of this article where it is shown that by reason of topography
or other conditions, strict compliance with the requirements of this article would cause a
hardship; provided that a variance may be granted only if the variance does not adversely
affect the spirit or intent of this article.
The intent of limiting the number, display area and height of signage is to protect the civic
beauty of the city from a landscape that is cluttered with signage. The subject site is currently
allowed adequate signage for a business within the Agricultural Estate District (A-2). The
topography of the site is not a hardship in locating a sign for advertisement of the site and
there are no other conditions that serve as a significant hardship when considering signage on
the site. The proposed sign request significantly exceeds the maximum display area and
height for a monument sign in the A-2 District, and even exceeds the height and display area
requirements for a property in any zoning district within the City. Approving this sign
variance request would disrupt the spirit and intent of Article XXVI, Signs. The site
currently has adequate signage for advertising and an increase in signage would create an
inequitable distribution of advertisement within the area. County Road 61/Flying Cloud
Drive and State Highway 101 corridors are a gateway into the City of Chanhassen. A
proliferation of signage that exceeds the display area, height and amount of signage that is
allowed by city standards would greatly diminish the area's civic beauty by creating a
corridor that is cluttered with signage.
5. The planning report #2016-01 dated January 5, 2016, prepared by Drew Ingvalson, et al, is
incorporated herein.
The Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends denial of a variance request to allow
two signs that exceed the number of signs allowed, display area maximum, and height maximum
for signage in the Agricultural Estate District (A-2) for property located at 825 Flying Cloud
Drive.
ADOPTED by the Chanhassen Planning Commission this 5v' day of January, 2016.
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
BY: (;z
Its Chairman
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EXHIBITA
TheEasthalfoftheSoutheast Quarter (E%2 of SE 1/4) of Section 35, Township 116 North of
Range 23 West, excepting therefrom one half (%2) acre inthe Northeast Corner, being all that part
lying North of the Chaska and Shakopee Road, also the North 26 acres oftheNorthwest Quarter
ofthe Southeast Quarter (N 26 A of NW % of SE 1/) of Section 35, Township 116,Range 23,
containing in all 105.50 acres; also excepting therefrom the following described parcel of
land, to -wit: Commencing atapointin center line East and West of Section 35,Township 116
North, Range 23 West which point bears West 30 rods from the Northeast comer of the
Northwest Quarterofthe Southeast Quarter ofsaid Section 35, thence West 50 rods to the
Quarter post, thence South on the Quarter line 40 rods to the Shakopee Road, thence
Northeasterly along said road to place of beginning situated intheNorthwest Quarter ofthe
Southeast Quarter ofSection 35,Township 116, Range 23 and containing 6 acres of landless the
amount sold to the State ofMinnesota for Trunk Highway purposes; also Excepting therefrom
a parcel of land sold to the State of Minnesota for Trunk Highwaypurposes and described in
that certain Warranty Deed dated January 23, 1924 and filed forrecordin theofficeofthe
Register ofDeeds in and for Carver County, Minnesota onMarch 5, 1924 at 11 o'clock A.M. and
recorded therein inBook 33 of Deeds on page 5; also: Excepting therefrom aparcel of land sold
tothe State ofMinnesota forTrunkHighwaypurposes anddescribed in that certain Warranty
Deed dated January 28, 1924 and filed for record in the office of the Register of Deeds in and
for Carver County, Minnesota on March 5, 1924 at 11 o'clock A.M. and recorded therein inBook
33 ofDeeds onpage6.
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