Resident says he will appeal revocation of CUP fence permit, asks council for published process and legal opinion

At the public-forum portion of the meeting, resident Eric Nouri told the Kasson City Council he intends to appeal the revocation of his and Betty Nouri’s conditional use permit (CUP) for a fence and demanded clearer process and documentation from city staff.

“This board is on notice that Eric Nouri and Betty Nouri, myself, intend to appeal revocation of our CUP fence permit to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals,” he told the council, adding he had been told there is no standard appeal form and that the contents of his appeal were “at my discretion.”

Nouri asked that the appeal hearing be conducted publicly in council chambers, recorded and posted to YouTube, and that his written application and the city’s response be published so the community can see the materials. He asked that the city attorney (identified in the meeting as Melanie) provide a written legal opinion addressing statutory defenses and the applicable standards of review before the board hears the appeal. He also requested remote access to the hearing because he lives out of state and said he would pay the $150 appeal fee to start the process.

Council members did not resolve his request during the meeting; Nouri said he would proceed with the appeal and expected staff to follow the normal statutory and League of Minnesota Cities guidance he cited during his remarks.

The council did not provide a legal opinion during the session; the city attorney and board of adjustments will be the next steps in the appeal process if the Nouri family files formally.