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Chisago City adopts Ordinance 333 to revise variance procedures and add appeals board
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 333 updating Chapters 2 and 3 of the zoning code to clarify variance criteria, add a Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and provide templates and guidance for findings; Planning Commission recommended approval with no public comment.
The Chisago City Council on Oct. 28 adopted Ordinance 333, a set of amendments to the city's Zoning Code intended to streamline variance procedures and add a Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
Associate Planner Leah Nelson told the council that the city retained Flaherty & Hood to review land-use processes after the prior city attorney left; the firm and staff identified redundancy in variance findings and a lack of a clear appeal process. The proposed changes update application procedures, add an appeals board, provide a variance-recording cover page, and include templates and guidance for drafting findings. The Planning Commission held a public hearing Oct. 2 and recommended approval; no public comment was recorded.
Council member Craig Meyer moved to approve Ordinance 333 with the proposed changes to Chapters 2 (Administration & Enforcement) and 3 (Zoning Permits); Council member Marie Rivers seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Per the ordinance, variances granted will be accompanied by a cover page for recording, and staff will use the provided guidance document and template resolution when preparing findings. The council discussed how the Board of Adjustments and Appeals would function in coordination with Planning Commission hearings and timing to reduce redundancy and to mitigate legal risk.
The ordinance takes effect as provided in the city code; staff were directed to implement the new procedures and templates.
