Ely City planning commission adopts outdoor wood boiler rules, schedules hearing on home-occupation permit revocation and rules on multiple variances

The Ely City Planning and Zoning Commission on June 17 approved a revised Outdoor Wood Boiler ordinance with the edits discussed at the meeting, scheduled a public hearing to consider revoking a Home Occupation permit at 422 E James, and issued a series of approvals and denials on variance requests affecting properties on Sheridan and Camp streets.

Scott Kochendorfer, Planning and Zoning Administrator, summarized ongoing projects and introduced the proposed ordinance edits. The commission added the phrase "and ROW" (right-of-way) to the structure-setback subdivision and added a 100-foot buffer for commercial or residential structures in the ordinance language. Commissioner Hernesmaa raised concerns about requiring stack-height standards in locations adjacent to steep terrain, but the commission considered that point too subjective to include as drafted. The commission voted to approve the draft ordinance as amended; the motion was made and seconded and carried without objection.

The body also moved several variance decisions after reviewing each request. For PID 030-0010-00900 (239 E Sheridan St) the commission approved six-foot fence height requests along Sheridan St and N. 3rd Ave E, approved vision-triangle relief at Sheridan St/N. 3rd Ave E, approved relief from an 18‑inch alley setback, and approved relief from the 18‑inch setback along N. 3rd Ave E; the commission denied relief from the 18‑inch setback along Sheridan St. For PID 030-0370-00800 (303 E Sheridan St) the commission denied relief from the 18‑inch Sheridan-sidewalk setback. For Camp Street parcels (PIDs 030-0370-00070 and 030-0370-00090, 336 E Camp St) the commission denied an alleyway 18‑inch setback relief and denied relief from the Camp St 18‑inch setback but approved a six-foot fence height along Camp St. The commission recorded the factual bases it used (alteration of essential character, uniqueness of circumstances, and practical difficulty) when explaining approvals and denials.

On a separate procedural motion, Commissioner Hernesmaa moved and Palcher seconded to schedule a public hearing for July 15 at 4:45 PM to consider revocation of a Home Occupation permit at 422 E James; the motion carried without objection. Kochendorfer said the revocation consideration followed complaints alleging blight, excess vehicle traffic, construction equipment in the street, and excess equipment in the yard.

The meeting opened with a procedural approval of minutes (Anderson moved; Heil seconded) and concluded with Kochendorfer saying he will draft a golf-cart ordinance for future consideration. The commission adjourned at 6:55 PM.

The commission did not take final action on a shipping-container ordinance; staff will return draft language on that subject at a later meeting.