Posted: 8/15/06
City approves variances
At a special meeting August 7, the Caledonia City Council approved two variances for new building projects in the city.
The first variance discussed by the council was for Caledonia Lumber Company. Owner Steve Bauer plans to relocate his business to the highway business district at the intersection of Highway 44/76 and County 12. He will be building three buildings there, a show room and two buildings storage of material and equipment.
Bauer requested a 30 ft. variance on the east (side) for the showroom, and a 25 ft. variance on the north (rear) property line for the second building on the lot. He also requested a variance for the required size of parking stalls, from 10 x 25 to 9 x 18.
The variance for the second building would place it right on the property line. The adjacent property owners, Alan and Sandy Meyer, have no objections to the placement of the building. The variance is necessary, said Bauer, because of proposed changes to County 12, which, if completed, would leave him only 22 ft. on the south side of the property for access to the third building. He said that there would be a retaining wall between the properties.
Councilman Paul Fisch asked if he could reduce the variance to 25 ft., leaving 10 feet between his property and the adjacent property ìin case youíre not always friends with your neighbor.î
ìIím feeling pretty uncomfortable with zero,î said Fisch. Other members of the council agreed.
Bauer offered to leave a 12 ft. space between the two properties, which the council accepted. The other two variances were also approved.
The second hearing was to consider a 35-ft. setback variance on the east (front) property line at 139 Bissen Street in the Industrial Park (Miken Bats). The building is owned by Jeb Griffith. The proposed addition to the building will be 66 ft. by 124 ft. and will be 40 ft. from the east property line.
The council unanimously approved the request.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com