2002-09-04BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
Meeting of September 4, 2002
Chairman Doug Cook called the Blair Board of Adjustment to order at 12:04 p.m.
Members present were Doug Cook, Dave Bohling, Lee Suhr, Paul Buckingham and
Randy Lock, Jeff Bryan. Members absent: None. Others present were City Attorney
Samson, City Administrator Storm and Assistant Administrator Bovick.
Motion by Bohling, second by Bryan to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2002,
meeting as presented to members. All members present voted Aye. Chairman Cook
declared the motion carried.
Assistant Administrator Bovick reviewed a site plan of the area and the history of
the original variance granted in April 1991. He noted that the applicants were granted the
same variances on the property where they currently operate their business. B & D would
now like to purchase additional property to expand their business and would like to
request the same variances be granted for this new property. Ralph and Sheila
Schnuelle, 5620 N. 141 Circle, Omaha, were present to answer questions regarding their
request for several variances relating to expanding their B & D Truck Part business. Mr.
Schnuelle explained that the property he intended to purchase had a terrace along the
property boundary. This property is currently higher than the existing property. He stated
he planned to remove 8' or more of dirt so that all salvage would be behind the terrace
and not visible from the highway. City Administrator Storm reviewed cadastral maps of
the area outlining the natural terrace. Mr. Schnuelle indicated Washington County Road
Department had recently purchased five acres to the north of this area and they would be
working with them to remove the dirt in the area and provide adequate drainage. There
is currently natural vegetation between the terrace and the road and he would be building
a terrace on all sides of this property. City Administrator Storm indicated the Board
needed to question why additional area is needed. Possibly Mr. Schnuelle could turn
trucks over more quickly than expand the area. Mr. Schnuelle stated no truck is kept on
the property more than a year. They bring in three trucks a week and haul approximately
the same amount out each week. They currently do $80,000 to $100,000 in salvage a
month. Alan Doll, County Road Superintendent stated they were in support of the
request and would be working with B & D to remove the dirt off of the property. He noted
that Mr. Schnuelle has been a good neighbor in the past and did not foresee any
problems with this expansion. Cook questioned if this area is approved for the
expansion, what would be the fate of parking new trucks across the road. Mr. Schnuelle
state he planned to continue to park only finished trucks in the area. City Administrator
Storm stated the Board would need to include findings of fact in their motion and it would
take four votes to pass the motion. He also noted that if the Variances were approved,
this matter would continue on to the Planning Commission for approval of a Conditional
Use Permit and a Lot Split. If the Variances were not granted, Mr. Schnuelle would be
unable to move forward with any other application. Mr. Schnuelle noted the new property
would only be used for additional salvage. Cook indicated he would be uncomfortable
passing this motion without Mr. Schnuelle submitting some type of landscaping plan or
grading plan. With out this information, Staff could never hold Mr. Schnuelle to what he
has promised at this meeting. Motion by Bohling, second by Bryan to approve the
Variances to waive the Zoning Requirement that a salvage yard cannot be located within
500' of a public right -of way and that a salvage yard must be screened on all four sides
for a property he would like to purchase known as part of Tax Lot 38, lying in the West Y2
of Section 27 Township 18 North, Range 11 East of the 6`h P.M., Washington County,
Nebraska based on the findings of fact as follows: 1) that the strict application of the
Zoning Regulations would produce an undue hardship, 2) that such hardship is not
shared by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity, 3) that the
authorization of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property and
the character of the district will not be changed by the granting of this variance, 4) the
granting of such variance is based upon reason of demonstrable and exceptional
hardship as distinguished from variations for purposes of convenience, profit or caprice
and subject to Mr. Schnuelle submitting a drainage plan and grading plan prior to
submitting an application to the Planning Commission for a Conditional use Permit.
Board members present voting Aye: Buckingham, Bohling, Bryan and Lock. Board
member present voting Nay: Cook. Chairman Cook declared the motion carried.
There were no communications from the floor.
Motion by Lock, seconded by Bryan to adjourn the meeting at 12:45 P.M. All
members present voted Aye. Chairman Cook declared the meeting adjourned.
Brenda Taylor, City Clerk
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