Minutes-5/5/1999 (2)

Board of Adjustment City of Tiffin May 5, 1999 Chair Roger Janssen brought a meeting of the Tiffin Board of Adjustment to order at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, 1999 at the Tiffin Fire Station. Members present: Roger Janssen, Pam Brown, Betty Madden and Tina Walls. Arriving late 6:05 p.m. Cathy Kee. Also present: Mayor Glenn Potter, Greg Stevens, Terry Miller, Dan O'Halloran, Melvin Reeves, Randy Morgan, and Bob Lane. A Public Hearing was held to hear input either in favor or against a request by Greg Stevens and Terry Miller for a variance to the current zone to allow a enlarged kitchen on Slim's Tavern. Terry Miller and Greg Stevens provided a letter from Ron Kramer, of Insurance Associates of Iowa City that indicates that the insurance company has requested safety updates of his kitchen for the past 1 and ½ years and that insurance may be cancelled in September of 1999 if updates are not made. Randy Morgan was present to say that the fire department had inspected the kitchen this past summer and that numerous fire safety features have been advised for the tavern. Dan O'Halloran, Planning and Zoning member indicated that the Commission has not recommended the variance for Slim's. Dan indicated that other means could be undertaken to remedy the fire safety issue at the Tavern. Member Brown indicated that she felt cancellation of insurance for this business would be regarded a proven hardship. Terry Miller asked whom else in the neighborhood the kitchen enlargement would effect. O'Halloran agreed that at this point in time probably no one, but felt that there were probably unexplored options that could be used to solve these problems other than a variance. Member Boyd asked if Mr. O'Holloran would help Stevens and Miller to figure out these alternative solutions. Madden voiced her agreement that Slim's needs a larger kitchen or it could put the place out of business. Brown agreed that having no insurance coverage would likely force them out of business. Member Kee arrived at 6:05 p.m. O'Halloran reminded the Board of Adjustment that things could not be run as they had been five years ago. Planning and Zoning and Council had both declined this request. Stevens indicated that council had declined building permit request on technicality, referring the issue to Planning and Zoning. Planning and Zoning had referred the question to a variance by the Board of Adjustment. Public Hearing was closed, as no other citizens were present to speak either in favor of or against this variance. The city has received no written comment in this regard. Motion Brown that Stevens and Miller had followed all channels to obtain permission for building permit and wished to bring his building into building and fire code safety requirements and not being able to obtain insurance would prove hardship for the owners and possible force them out of business and thus would approve variance to Stevens and Miller for Slim's tavern for enlargement of kitchen. Seconded by Member Boyd. Ayes: Kee, Brown, Boyd, Madden and Janssen. Motion carried. Bob Lane explained tentative plans for a 30 X32 basement addition to the Grace United Methodist Church. Variance may be requested should the new addition extend to far into city frontage requirements. Issue to be placed in the next month agenda. Motion Brown, second Madden to adjourn. 6:21 p.m. Roger Janssen, Chair City of Tiffin, Board of Adjustment