|
Hearings set for ABC sign, new business
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - The Highland County Planning Commission reviewed an application from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a variance to install a retail sign on U.S. 220 in Monterey for its retail liquor store on Water Street.
A conditional use application from David Botkin of Monterey was also reviewed. Botkin would like to open a wholesale landscape materials business on Mill Alley in Monterey. His business will be contained within the western end of Myrtle Holland's business zoned property and will not be closer than 50 feet to a residential zone, as required by county land-use regulations.
Botkin wants to stockpile mulch, gravel and block on Holland's property west of Water Street and north of Mill Alley. When asked if he had any objections from the public concerning his project, he said, "None whatsoever."
Planning commission chairman Jim Cobb asked Botkin if he would consider installing screening or putting up a fence around the business.
He said, "Not at this time."
Botkin said adequate parking was available and traffic was not a problem.
Botkin explained the block is not cinder block, but landscaping block. He said he would have four types of colored mulch, adding everything he had on hand would be minimal.
"It would go a lot easier if folks in the area that support you on this would come to the public hearing," said Cobb.
Land use regulations require the governing body, in this case the town, to consider the effect on traffic, the need for the proposed use, and the effect on the neighborhood and property values. These conditions are minimums. Town council may set additional requirements to protect the public interest.
Second ABC sign proposed Monterey Town Council reviewed and recommended approval of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control variance application for a new sign, but the application must go before a public hearing and be approved by the board of zoning appeals.
Planner Doug Gutshall, citing a conflict of interest, did not vote on the application because he owns the property the ABC store is on.
The liquor store is at the corner of Courthouse Lane and Water Street in Monterey, one block south of Main Street and one block west of U.S. 220.
"What is the impact if the sign does not go up?" Cobb asked. "How much business have you had with one sign?"
One sign is at the intersection of Main and Water streets, pointing in the direction of the store. A similar sign would be installed at the intersection of U.S. 220 and Courthouse Lane if the variance were approved. The sign would be on property owned by the town of Monterey.
Land use regulations require the signs be 10 miles apart.
"The first sign hasn't been there that long," said ABC store employee Delana Kelly. "It's a very small sign," said planner Tony Stinnett.
"It's nothing fancy, it's nothing. It's just to let people know that the store is there," said Kelly. "People have told me they have been here many times and didn't see the store. We have been here 24 years. The main thing is people can't find us, even the delivery trucks (can't find us)."
Kelly didn't know how much tax revenue was generated by the store. Cobb said that information would be help- ful to the BZA in making a decision to approve the variance.
"It would be good to have in your hip pocket," said Cobb. "If it is in the thousands of dollars, it would be in the best interest of the county to approve. Even if it is $5,000- $10,000, that's a fair amount of money."
Kelly also did not know the annual revenues generated by the store. Cobb advised her that information would be helpful at the public hearing as well.
The BZA is not to authorize a variance unless it finds the strict application of the ordinance produces undue hardship, the hardship is not shared by other properties in the same zone and vicinity, the authorization will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property, and the character of the district will not be changed.
Planners set a joint public hearing for the conditional use and variance with the planning commission and Monterey Town Council 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20 at the Highland County Modular Conference Center in Monterey.
| 
