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Planning Commission Member Norton inquired where the 80' request came from. Mr. <br /> Babinski stated the white fence is in the way as you would look at the flag pole. <br /> Planning Commission Member Paulbeck asked if the rendering of the flag pole was to <br /> scale. Mr. Babinski stated he believed it was; Matt and Michelle Mueller had provided <br /> that. Planning Commission Member Paulbeck stated, in his opinion, it looks very nice, <br /> but this isn't an opinion board. <br /> Mr. Babinski didn't think the flag pole would be an issue. <br /> Vice-Chair Birch clarified that this is not about patriotism or the American flag. There is <br /> nothing in the City Code that states they have to raise the American flag. When this <br /> business is sold, this Variance is going to go with the properry. The new owner will be <br /> able to fly whatever they want on that flag pole. This community has already set the 25- <br /> foot m�imum height level. Your request is more than tripling the maximum height. <br /> There would need to be a very good reason to approve that, otherwise why do we have <br /> these ordinances in the first place. We can't control what goes there in the future. He <br /> encouraged everyone to fly flags,but doesn't understand the need for 8o feet and that big. <br /> Planning Commission Member Paulbeck asked if the Variance could be conditioned that <br /> if the ownership changes, the flag pole lias to be removed. Vice-Chair Birch stated we <br /> cannot dictate what someone puts on a flag or a sign; that involves First Amendment <br /> rights. If someone were to put up a flag that contained a message that you consider <br /> despicable, at 25 feet you could potentially ignore it, but not at 8o feet and we would be <br /> stuck with it in our community. <br /> Mr. Achterkirch asked if the Variance could be conditioned that the flag pole be removed <br /> when they are no longer there. Mr. Burslie stated they could voluntarily take it down,but <br /> we can't condition it. He further stated that no one is questioning the applicant's <br /> patriotism, but when we get a Variance request we need to look at the character of the <br /> neighborhood. There are very modest flag poles all along Patriot Avenue, 25 feet or less. <br /> There are no flag poles close to this size. If there were two very large buildings and you <br /> needed to get the flag above the buildings or some other circumstance that you couldn't <br /> meet the 25 foot height requirement could be a different recommendation. We did <br /> consult with the City Attorney and he didn't see how the City could approve this. If the <br /> Planning Commission wants to approve the request, we would need to develop Findings <br /> in support of that decision. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT OPENED: <br /> Isaac Besty, Anchor Point Road, Crosslake — He works for MN Inboard and the bridge is <br /> approximately 3o feet high and the trees are approximately 45 feet from the subject <br /> property for traffic traveling southbound. The 8o foot flag pole gets it above the tree line <br /> for southbound traffic. <br /> MINUTES 6 <br /> Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br /> April i8, 2oi9 <br />