Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Board of Adjustment  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Monday, October 21, 2024  
6:30 PM  
Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at the City County  
Building in Room 354; attend virtually via Zoom.  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Long called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM and introduced the members of the  
Board followed by a statement on the proceeding of the meeting.  
Also Present: First Alternate Alex Elkins. Staff: Assistant Zoning Administrators: Hans  
Hilbert & Rachel Holloway.  
5 - ARLAN KAY, Secretary SUE STUDZ, GEORGE CORRIGAN, TRAVIS LEESER,  
and AL LONG  
Present  
B. Public Comment for any Item not listed on the Agenda  
No Public Comments were made:  
C. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the September 26, 2024 Public Hearing  
2024  
1.  
MIN-270  
Sponsors:  
Board of Adjustment  
Attachments:  
09-26-2024 PH Minutes  
LEESER/STUDZ to approve the minutes. Motion carried.  
5 - KAY, STUDZ, CORRIGAN, LEESER and LONG  
Ayes:  
Minutes of the October 10, 2024 site inspection meeting  
2024  
MIN-285  
2.  
Sponsors: Board of Adjustment  
Attachments:  
10-10-2024 SI Minutes  
STUDZ/CORRIGAN to approve the minutes. Motion carried.  
4 - KAY, STUDZ, CORRIGAN and LONG  
Ayes:  
1 - LEESER  
Abstain:  
D. Public Hearing for Appeals  
2024  
BOA-002  
Appeal 3729. Appeal by Blume & Sons LLC (Attorney Christopher T. Nelson,  
agent), for a variance from minimum required setback from highways as  
provided by Section 10.102(9), Dane County Code of Ordinances, to allow  
outdoor storage at 946 Medina Rd, being Lot 2, CSM 5813 in the NW 1/4 SE  
1/4 Section 33, Town of Medina.  
1.  
Sponsors:  
Board of Adjustment  
Attachments:  
Amended Blume Variance Narrative and Exhibits_20240919  
3729 Staff Report  
Written Testimony (re Appeal 3729)_Immediate  
Neigh_241014_090748  
Written Testimony (re Appeal 3729)_Immediate  
Neigh_241015_085125  
Variance Letters  
Assistant Zoning Administrator (AZA) Hilbert presented a Staff Report reporting facts of  
the case.  
IN FAVOR: Christopher Nelson, agent for owner, spoke in favor of the variance request  
and answered questions of the Board.  
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: Hilbert relayed that the Zoning  
Administrator stated he does not endorse this or any variance request, as it is the  
responsibility of the Board to determine if the proposed development met the criteria for  
a variance. He had met with the applicant and laid out options for compliant use of the  
property for outdoor storage and the only way to allow outdoor storage within the  
required setback areas was to obtain a variance.  
The following parties spoke in favor of the variance:  
Alex Zahrte  
Brenda Klecker  
Darrick Kersten  
Mike Rappant  
Steven Schulz  
Charles Muinde  
Blake George  
OPPOSED:  
Matthew Westphal stated he had concerns related to traffic, lighting and increased  
activity at the site.  
Christopher Nelson provided a rebuttal and answered questions of the Board.  
Facts of the Case:  
Existing:  
• Property is bound by W Medina Rd to the south and State Highway 73 and Midway Ln  
to the east, and HC Heavy Commercial private property to the north and west.  
• Property was purchased in November of 2022; previous owner ran a masonry  
business out of the property.  
• Owner has been in the process of improving the condition of the property as left by the  
previous owner.  
Proposed  
• Owner proposes to use the property as a commercial storage facility with outdoor  
storage and proposes to allow outdoor storage to occur within the required setbacks to  
the property lines.  
Zoning Notes:  
• Outdoor storage is defined as any activity located primarily outdoors involving the  
receiving, holding and shipping of materials for a single business.  
• The definition of outdoor storage states that storage of materials is not permitted  
within any building setback area.  
• The HC Heavy Commercial district allows for intensive land uses including outdoor  
storage; however, such storage is restricted to the building envelope of the lot and  
therefore does not allow for storage to occur within the required setbacks to the  
property lines.  
COMMUNICATIONS: Town of Medina: 9/4/2024 Acknowledgement of variance; Plan  
Commission & Town Board Action October 9, 2024 recommending approval.  
Conclusions:  
1) Unnecessary Hardship: It would be unreasonable to strictly enforce setback  
regulations on a permitted use that is a necessary service to the infrastructure of our  
economy. There are few sites zoned to accommodate such a use, and therefore it is a  
finite resource of space available.  
2) Unique Limitations of the Property: Property is bound by town roads and a state  
highway at non-uniform angles. It is one of seven properties in the Town of Medina  
zoned HC Heavy Commercial.  
3) No Harm to Public Interests: The Town of Medina Board supports the variance and  
did not point out any safety concerns. The current owner has made improvements,  
including lighting, to make the site safer.  
LONG/CORRIGAN to grant 32 foot variance from minimum setback from a state  
highway and 10 feet from minimum required setback from a town highway to  
allow outdoor storage within the setback as proposed. Motion Carried.  
3 - STUDZ, CORRIGAN and LONG  
2 - KAY and LEESER  
Ayes:  
Noes:  
E. Appeals from Previous Meetings  
F. Reports to Commitee  
Hilbert updated Board of future meetings. Leeser will not be able to attend November  
meetings.  
G. Other Business Authorized by Law  
H. Adjournment  
STUDZ/LEESER to adjourn. The board adjourned by voice vote at 8:17pm.