Consider an Appeal of a Variance by iDigital

On August 28, 2025, the Planning Commission approved a variance to the distance separation requirements for an off-premise digital billboard sign at 6111 Highway 10 NW.  Attached is a copy of the adopted resolution and the minutes from that meeting.  Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising, the applicant, provided a letter addressing several of the practical difficulties outlined in City Code and the responses were placed in the approval resolution.  

iDigital, the owner and operator of the other two approved off-premise digital billboard signs in Ramsey, submitted an appeal to City Staff within the 10-day appeal period allowed by City Code Section 106-220.  The appeal was not made due to a disagreement with the Planning Commission's findings, but rather because they feel that they have an earlier "claim" to a sign.  Within iDigital's appeal packet, several air photos, renderings of the sign, and other information were provided.  In 2022, iDigital submitted an incomplete application for a sign.  They did not include plans prepared by a licensed surveyor or civil engineer that showed where the sign was going, nor did they pay the application fee.  Knowing that Highway 10 property acquisitions were in process, the submitted air photos did not show existing or proposed property lines, so staff could not determine where the sign was actually going.  In addition, staff was unsure if the sign met the spacing requirement and advised iDigital to have a licensed professional include an official measurement (as opposed to an approximation made by an on-line mapping site) in the application.  iDigital expressed unwillingness to undertake the expense of plan preparation, so the application was deemed incomplete per Minnesota Statutes 15.99.  Had plans been provided, staff would have processed the application.

 

Notification of surrounding property owners is not required for variance appeals.

Alternatives to Consider

The City Council needs to review the variance based on the practical difficulties that the Planning Commission reviewed.

1.  Find that the Planning Commission properly applied the practical difficulties criteria and sustain their decision.
2.  Overturn the Planning Commission's decision and articulate reasons why.  Staff will then prepare a resolution denying the variance for the next Council meeting.  

 

Costs of processing this claim are being absorbed through regular staff time (general fund).

Staff recommends council discuss the process and articulate reasons behind either decision.

Based on discussion:

1) Motion to adopt Resolution #25-239 sustaining the Planning Commission decision on approving a variance to distance separation requirements for an off-premise digital billboard sign at 6111 Highway 10 NW
2) Motion to direct staff to grant the appeal with specific reasons why.