Colfax Board of Adjustment recommends approval of semi-trailer for Midwest Classics

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX — The Colfax Zoning Board of Adjustment is recommending that the village board approve an application from Brian Longdo of Midwest Classics to install a semi-trailer on his property for storage.

The attorney for the village reviewed the village’s ordinances pertaining to Longdo’s request and determined that the ordinances do not prohibit Longdo from installing a semi-trailer for storage, said Mike Kiekhafer, chair of the Board of Adjustment, at a hearing March 5.

The Board of Adjustment also held a hearing on the matter February 5 but postponed taking any action pending additional information from the attorney.

In addition, the Board of Adjustment asked Longdo to find out cost estimates for a privacy fence and to talk to neighbors of Midwest Classics to find if there were objections to the proposal.

Two residents in the area of Longdo’s shop on Third Avenue sent letters to the Board of Adjustment for the February 5 meeting indicating they were not in favor of allowing another semi-trailer on the property for storage.

Longdo received approval several years ago to put the first semi-trailer on his property.

In a letter dated January 24, Colonel Craig Bogan and Amy Bogan, who own property across the street from Midwest Classics, said they objected to the idea of a second semi-trailer for storage.

The second letter, dated February 4, was from Homer and Diana Madison of 507 East Third Street.

The Madisons also objected to a second semi-trailer being moved onto the Midwest Classics property.

Menomonie

The ordinances for the City of Menomonie clearly state that a semi-trailer for storage would not be acceptable in Menomonie, but the Colfax ordinance does not specifically prohibit a trailer for storage, Kiekhafer said.

Longdo told the Board of Adjustment that he had talked to other property owners near Midwest Classics and had gotten several signatures.

Except for the two property owners who wrote letters to the BOA, none of the other owners objected to the semi-trailer for storage, Longdo said.

Because of the way the ordinance is written, Longdo is well within his rights to move a semi-trailer onto the property, Kiekhafer said.

A tarp currently covers items that are stored outside, Longdo noted.

“The tarp will go down. When (everything) is inside, it will be a plus for everybody,” he said.

Kiekhafer said he did not object to Longdo’s proposal but that he also would recommend the village board take a look at the ordinance and consider modifying it.

“In Menomonie, this is not acceptable. We are not in Menomonie,” said Gene Gibson, Board of Adjustment member.

“It seems silly to say no when (Longdo) can clean up the site with a trailer,” he said.

Mondovi

The 48-foot trailer is in Mondovi right now but will be moved to Colfax this spring, Longdo said, noting that he will paint the trailer white.

“It will be a lot better than that tarp,” he said.

Jackie Ponto, village administrator-clerk-treasurer, said Longdo should be sure to set the trailer within the village’s specified setbacks.

Ponto told Longdo she would look up the setbacks to make sure she was giving Longdo the correct number of feet and would send the information to him.

Bob Tweed, who lives near Midwest Classics, said he did not object to Longdo’s proposal but also suggested that the trailer not be placed near the lot line.

Maintaining a green space might make the trailer more acceptable to those who are objecting to it, Tweed said.

The Colfax Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a motion to recommend that the village board grant the variance.

The motion included recommending that the village board review the ordinance.

“We often do not learn about deficiencies (in ordinances) until something comes up,” Kiekhafer said.

In addition to Kiekhafer and Gibson, Mark Mosey serves on the Colfax Zoning Board of Adjustment as well.