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The proposed amendment regarding a nonconformity agreement between the City of Winona and Biesanz Stone Quarry debated during a public hearing Monday at the City Council meeting. During the August 27, 2012, City Planning Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously agreed to approve the amendment that regulates future expansion plans of the quarry.
Assistant City Planner Carlos Espinosa said the ordinance would mirror the state’s nonconformity statute, which states “a municipality may, by ordinance, permit an expansion or impose upon nonconformities reasonable regulations to prevent and abate nuisances and to protect the public health, welfare, or safety.”
Because there is currently no city code that allows the city to place reasonable regulations on a nonconformity, Espinosa is asking the council to approve the proposed language so that an ordinance could be established.
As part of the proposed amendment, the language would define expansion and detail how Biesanz may or may not expand in the future. If the proposed ordinance is passed, it would be placed in Section 43.01 of Chapter 43 of the city’s zoning ordinance.
Alternate side parking
The City Council will discuss another revision to the city-wide Alternate Side Parking ordinance that could include the diagonal parking area on Market Street, between Second and Fourth streets. According to the revision, this area of diagonal parking would now be included in the areas of no overnight parking during the winter season.
Although this is an area where diagonal parking is currently allowed, the Public Works Department said the curb and gutter are not recessed to the boulevard far enough and cannot accommodate that parking in the winter.
The Alternate Side Parking ordinance was amended in April to shorten the restriction season from the former ordinance stipulation of between November 1 and April 1, to between November 15 and March 15. The ordinance was also amended to lengthen the time of no parking from the previous 1 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., to 12:01 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. so plows could clear the city faster.
The City Council meeting will be Monday at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall.
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