The Monroe County Zoning Board of Appeals met last week, addressing one actual zoning item while serving in more of an advisory capacity in other matters.

One of three items on the agenda for the board concerned a proposed ordinance which would allow the county’s zoning office to bring in third-party consultants to assess large construction plans which the office is unable to handle itself.

Examples of such projects discussed by the board included the coming Sydenstricker Nobbe facility south of Waterloo and the Old Monroe Distilling Co. – formerly Stumpy’s Spirits – project just north of Waterloo.

Monroe County Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator Chris Voelker read the proposed ordinance to the board, offering the additional explanation that he is simply unable to tackle substantial projects like this.

“These plans are getting more and more complex,” Voelker said. “I don’t have the time or the knowledge really to go through some of these large plans.”

After some discussion on the particular wording of the ordinance, the board voted to recommend its approval by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.

The second advisory item which saw approval by the board was also a recommendation to the county board.

This discussion concerned the Monroe County Zoning Planning Commission, which has had trouble conducting meetings as the commission has failed to reach a quorum on multiple occasions.

Board members spoke about whether or not county residents bringing an issue before the planning commission should be able to bring the matter before the board of appeals if the commission fails to conduct a meeting as scheduled.

With the board broadly in agreement about allowing residents an alternate means to approve and continue with projects, talk largely centered around the quorum difficulties among the planning commission.

It was noted that the commission previously had 21 members – Monroe County Commissioner George Green noted the high number seemed ideal in order to have representatives come from all around the county – but that number was recently reduced to 15 in order to bring the required quorum attendance number down to eight.

A key issue mentioned among the board was that a number of members fail to communicate whether or not they will attend the scheduled meetings.

It was suggested among the board that those members who are chronically absent should be replaced.
Zoning Board of Appeals President George Obernagel voiced his support for the idea of construction projects being brought before the board should the planning commission be unable to meet, also expressing some criticism of the commission.

“You got 15 members, you should always have a quorum,” Obernagel said. “I don’t want to delay these people if they don’t show up.”

The first item on the agenda for the board was for an area/bulk variance request from Alvin and Lisa Jones – represented by their son at the meeting as they were on vacation – regarding roofing material.
A recently constructed detached garage on the Jones property had its roof built using oriented strand board – a wood product similar to particle board and commonly known as OSB.

Voelker and members of the board discussed the prohibition of OSB use in county building code. It was initially stated there are only restrictions for OSB as a roofing material for housing, though Voelker later noted that the material seems to be more broadly restricted for any roofs.

It was noted that OSB seems to be prohibited as a roofing material in code due to moisture issues, though Monroe County seems to stand out with only a few other counties also not allowing its use.

The board ultimately approved the variance, with Obernagel, Vicki Taake and Brian Coats voting in favor, Russel Gregson voting against and Mike Kovarik abstaining but voicing his opposition.

Coats summed up his approval, noting OSB might be considered a substandard material for a reason, though it’s not expected to have any real impact.

“Legitimately, it’s an honest mistake,” Coats said. “It’s not gonna have an effect on anybody. I really don’t think it’s going to affect property values, it’s not gonna affect neighbors, it’s not gonna affect the safety of the family.”