Columbia Board of Adjustment – September 15, 2026

The Board of Adjustment met on September 15, 2026, with four members present and one absent, establishing a quorum. The board approved its agenda and the July 14, 2026 minutes, granted an applicant's by-right request to continue the sole public hearing until the next regular meeting because the board was not fully paneled, and elected a chair and vice chair for 2026–27. No substantive testimony on the variance was heard, and no public comments were offered.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second.
• The July 14, 2026 regular meeting minutes were approved unanimously as written.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the general public comment period.
• Swearing-in occurred, but after the applicant requested a continuance, no testimony on the merits of the variance was taken.

Discussion Items

• Case #236-2026 – 1800 I-70 Drive SW sign variance. Caleb Colbert, attorney for property owner McLarty RE LLC, sought a variance from UDC Sec. 29-4.8 to allow a 30-foot-tall freestanding sign with a maximum of 128 square feet of sign area located 10 feet from the property line shared with I-70 Drive SW. The UDC would require a 32.5-foot setback for such a sign, so the request was for a 22.5-foot variance. The 1.10-acre M-C zoned site is currently a surface parking lot used to display commercial vehicles for Machens Ford.
• Request to table. Mr. Colbert requested the case be tabled to the October meeting because only four board members were present. Staff confirmed that, under the Board of Adjustment rules of procedure, an applicant has the by-right option to proceed with a quorum or to table until a fully paneled board is available. A board member questioned whether a motion was required; after consulting the rules, the board concluded the continuance was by right and did not require a vote.
• Re-advertising and next date. Staff stated the case would be reposted and re-advertised for the next regularly scheduled Board of Adjustment meeting on October 13, 2026, with the same staff report and supporting documentation.
• Board of Adjustment elections. Paper ballots were distributed for chair and vice chair for the 2026–27 term. Alternates were not eligible for election, but Ms. Olson, an eligible alternate seated for an absent member, could vote. No nominations were made; the silent ballots were tallied.

Key Outcomes

• Case #236-2026 was continued to the October 13, 2026 Board of Adjustment meeting, with re-advertising and public notice to occur. The agenda had listed the next meeting as November 10, 2026 (tentative), but the continuance made October 13 the next regular meeting.
• Peter Norgard was elected chair by a unanimous vote.
• Ms. Rogers was elected vice chair by a 3–1 vote.
• The meeting adjourned by motion and second, with all members in favor.

Note on Record Discrepancies

• The agenda identifies the owner as McLarty RE LLC, the dealer as Machens Ford, and the address as 1800 I-70 Drive SW; the transcript's spoken versions appear to say 'McLarety RE LLC,' 'Atkins Ford,' and '180 I-70 Drive SW.' The agenda versions are used above because the agenda is the authoritative written notice.