Conservation, Planning and Zoning Committee

June 13, 2013 CPZ Committee Meeting Minutes (34 KB)

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning (CPZ) Committee members present:  J. Ashford, J. Dietz, F. Halfen, G. Lehman, D. Nobs, D. Polivka, R. Puttkamer

Others present:   B. Cunningham, J. Fleischmann, D. Higgins, B. Michalek, P. Pohle, B. Simmert, R. Meixelsperger, M. Melchior, A. Skwor, B. Vaillancourt

At 9:00 a.m. Vice Chair Ashford called the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Adopt agenda:  Motion by Polivka/Halfen to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried, all members in favor.  

Motion by Dietz/Polivka to amend the agenda to move communications to when Lehman is present.

Adopt minutes of previous meeting-May 28:  Motion by Halfen/Nobs to adopt the minutes from the May 28 Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee meeting.  Motion carried, all members in favor.

Public Comment:  None.

Communications:

1. Updates from previous CPZ Committee meetings

1. Wells and decommissioning-Cunningham informed the Committee that DNR has a grant program.  It may cost $800 to abandon a well, and they need to be done by a licensed well driller or licensed pump installer.  You can install your own pump.  Committee recommended promoting DNR grant in the next Conservation Chronicle.  There are two websites where you can find your well depths. 

2. Halfen noted that the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance would like to come to a CPZ Committee meeting to tell about the ag practices they are doing at Badger. 

Discussion and possible action on a conditional use permit for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) cluster lot located in S33,T.10N.R.4E, Town of Franklin, Sauk County by Ryan Meixelsperger pursuant to Section 7.12 of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances:  Simmert appeared and presented a staff report and background on the PUD lot and noted there are actually 38 net acres in the Town of Franklin. The Town of Franklin approved the request and the Town Board will meet within the next couple days to take action.  Some of the conditions are non-standards conditions (#3, #6, #7, #8, #9).  When ready to record the easement, we also record the two deeds to adjoining landowners.  Provided a copy of the proposed certified survey map.  Motion by Polivka/Nobs to approve with the conditions listed and answering yes to all the questions in Section III.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Petition #6-2013.  A Petition by Charles Holton et al., owner and Mark Carlson, agent to approve the County Plat of Holton Subdivision. The land to be affected by the proposed subdivision is located in Section 22, T13N, R5E, Town of Dellona:  Simmert appeared and presented a staff report and background.  The property is owned by a family, and they want to divide up the land among the family.  There are five lots and no intention to develop in the near future.  Town of Dellona has approved.  No objections by staff to reject approval.  Reasonable to have only one access road.  Motion by Polivka/Halfen to approve.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public hearing:  To begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Committee to consider and take possible action at the conclusion of the respective hearings.)

1. Petition #5-2013. A Petition filed by Daniel Higgins, property owner and agent for a change in the zoning of certain lands from an Agricultural to a Commercial Zoning District. The land to be affected by the proposed rezone to Commercial is located in Section 16, T13N, R3E, Town of LaValle.  Said area to be rezoned contains 5.00 acres more or less.

Lehman arrived at 10:01 a.m.  Puttkamer did not participate in the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Vice Chair Ashford called the public hearing to order at approximately 10:01 a.m.  She explained the procedures for the public hearing and introduced the committee and staff members.

Simmert appeared and presented a staff report and background.  The rezone was approved by the Town Board on June 10.  Presented the Proposed Land Use Districts map to the CPZ Committee.  Staff explained the modification to the area to be rezoned which the Town Board approved.  The land is not productive agriculture land.

Dan Higgins, applicant appearing in favor, is proposing to relocate a current tower construction business to land he owns in LaValle.  The building will be used for deliveries and storage, but 90 percent of the materials are delivered to the project sites.  Did not search for alternate locations because they currently own this land. 

Beverly Vaillancourt, registering in favor, noted that there is potential for Mr. Higgins to put up a business that is not instrusive.  The Town Plan Commission had no objection to the building, and the Town Board felt it was acceptable.  Discussed the commercial and Farmland Preservation Plan maps. On July 8 there is the public hearing where the Town of LaValle will be taking up the new commercial corridor map.

Higgins presented the building design to the Committee.

Patricia Towne, appearing as interest may appear, questioned the applicant on various concerns.

Seeing no one else wished to appear, Ashford closed the public hearing portion at 10:32 a.m.

Motion by Lehman/Halfen to modify and approve the rezone with revisions.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Public hearing closed and the regular CPZ Committee meeting called back to order at         10:38 a.m.

Update on Chapter 7 Zoning Ordinance:  Simmert stated that the deadline has passed for County Board members to submit comments.  Comments have been received from a number of towns.  Staff have been running scenarios to see how the ordinance addresses them and are making some minor modifications  Will provide a revised ordinance with how changes were made and a summary at a July meeting.

Update regarding the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Planning process:  Simmert noted that the Farmland Preservation Plan’s updated maps are coming in from the townships, and we are waiting for a response from DATCP.

Update on Clark Creek and presentation of tree revetment design:  Melchior and Skwor presented on the Clark Creek project.  Bids for the seeding are due soon and may go to the July County Board.

Discussion and consideration of program review form (mission, vision, goals, and performance measures) for 2014 budget:  Michalek presented and explained the revisions made from last year’s program review form.  Committee recommended including trout stream restorations  and “unblend” some of the programs. 

Review and approval to forward to County Board updated digital data fees:  Fleischmann distributed a revised digital data fee handout.  The fees are now more comprehensive and they either stayed the same or were lowered.  Motion by Halfen/Ashford to approve rates and move on to County Board.  Motion carried, all in favor.  Fleischmann or Felton will present the fees at the County Board meeting.

Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department

a. Department reports and updates:  Michalek reviewed the department report.

b.    Review and approval of vouchers:  Motion by Nobs/Puttkamer to approve the vouchers in the total amount of $27,998.99.  Motion carried, all in favor.   

Reports:

a.    Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) report:  Miller informed the CPZ Committee that the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) has been announced and will offer financial assistance to agricultural producers for implementation practices that reduce erosion, forestry, and improve fish habitat. Assistance will come through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  $120,000 was brought in for the last end of trout stream in Bear Creek, forestry related practices, stream crossing, riprap, etc.  FSA status reviews are going on right now. Jon Field is doing those for Sauk County, and Chris has been up in Juneau and Monroe counties.  Updating conservation plans.  Signup for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) ends tomorrow.  Went through a national civil rights review and we passed. 

2. Farm Service Agency (FSA) report:  Norgard stated that the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup ends tomorrow.  Continuous CRP-Highly Erodible Land Initiative is not a competitive signup and is available on an ongoing basis.  The last day to file nominations for the County Office Committee (COC) is August 1 and will be conducted in the southern third of county.  The Senate agriculture bill passed, but the House version still needs to be discussed and brought to the full House for a vote.                                                                    

c.  Foresters’ report:  None. 

d.  Economic Development Committee report:  Polivka stated that they decided to leave the former landfill as is and clean up some lead at the shooting range.  There is a joint meeting with the Sauk County Development Committee on June 24.  Goal is to look at the recently accessed 80-acre parcel in the Town of Dellona and some ways to market Sauk County. 

e.  Mirror Lake District report:  Nobs updated on the lake cleaning and disposal with the Village of Lake Delton. 

f.  Lake Virginia Management District report:  Nobs stated there were no new updates. 

g. Lake Redstone Management District report:  Dietz wants to know what kind of data the county has on the lake.  Michalek stated very little as past reports were completed by private consultants. 

Next meeting of the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Committee will be held at 9 a.m. on  Thursday, July 11, and Tuesday, July 23. 

Motion by Halfen/Nobs to adjourn at 12:02 p.m.  Motion carried, all members in favor.   

Respectfully submitted, 

Don Nobs, Secretary