Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee

Minutes (63 KB)

                                   SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
                     PLANNING, ZONING AND LAND RECORDS COMMITTEE
     Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – County Board Room, West Square Building

Planning, Zoning, & Land Records (PZLR) Committee members present: J. Ashford, J. Gaalswyk, F. Halfen, G. Lehman, D. Nobs

Others present: R. Churchill, B. Cunningham, P. Dederich, T. Liebman, B. Michalek, P. Pohle, T. Rose, B. Sand, B. Simmert, B Vaillancourt, Joanne Vogt, Richard Vogt

At 9:06 a.m. Vice Chair Ashford called the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Adopt agenda: Motion by Halfen/Nobs to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.
Adopt minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Halfen/Nobs to adopt the minutes of the November 30 meeting. Motion carried, all members in favor.

Public comment: Motion by Halfen/Ashford to allow Ron Churchill, Town of Winfield Chair, to speak later in the agenda. Motion carried, all in favor.

Communications: There was some discussion on the Visioning Session held by the UW-Extension Office regarding the county’s agriculture community and county agriculture agent.

Discussion and possible action on policy directives in relation to Chapter 7 Ordinance amendments: Simmert reported that there is a draft of Chapter 7 that will be reviewed by Corporation Council in the following weeks and then it will be taken to the towns for input. The ordinance is taking a more general approach for parking and includes specifications for parking lanes. The lighting language which includes downward shielding was felt appropriate. Staff will research drainage in relation to parking. It was agreed that the ordinance should not be very restrictive on where fleet vehicles with business signage on them be allowed to park at their business. It was also the consensus to include notification requirements for specific categories depending on the issue (controversial or higher impacts, more notification, etc.). The committee also agreed that the Planned Rural Development (previously Planned Unit Development) density policy should be written the way the towns prefer and work the procedures through Corporation Council to see if DATCP accepts our density requirements.

Update and discussion on floodplain zoning ordinance/Lake Redstone Dam Breach Study: Motion to Nobs/Halfen to allow this agenda item to take place before the public hearing. Motion carried, all in favor. Michalek updated the committee on the status of this agenda item. He has requested that DNR Gary Heinrichs meet with him, Schauf, and Krueger. Michalek discussed this with Representative Ed Brooks. He seemed willing to investigate the situation, see if something needs to change in the statutes, and is willing to work with us and the DNR. Tom Jackson from Senator Schultz’s office is also willing to work with us and the DNR. Bev Vaillancourt, Town of LaValle Chair, requested that the three towns affected by this be involved with the discussions with DNR. She noted that last October a letter was presented to the committee with their concerns. There was discussion on the inequity of this ordinance between City of Reedsburg residents and rural landowners.

Committee took a recess from 10:25 am. to 10:32 a.m.

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

a. Petition # 1-2012. A Petition by Bob Sand and Troy Rose to change the zoning of their property from an Agricultural to a Commercial Zoning District. The land to be affected by the proposed rezone to Commercial is located in Section 15, T13N, R3E, Town of LaValle. Said area to be rezoned contains 1.96 acres more or less.

Lehman called the public hearing to order at approximately 10:32 a.m. He explained the procedures for the public hearing and introduced the committee members.

Simmert appeared and presented a staff report and background on the rezone. The rezone is intended to establish the correct zoning to allow the outside storage of boats and marine equipment and service of vehicles.

The new staff report gives three options - approve, disapprove, or modify and approve. We are looking at approval based on the facts of the request presented at the public hearing, consistency with the Town of La Valle Comprehensive Plan recognizing this land for future light commercial uses, consistency with the Farmland Preservation Plan Map recognizing this land as a transition area, and the standards for rezoning lands and issuance of a special exception permit being considered.

Robert Sand, appearing in favor, stated that Troy Rose decided to do boat repairs. Then in order to keep up the need for storage, asked for boat storage on Sand’s land. Requesting to get the entire parcel done as a commercially zoned property. Rose has traffic going in and out.

Troy Rose, appearing in favor, is the owner of Lot 2 on the property that is being petitioned for rezone. Started the boat business and had been storing boats inside. Expanded on this business, and now we are working to get rezoned to do this.
No questions from the Committee.

Bev Vaillancourt, Town Chair for LaValle, stated this came before the plan commission and town board where it received unanimous support. There is a need for storage. No objections to the rezone and felt it would be an asset.

Seeing no one else wished to appear, Lehman closed the public hearing portion or the meeting.

Motion by Nobs/Ashford to approve this change to commercial. Motion carried, all in favor.

b. Petition #2-2012. A Petition by Richard and Joanne Vogt to change the zoning of their property from an Exclusive Agricultural to an Agricultural Zoning District. The land to be affected by the proposed rezone to Agricultural is located in Section 9, T9N, R4E, Town of Franklin. Said area to be rezoned contains 35.17 acres more or less.

Simmert appeared and presented a staff report and background on the proposed rezone intended to allow the landowner to sell an existing house with five acres and retain ownership of the remaining land with possible future residential development.

Gaalswyk asked to be excused due to working with the Vogts and being personal friends. He agreed with the entirety of the staff report. Gaalswyk was excused from voting.

Halfen asked about adoption by the Village of Plain. Simmert responded that there is no recommendation by them.

Richard Vogt, appearing in favor, explained why he and his wife are asking for the rezone. There are no plans in the foreseeable future for development. Exhibit B lays out what the plans are and history. He feels no advantage to annexation to the village. This was approved at the plan commission public hearing with no objections. Village of Plain, the council president, and a couple board members were there. The town board approved this as well.

Seeing no one else wished to appear, Lehman closed the public hearing portion or the meeting at 11:10 a.m.

Motion by Ashford/Halfen to approve the rezone. Motion carried, all in favor with Gaalswyk abstaining.

Update and possible action on County Surveyor: Information on the pros and cons for elected, appointed, and contracted surveyor positions was provided to the committee along with what type of position other counties have and the state statutes related to the surveyor. A thorough updated job description needs to be completed in the form of a county ordinance. Motion by Halfen/Ashford that Corporation Council and the County Surveyor prepare an ordinance clarifying the surveyor’s duties. Motion carried, with four members in favor (Ashford, Halfen, Lehman, Nobs) and one no vote (Gaalswyk).

Register of Deeds Department:

a. Department Report: Bailey presented his year-end numbers compared to last year which overall showed a better year.
b. Review and approval of vouchers: Motion by Gaalswyk/Halfen to approve vouchers in the amount of $3,133.81 for November vouchers and $4,858.69 for December vouchers. Motion carried, all members in favor.

Motion by Ashford/Halfen to adjourn the meeting at 11:42 a.m. Motion carried with all members in favor. Halfen will not be at the February 9 meeting due to being on vacation.

Respectfully submitted,

Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary