Richland County

Office of the Zoning Administrator

Courthouse

181 West Seminary Street

Richland Center, WI 53581

608-647-2447

www.co.richland.wi.us

 

RICHLAND COUNTY ZONING COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 4, 2008

 

Item #1            The zoning committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Rasmussen at 9:00 a.m. Those present or who signed up to speak were Richard Rasmussen, Bob Holets, Carol Clausius, Marilyn Marshall, Virginia Wiedenfeld, Harriet Pedley, Arnold Williams, Alton Lisney, Randy Schmidt, Jerry Phillips, Don Fullerton and Ervin Mott.

 

Item #2            Motion by Clasuius, seconded by Holets, to approve the publication and agenda.  Motion carried.

 

Item #3            Rasmussen asked for any additions or corrections concerning the June 9, 2008 and June 26, 2008 meeting minutes.  Hearing none, Rasmussen declared them approved as mailed.

 

Item #4            The committee heard a petition from Arnold & Teresa Williams buyers and Gene Wanless, seller, to rezone 1.5 acres from Ag/Forest to Commercial in Section 4 of Buena Vista Township.  Rasmussen read the petition.  Arnold Williams presented his proposal to Richard Rasmussen and stated that he had been to the town board where they did not approve of the rezoning but would rather have the property stay Agriculture/Forestry and have him obtain a conditional use permit for a family farm business.  Pedley explained to the committee that since Williams is adding on to his existing parcel it loses it non-conforming status so it would have to be rezoned into the Commercial zoning district.  Randy Schmidt, town board chair of Buena Vista Township stated that their planning commission stated the same as above.  He said their comprehensive plan states that all commercial uses should be along Highway 14.   After considerable discussion it was decided that Pedley should contact Corporation Counsel, Ben Southwick, and discuss this matter to see what has to be done.  A special meeting will be held on the changes to the zoning ordinance and Mr. Williams is to be put on that agenda.  Motion by Bob Holets, second by Carol Clausius to table the Williams/Wanless petition and send it to the next county board session. Motion carried.

 

Item #5            The committee heard a petition from Alton Lisney to rezone 20 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 27 of Akan Township. Chairman Rasmussen read the petition. Lisney explained that he previously owned 23 acres in this area and it is not contiguous to his main farm. He sold a couple of acres to his daughter and 20 acres remain. Pedley stated that she had received no minutes from the Township but Lisney said the town didn’t have a problem with the rezoning only that they did not want any more than one home built on the parcel.  Pedley stated that the committee cannot require Lisney make an agreement to that but if he agrees that’s fine.  Lisney stated he would be willing to do that.  Motion by Wiedenfeld, second by Clausius to approve the Lisney petition and send it to the next county board session. Motion carried.  Pedley went on to explain about the small parcel that Lisney had previously sold to his daughter.  It has exchanged hands three or four times since Lisney sold it to his daughter and it now is owned by Laura Ratajczak.  Pedley has spoken to her and explained that the parcel she purchased was never rezoned therefore is an illegal parcel.  She would like someone else to pay for the rezoning since she doesn’t feel it is her fault.  Pedley will speak to the attorney about this matter also. 

 

Item #6            The committee heard a petition from Dennis Steven Baley to rezone 12 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 27 of Westford Township. Baley was not in attendance.  Pedley explained to the committee that Baley had a portion of his property rezoned a couple of months ago to sell to his nephew.  After that Baley was left with approximately 47 acres.  He now wants to sell 35 acres to his brother, Michael, and retain about 12 acres around his buildings.  The committee discussed the possibility of further division of the proposed 12 acres.  Pedley stated that with the location of the existing home, and outbuildings it wouldn’t be likely that it could be divided.  No minutes were received from the town of Westford.   Motion by Clausius, second by Wiedenfeld to approve the Baley petition and send it to the next county board session.  Motion carried.

 

Item #7            The committee heard a petition from Randy Schmidt for a Conditional Use Permit to place an agricultural structure within 500 feet of an existing residential structure under separate ownership.  Schmidt stated that there was a structure there but he has since torn most of it down.  He would like to rebuild the structure to be used to freshen heifers.  The placement of the structure was too close to Fairview Road so Schmidt received a variance from the Richland County Board of Adjustments on July 3, 2008. There are 2 homes within 500’ of which the use will remain the same. One neighbors, Don Vodak, attended the meeting and asked to be heard.  He presented a packet of information to the committee members and stated he was against this proposal saying that it would create a health hazard and stated he thought that permits were issued incorrectly in the past to Schmidt.  No minutes or contact was made from Buena Vista Township.   Motion by Rasmussen, seconded by Weidenfeld to approve the Schmidt petition. Motion carried.

            Later in the meeting Don Vodak asked to speak to the committee again. He brought up the health issues at the Schmidt farm with rotten manure and rotted soy beans sitting in puddles of water. The Committee directed him to contact the county nurse’s office. Vodak stated the Health Department has been notified.

 

Item #8            The committee heard a petition from Jerry Phillips to rezone 2.1 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-1 and obtain a Conditional Use Permit to replace an existing manufactured home with a 960 square foot manufactured house.  Don Fullerton attended from the planning commission of Willow Township and he stated that the town board had not met yet on this proposal but assured the committee that they would not have a problem with it.  Ervin Mott from Willow Township also attended and reiterated the comments of Fullerton.   Motion by Holets, seconded by Clausius to approve the rezoning request and pass it to the next county board session.  Motion carried.

 

Item #9            Pedley requested that the committee meet on a different day where we could concentrate on the zoning ordinance amendments.

 

Item #10          Pedley reported that the Anderson home has been demolished and they will be receiving a new home elevated to the flood protection level.  The Dave Bee home is in the process of mitigation to move his home to a different location since he is in the floodway of the Pine River.

 

Item #11          Nothing new to report on zoning violation.

 

Item #12          No report

 

Item #13          The next meeting will be Thursday, August 16th at 6:30 p.m. and the next regular meeting will be September 2, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.  Motion to adjourn by Holets, seconded by Marshall.  Motion carried.