Richland County

Office of the Zoning Administrator

Courthouse

181 West Seminary Street

Richland Center, WI 53581

 

ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

October 3, 2005

 

Item #1            The zoning committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Rasmussen at 9:00 a.m.  In attendance were Richard Rasmussen, Marilyn Marshall, Carol Clausius, Bruce Wunnicke, Betty Havlik, Harriet Pedley, Mary Storms, Bill Seep, Rich & Darren Gunderson, Dawn Ingham, Dennis Bomkamp, Keith Tlapa, Jim Lewis, Ross & Theresa Halverson, Jim & Patti Seep.

 

Item #2            Pedley stated that the agenda had been posted on the bulletin board in the basement, published in the newspaper and announced on the radio.  Rasmussen read the agenda.  Motion by Havlik, seconded by Clausius to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.

 

Item #3            Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Clausius to approve the September 12, 2005  minutes as mailed.  Motion carried.

 

Start of Public Hearing 9:02 a.m.

 

Item #4            The committee heard the petition of Karl Gutknecht to rezone approximately 27 acres in two parcels, one 12 acres and one 15 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential all in Section 28 of Buena Vista Township.  Dawn Ingham, real estate agent from ERA Country Land Realty, stated that Gutknecht would like to rezone 2 parcels.  The 12 acre parcel contains the old farm buildings and the 15 acres is vacant land.  Pedley read into the record a petition from area neighbors in opposition of the request.  Gutknecht did receive approval from the township. Rasmussen stated that Marty Kinyon was not notified and is against the rezoning also.  Pedley apologized that his name was missed.  Rasmussen then read into the record the factors to be considered in all rezonings.  These factors/questions also appear on the back of the application that the individuals fill out when applying for a rezoning.  There was discussion between the board and Ingham on how the divisions were figured.  Ingham stated that there are natural waterways in both and they were keeping this in mind.  Ingham stated she could not say where a person would build on the 15 acre parcel or where the driveway would be located.  Havlik stated she didn’t like to see prime cropland divided up.  Pedley stated that the board could rezone only one parcel and not the other if it so desired.  Further discussion followed.  Motion by Rasmussen, seconded by Havlik to approve the rezone of the 12 acre parcel and deny the rezone request for the 15 acre parcel from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential all in Section 28 of Buena Vista Township.  Motion carried.  The approved 12 acres rezone will be passed onto the next county board session if the survey is received by October 17th.

 

Item #5            The committee heard the petition of Keith & Julie Tlapa to rezone 11.61 acres from Residential 2 to Agriculture/Residential in Section 26 of Eagle Township.  Keith Tlapa stated he was not aware that his property was zoned Residential-2.  Pedley explained that when he came in to get a building permit for a horse barn, the permit could not be issued because farm animals/farming is not allowed in the Residential-2 district.  Pedley then read a letter of approval from Eagle Township.  No neighbors were heard from.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Marshall to approve the rezone request to rezone 11.61 acres from Residential 2 to Agriculture/Residential in Section 26 of Eagle Township and pass it to the next county board session on October 25th.  Motion carried.

 

Item #6            The committee heard the petition of Dennis, Susan, Ronald and Donald Bomkamp, sellers and Kevin Burkhamer, buyer to rezone approximately 2 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-2 in Section 1 of Eagle Township.  Dennis Bomkamp stated that they own 200 acres at the end of Bethke Ln and the renter now would like to buy the house and a couple of acres around the house.  Bomkamp stated that there are two dwellings on this farm.  The house in question needs a new basement and they are selling enough land that if a new septic has to be installed there will be room behind the house to install one.  Bomkamp stated that they will continue to farm the remaining land.  Discussion between the board and Bomkamp followed.  Pedley read a letter of approval from Eagle Township.  No neighbors were heard from.  Motion by Havlik, seconded by Wunnicke to approve the rezone of approximately 2 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-2 in Eagle Township and pass it to the next county board session.  Motion carried.  Pedley must receive the survey by the October 17, 2005 to go to the October 25, 2003 county board session.

 

Item #7            The committee heard the petition of Ross Halverson, seller and Adam Miller, buyer, to rezone approximately 4 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential 2 in Section 35 of Buena Vista Township.  Halverson explained to the committee that the parcel is not used as agricultural property.  It is the old Goodrich property.  The original 2.1 acres lot has the homestead that is not occupied and is in need of repair.  Halverson moved an additional house onto the property in 2000.  There is a new septic at this site.  They would now like to sell this house and keep the old homestead property.  There is an old barn on the original homestead that at one time they had thought of making into an antique business but could not meet the state standards for a commercial structure. They still use the old barn for storage.  Halverson stated that he had been to the Board of Adjustment for a variance of .5 acres to the required parcel size of 2 acres that had been approved at the September 30, 2004 meeting.  Halverson stated that the pending sale of the newer home is his reason for requesting the rezoning.  Halverson has received approval from the town board and no neighbors were heard from.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Clausius to approve the rezone request of approximately 4 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-2 in Section 35 of Buena Vista Township and pass it to the next county board session if a survey is received no later than October 17, 2005.  Motion carried.

 

Item #8            The committee heard the petition of Darren & Suzanne Gunderson, buyers, and Richard and Janelle Gunderson, sellers, to rezone approximately 2 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-2 in Section 30 of Dayton Township.  Darren explained to the committee that he and his wife would like to purchase 2 acres from his parents to build a new home on.  He presented photos showing the lay of the land and when they are planning to build.  There was discussion between the board and Gunderson about the land, access and placement of the home.  Town notification stated they had no problem with the request.   No neighbors were heard from.   Motion by Havlik, seconded by Marshall to approve the petition to rezone approximately 2 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Residential-2 in Section 30 of Dayton Township and pass it on to the next county board session if a survey is received no later than October 17, 2005.  Motion carried. 

 

Item #9            The committee heard the petition of Jim & Patti Seep for a conditional use permit for a family farm business (beauty salon) in Section 34 of Westford Township.  Patti stated that she would like to construct and operate a beauty shop at their residence with just one chair.  She stated that they had previously owned 3 acres that was zoned residential and have purchased additional acres that are presently zoned Agriculture/Forestry.  Seep stated the new building will be on the Residential-2 zoned portion of the property.  Pedley was under the understanding that the proposed structure would be on the property zoned Agriculture/Forestry where a family farm business could be allowed by conditional use permit.  A family farm business is not allowed in the Residential-2 zoning district.  There was discussion between the board and the Seeps and also what conditions to impose.  It was suggested that they might be interested in rezoning the original parcel back to the Agriculture/Forestry zoning district.  Motion by Havlik, seconded by Clausius to issue a conditional use permit for a beauty shop as long as all state, federal and local permits are issued and attached to the record and file a petition to rezone the three acres from Residential-2 to Agriculture/Forestry waiving any additional fee.    Motion carried.   

 

Close Public Hearing 10:11 a.m.

 

Item #10          Friends of Richland County vs. Richland County – Pedley stated that a copy of the transcript of the court proceedings is available in the Zoning Office if anyone is interested in reviewing it.  Pedley will keep the committee advised on any new developments.

 

Item #11          Comprehensive Planning -  The next meeting for Comprehensive Planning will be October 5th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Conference Room One, 1st floor of the courthouse.  Plans are to finalize the Housing and Transportation Element and discuss Agriculture, Natural & Cultural Resources along with discussion of Utilities/Facilities and Economic Development elements.  Pedley asked if anyone had their transportation packet with them and completed.  Havlik turned in hers.  Clausius asked if the meetings could be moved to another night instead of Wednesdays.  This will be brought up at the meeting on the October 5, 2005.

 

Item #12          Zoning Violations – no report

 

Item #13          Report from the zoning administrator – Pedley stated she had heard from Lance Gurney, Sauk County Zoning and he stated that the meeting held in Spring Green regarding the Tri-County Airport Ordinance had gone well and hoped to have the proposed revisions ready in the next couple of months.

                        Pedley mentioned the Livestock Siting Ordinance.  There will be more information coming out on this matter. 

 

Item #1            The next regular meeting will be held on November 7, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.  Motion by Havlik, seconded by Marshall to adjourn.  Motion carried.