Richland County

Office of the Zoning Administrator

Courthouse

181 West Seminary Street

Richland Center, WI 53581

 

ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

October 11, 2004

 

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, Bruce Wunnicke, Carol Clausius, Betty Havlik, Harriet Pedley, Mary Storms, Attorney George Wilbur, Corporation Counsel Ben Southwick, Steve and Phil Rybarczyk, Marilyn Williamson, Vivian Kadousek, Don Herbeck, Janet Fuller, Tom Shields, Jim Lewis, Lorraine Mueller, Bruce Hostetler, Dave Ewing, Louise Jacob, Wannetta Bannister and Shawn Freestone.

 

Item #2            Motion by Clausius, seconded by Havlik to approve the agenda and publication.  Motion carried.

 

Item #3            Motion by Havlik, seconded by Clausius to approve minutes of August 23, 2004 and September 13, 2004.  Motion carried.

 

Start of Public Hearing 9:04 a.m.

 

Item #4            The committee heard the petition of Tom Shields to rezone 13.87 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 31 of Richland Township.  Shields stated that at the time he purchased the property he thought that it was already zoned Agriculture/Residential.  When the survey was received it was determined that the parcel did not meet the requirements of the zoning ordinance.  The buyer will be purchasing the whole parcel.  Shields stated that there is already a survey done on the parcel. Richland Township approved the request to rezone and no neighbors were heard from.  Motion by Marshall, seconded by Havlik to approve the petition to rezone 13.87 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 31 of Richland Township and pass it to the next county board session on October 26, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.  Motion carried.

 

Item #5            The committee heard the petition of Lorraine Mueller & Robert Fouts to rezone 5 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 20 of Orion Township.  Mueller stated that her parent’s farm is being divided between her brothers and herself.  Robert Fouts would like to improve the home on the parcel which is something the other family members cannot afford.  This request will create a five acre parcel surrounding the improvements that will be owned solely by Robert Fouts.  Mueller handed out a packet of information to the committee and explained where the parcel is located.  The family members will own the remaining 75 and would like to raise beef cattle at a later date.  The township approved the request and no neighbors were heard from.  A brief discussion followed between the committee and Mueller.  Motion by Clausius, seconded by Wunnicke to approve the petition to rezone 5 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Agriculture/Residential in Section 20 of Orion Township and pass it to the next county board session on October 26, 2004.  Motion carried.

 

Item #6            The committee heard the petition of Bruce Hostetler for a Conditional Use Permit for a Farm Family Business in Section 16 of Eagle Township.  Hostetler stated that he builds log furniture as a home based business.  He had been doing this for the last couple of years.  He has no employees at this time.  He stated some logs are purchased locally and some are brought in from different states.  The logs are stored off site at his father-in-laws.  Hostetler is aware that no more than 2 persons who are not members of the resident farm family may be employed in the farm family business.  Pedley stated she had not heard from any neighbors. It was asked what types of chemicals are used and Hostetler stated they only use varnish.  He also stated that it is not always applied by hand but sometimes it is sprayed on.  Wunnicke stated he would like to see a separate area for spraying.  Hostetler stated he will be dividing a lean-to in half and half will be used for spraying.  Wunnicke stated he would like to see an exhaust fan installed where the varnishing will be done.  Hostetler stated that he has been able to control his waste sawdust (a garbage can full per month) so far.  After some discussion between Hostetler and the committee the following conditions were placed on the property:

 

1.                  All federal, state and local permits need to be acquired.

2.                  No parking on state and county roads.

3.                  Need to comply with the ordinance for a sign permit.

4.         Install exhaust fan in one half of the lean-to where varnishing is being done.

 

Williamson, Eagle Township treasurer, stated that Hostetler had not been to the town board with this request.  Southwick informed the committee that there are no legal requirements for township approval of conditional use permits.  Wunnicke and Havlik stated they would prefer Hostetler go to the town board before the committee acts.  Motion by Marshall, seconded by Clausius to grant the conditional use permit for a farm family business with the above mentioned conditions in Section 16 of Eagle Township.  The vote was 3 in favor and 2 against with Wunnicke and Havlik voting no.  Motion carried.

 

Item #7            Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Clausius to bring the Ewing petition off the table from the September 13, 2004 meeting.  Ewing is requesting a conditional use permit for placement of a dwelling on something other than a basement in Section 25 of Dayton Township. 

Ewing appeared at the September 16, 2004 town meeting where the town approved a 25 x 48 manufactured home at the end of Burke Ln.  The committee had received information generated by the zoning office at the September 13, 2004 meeting.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Havlik to approve the conditional use permit for placement of a dwelling on something other than a basement in Section 25 of Dayton Township.  Motion carried.

 

Item #8            Motion by Havlik, seconded by Clausius to bring the Bannister petition off the table from the September 13, 2004 meeting. Present was Attorney George Wilbur, who is the court-appointed conservator for Bannister.  Wilbur is requesting a conditional use permit to replace a mobile home less than 24 feet wide with a manufacture home of 24 feet or less that has at least 1,000 square feet of floor space.  Attorney Southwick stated that conditions may be placed on the conditional use permit and those conditions are up to the committee as long as they are reasonable.  Southwick explained that “reasonable” may be to require clean up of the property in an area of 50 feet around the mobile home and the future site of the replacement manufactured home.  Another condition could be removal of the old mobile home.  Attorney Wilbur said he has been in contact with Marell in Hillsboro and also has been in contact with the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce concerning the approved plans for the septic system.  He also stated that he has been to the town board of Dayton and they requested that he draft a letter of intent for the clean up of the Bannister property.  Copies of this letter were supplied to the zoning committee.  The town will be supplying equipment for the clean up and they will be reimbursed for rental and time of operator. Wilbur stated that he is still trying to get someone to take 2 big trucks and a bus located on the property.  There are also more tires that need to be removed. Pedley stated that when they do the clean up to make sure they do not disturb the area where the new septic system is being proposed.  Wilbur stated that no decision on the old home has been made yet.  He wants to make sure that there is no value in it before he decides to repair it or burn it down.  He stated that even though a new home is coming in, the clean up process will not stop.  There was continued discussion between the committee and Attorney Wilbur and the following conditions were agreed upon.

 

1.                  Acres to be cleaned up is 9.7 acres in Dayton Township

2.                  There will be no abandoned vehicles left on the property – the abandoned vehicles are to be removed in 30 days from October 11, 2004.

3.                  All tires to be removed in 60 days from October 11, 2004.

4.                  Old septic tank to be pumped and properly abandoned.

5.                  The old mobile home will be removed 15 days after the new one is occupied.

6.                  Well shall be tested.

7.                  All power shall be removed from old house.

8.                  Acquire driveway permit from the Richland County Highway Department.

9.                  All federal, state and local permits to be acquired.

 

Louise Jacob, a neighbor, had questions as to who was going to monitor the situation after the new trailer is brought in.  Making sure no new abandoned vehicles are brought in or no new tires brought in or any other junk.  Attorney Southwick stated that conditions have to relate to conditions being asked for and not all other matters.  Attorney Southwick also stated that abandoned vehicles are a township matter and not a county matter.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Clausius to grant the conditional use permit to replace a mobile home less than 24 feet wide with a manufacture home of 24 feet or less that has at least 1,000 square feet of floor space with the above mentioned conditions.  The vote was 4 in favor with 1 against, with Havlik voting no.  Motion carried.

 

Close Public Hearing 10:45 a.m.

 

Item #9            Friends of Richland County vs. Richland County – Pedley stated she had talked to Attorney Yde before she left on vacation and was informed that the case will be decided by certiorari, which is a procedure for court review.  Pedley stated because of this she will not be deposed.  

 

Item #10          Neighbors to Albin Herbeck (Sextonville property) request to speak to the committee – Shawn Freestone appeared before the committee and stated that there is a mess around the Herbeck property and feels that it is a safety and health issue.  There was to be a tree barrier installed but Herbeck has removed some of the bushes.  Corporation Counsel Southwick stated that the condition the property was in when the town adopted zoned made it a legal non-conforming use.  If the Herbeck’s expanded their non-conforming use of the property more than 50 percent the county could have done something.  At that time, testimony from the neighbors was needed, but no one wanted to come forward so the county was limited as to what it could enforce.  One requirement the county did apply was to provide vegetative screening which was ordered by the court and Herbeck did install. Southwick stated that if Freestone feels there is a health issue he needs to contact Marianne Stanek, the county health officer, to see what she can do.  Southwick stated that the committee could direct Pedley to check out the court order to see if it is being complied with.  Don Herbeck stated that his father is in failing health and that he has sold off a few pieces of equipment that were located on the site.  Herbeck stated that they did pull a few bushes out as they were a hindrance of vision for anyone backing out of the driveway.  Herbeck stated that Freestone had cut about 8 feet of branches off the trees.  Freestone stated that his intentions were to construct a fence.  Herbeck stated they would be willing to split the cost of constructing a fence.  The committee agreed that both parties should come to an agreement on this situation.

 

Item #11          Eagle Cave -  The committee was provided with a packet which includes the Requirements for Eagle Cave Campground attached to the Special Use Permit Issued December 16, 2003.  Pedley stated that all items listed were agreed upon between the zoning committee and the Hanke’s at that time.  Hanke’s stated that the paint ball court had never been a part of Eagle Cave and shouldn’t be considered at all.  Hanke then handed out a packet that had inspection reports for the well and stated both had been approved.  The Hanke’s attorney, Joseph Hasler, had previously sent his opinion as to the compliance of each of the items listed in the requirements.  Pedley commented that neither the Hanke’s nor their attorney can now pick and choose which requirements they are going to abide by.  There was discussion concerning the amount of campsites and seating in the Mess Hall.  Pedley provided the committee with a copy of their state license concerning these areas.  If the Hanke’s increase the amount of their seating in the Mess Hall then the present septic system will have to be reviewed.  Their state license states they are licensed for 150 campsites.  It is this license that determined the amount of campsites allowed on the Special Use Permit.  The committee, Pedley and the Hanke’s went over the requirements issued by the zoning committee.  Amendments to the Special Use Requirements are as follows:

  1. A soil test must be performed no later than December 1, 2004 concerning the system that serves the dwellings.
  2. A maximum of 10 cabins of at least 190 square feet with a foundation shall be allowed.
  3. The charge for the after-the-fact permit noted in the specifications concerning the one cabin that was constructed by the Hanke’s shall be $40.00
  4. A privy to serve Section D (the lake) will have to be installed when the campsites are in operation.

The property where the paintball court is located has now been sold to the Hanke’s son and has a separate deed.  The parcel is now of illegal size and illegal use.  The owner will be contacted by the zoning office giving him his options. 

The Rybarczyk’s asked to be heard by the committee.  They stated that sanitary permits had not been issued for additional bedrooms; that the old trailers have been removed and replaced with larger trailers; there is parking on the sides of the road; they questioned if the cabin foundations were to be completed by December 1, 2004 or the December 16, 2004 as they had heard two different dates; and they requested copies of the documents that were handed out to the committee

           

 

Item #12          Zoning Violations – No report.

 

Item #13          Report from zoning administrator – Pedley stated that the cats have been removed from the house on the Friends of Animals property.  The garage on the property is going to be used to house the cats during the winter months.

                                   

Item #14          The next regular meeting will be held on November 1, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Marshall to adjourn.