Richland County

Office of the Zoning Administrator

Courthouse

181 West Seminary Street

Richland Center, WI 53581

 

ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

November 7, 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, Patti Seep, Bill & Colleen Schroeder, Chad Genshaw, Darrin Crook, Alvin & Dorothy Sensenig, Jane Ewing, Bonnie Bailey, Bruce Bullamore, Twyla Gillingham, Dan Parduhn, Clyde Johnson, and Dennis Scott.

 

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

 

Item #3            Motion by Havlik, seconded by Marshall to approve the October 3, 2005 mailed minutes.  Motion carried.

 

Item #4            Motion by Havlik, seconded by Marshall to approve the mailed Comprehensive Planning Meeting minutes of October 6, 2005.  Motion carried.

 

Start of Public Hearing 9:02 a.m.

 

Item #5            The committee heard the petition of Jim & Patti Seep to rezone approximately 3 acres from Residential-2 to Agriculture/Forestry in Section 34 of Westford Township. Patti stated that she is asking for the rezoning so she can open a one-chair beauty saloon on her property and to do so the parcel needs to be zoned back to Agriculture/Forestry.  The Westford town board had no problem with the request.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Clausius to rezone approximately 3 acres from Residential-2 to Agriculture/Forestry in Section 34 of Westford Township and pass it to the next county board session on December 13, 2005.  Motion carried.   

 

Item #6            The committee heard the petition of Alvin & Dorothy Sensenig for a conditional use permit for a greenhouse in Section 27 of Marshall Township.  Sensenig stated that he and his wife would like to open a greenhouse.  He has been in contact with Charlotte Martin, state commercial building inspector, and no commercial permits are required because it is agriculture and most of the products sold will be grown on site.  An approval letter from the township has been received.  There was discussion and the following conditions are to be place on the permit:

 

1.      Parking lot to be gravel

2.      Waterway to be grassed as soon as possible

3.      Hours of operation shall be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

4.      Parking space for 10 vehicles

5.      One dusk to dawn light shall be installed on the structure

6.      All applicable federal, state and local permits with copies provided to the zoning office.

 

A sign permit will be needed for any signage.  Motion by Clausius, seconded by Marshall to approve the conditional use permit with the above mentioned conditions for a greenhouse in Section 27 of Marshall Township.  Motion carried.

 

 

Item #7            The committee heard the petition of Andrew & Dawn Silvers for an extension of an existing Conditional Use Permit for temporary placement of a mobile home while a new home is being built in Section 22 of Willow Township.  Andrew stated that this should be the last time they need to ask for an extension as he hopes to be completed by December of 2006.  They had run into problems in construction at first but those should all be resolved.  Wunnicke stated that Silvers are making progress and it is not an eyesore.  There has also been no complaints about the project.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Havlik to approve the extension of the existing Conditional Use Permit for temporary placement of a mobile home while a new home is being built in Section 22 of Willow Township to expire on December 31, 2006.  Motion carried.

 

Item #8            The committee heard the petition of Bill & Colleen Schroeder, Alana Springs Campground, for a Special Use Permit for expansion of an existing campground in Section 6 of Richland Township. Bill stated that they would like to increase the number of campsites from 23 to 36.  The actual size of the campground would not increase, as the existing campsites will be reconfigured.  There would be no additional roads constructed at the Campground.  The Schroeders have been working with Wertz Plumbing on their plans.  Pedley stated that the present septic system they have will handle the increase water usage as the system that was originally installed in 1990 was oversized.  This increase will also handle the dump station that was installed by the previous owners with no permits.  Pedley showed plans for adding more lavatories and showers and making the building ADA accessible.  Havlik wondered if the well was sufficient enough to handle the increase in sites.  Colleen stated that when they purchased the property she thought they were told that it would handle 5 family homes.  Wertz has stated that they will need to install some pressure tanks for the shower house but he has not mentioned anything about the well not being able to handle what the Schroeder’s have plans for.  Bill Schroeder stated that he has not been to the town board yet.  He had contacted the chairman to get on their agenda but never heard back from him.  The committee stated that they would like to have the input from the town before making their decision.  Motion by Havlik, seconded by Clausius to table the Schroeder petition for a Special Use Permit for expansion of an existing campground in Section 6 of Richland Township until the Schroeder’s have been to their township.  Motion carried.

 

Item #9            The committee heard the petition of Bonnie Bailey, owner, Chad Genshaw and Darrin Crook, buyers for a Conditional Use Permit for multi-family dwellings on Lots 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 8, Block 21, Sextonville, Buena Vista Township. Genshaw and Crook explained to the committee that they plan to build two 8 unit apartment buildings with future expansion of one more.  Rear parking is planned at this time.  There was considerable discussion between Genshaw, Crook and the board.  Twyla Gillingham stated that she does not live in Sextonville but she and her sisters still own the family home there and are not in favor of this project.  They feel the community is better suited for single family homes and not apartment complexes.  Clyde Johnson, a representative from the Sextonville Sanitary District, stated that with that many additional units, the sanitary system might not be able to handle the additional wastewater without having to expand.  He stated that would be costly to all the members of the sanitary district.  Dan Parduhn whose property boarders this project is not in favor of it also for all the same reasons listed above.  Crook stated that the 6 lots could have 6 duplexes as it is presently zoned.  Genshaw and Crook stated that the sale of the land is contingent upon approval of this project.  This property is 1.4 total acres.  Parking was questioned and it was stated that there would be 1 space for each unit in front of the building and 1 additional space in back for each unit.  Discussion continued between the committee, Genshaw and Crook.  Wunnicke stated there are many things that need further investigation before approval can be given.  Genshaw and Crook should meet with the neighbors and the people from the township to gather input from them.  The board needs something from the sanitary district or their engineering firm concerning the effect on the system from this proposal.  Motion by Rasmussen, seconded by Havlik to table this petition for a conditional use permit for multi-family dwellings in Sextonville until further information is gathered.  Motion carried.

 

Item #10          The committee heard the petition of Dennis & Judy Scott to rezone approximately 3 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Commercial and obtain a Conditional Use Permit for storage units in Section 2 of Eagle Township.  Scott explained to the committee that he owns approximately 59 acres on Hwy Y and runs a few beef cattle.  He stated he has a small area, approximately 8 acres, that he considers a good spot for his proposed storage units.  He has been building storage units for the last 20 years for other people and figures they could help financially when he retires.  Wunnicke stated he is not in favor of taking working farm land out of production and rezoning it commercial.  It was brought up that an adjoining neighbor, L & M Salvage, is a commercial business that was grandfathered in when zoning was adopted by the township.  Pedley stated she heard from one neighbor and they were not in favor of it.  Pedley stated that an approval letter from the township had been received.  Discussion between the committee and Scott continued.  Motion by Marshall, seconded by Clausius to approve the rezoning of approximately 3 acres from Agriculture/Forestry to Commercial.  Vote was 4 in favor with Wunnicke voting against the rezoning.  Motion carried.

Motion by Clausius, seconded by Havlik to approve the conditional use permit with the following conditions.  Motion carried.

 

1.                  Maximum of three 40 ft. x 70 ft. storage units

2.                  2 dusk to dawn lights shall be installed on each storage unit.

3.                  All driveways, entrances, turn-arounds and general traveled areas shall be graveled.

4.                  No new driveway entrance will be allowed on County Hwy Y

5.                  All applicable federal, state or local permits with copies provided to zoning office

 

Close Public Hearing 10:47 a.m.

 

Item #11          Bruce Bullamore-Economic Development Corporation to discuss anaerobic waste treatment for farm applications.  Bruce handed out a letter from the Wisconsin Focus on Energy stating that Richland County has been approved for a feasibility study grant concerning these farm applications.  Bullamore gave a brief talk on what is involved.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Havlik to Support the Focus on Energy grant and move it to the county board for their support.  Motion carried.

 

Item #12          Livestock Siting Ordinance -- Pedley stated that the law has been passed and DATCP is working on writing the rule.  The county needs to decide if they want to adopt this ordinance or not.  The reference to livestock facilities in the zoning ordinance constitutes the fact that we do have an ordinance and once the rule is approved at the state level, the county will be required to adopt the new standards.  If the county does not want to have anything to do with this rule/law then the reference in the zoning ordinance will have to be taken out.  There will be a Land Conservation Meeting on November 14, 2005 to discuss this situation with the Land Conservation Committee and hopefully make a decision. 

 

Item #13          Comprehensive Planning - Pedley has been in contact with Ron Niemann from Southwest Regional Planning and there will be no meeting in December.

 

Item #14          Friends of Richland County vs. Richland County – Pedley stated that the Friends of Richland County have 45 days from October 25, 2005 to file an appeal.  If not, then the case is over.

 

Item #15          Line item transfer of funds in 2005 budget – Pedley asked to take $1,200 from new equipment and transfer it to office supplies to be used for cartridges for the new printer.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Marshall to approve the request from Pedley for the $1,200 line item transfer.  Motion carried.

 

Item #16          Zoning Violations – To be discussed in the report from zoning administrator.

 

Item #17          Report from Zoning Administrator --  Bob Schoener who received a conditional use permit for a permanent manufactured home has not finished his project and the house is still not sitting on the foundation.  Pedley stated she has tried to contact him but with little success.  The committee told her to continue trying to contact him and advise him his project needs to be completed.  Pedley then brought up the paintball court previously owned by Eagle Cave.  The paintball court parcel has been sold but there is considerable junk left at the site, including old telephone wire spools and old tires.  Pedley will continue trying to contact the previous owners to get the site cleaned up.   Also, there has been no soil test completed at the campground which was to be done by December of 2004.  

 

Item #18          The next regular meeting will be held on December 5, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.  The December meeting will also serve as the Public Meeting on the new Tri-County Airport Ordinance.  The public hearing portion will be the first agenda item.  The committee will set aside the first ˝ hour or until all comments are heard.  Motion by Wunnicke, seconded by Marshall to adjourn.  Motion carried.