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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning & Zoning Committee - Minutes - 6/28/2022Page 1 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 16, 2022 MINUTES BAYFIELD COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING JUNE 28, 2022 1. Call to Order of Public Hearing: Chairman Rondeau called the public hearing to order at 5:00 PM 2. Roll Call: Ray – absent, Pocernich,Rondeau, Silbert, Strand – present. Other’s present: Director-Ruth Hulstrom (Via Teams), Tracy Pooler-AZA, Franki Gross-Secretary, and Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator. 3. Affidavit of Publication:Pooler stated the Affidavit of Publication was fulfilled. Published Tuesday, June 14th and Tuesday, June 21st, 2022. Lacking Bell, Delta, Hughes, & Iron River Signature Cards from the Clerks. 4. Public Comment – None to comment 5. Review of Meeting Format – Chairman Rondeau explained the procedure of the meeting. He asked everyone who wished to speak to fill out a form; and stated they will be asked to come forward and speak into the microphone. 6. Public Hearing: A. Petition to Amend Ordinance [Section 13-1-29 (b) (3) e. and f.] Hulstrom stated it was brought to the department’s attention through the public housing authority and an existing structure redevelopment project in Iron River that some changes need to be made with the existing multiple unit development ordinance. Department staff is working through adding a code amendment to the current ordinance to allow existing structures to be included in the sub sections of the ordinance to allow the committee some flexibility to waive or reduce open space requirements for a multiple unit development for existing structures. Hulstrom further stated that the public housing authority has some interest in having additional flexibility for affordable housing developments in the county and the code amendment would allow the committee flexibility to waive or reduce the open space requirements for a multiple unit development if the development has sponsorship by the public housing authority. Mike Furtak (Hughes), Agent for Dale Mitchell and the future buyer/contractor, Nathan Johnson on the Iron River project. He spoke in favor of the project and noted how these downtown city centers were developed a long time ago before there was zoning and there is no open space available. Furtak further stated that for these city centers, it makes Page 2 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 16, 2022 sense to infill and not require open space to help facilitate these developments and make use of existing buildings. Jason Maloney is a member of the Bayfield County Housing Commission. He thanked the committee members for considering this change to the ordinance. Maloney stated that this change would allow the housing authority to build new construction similar to what the housing authority currently has now and also the ability to repurpose buildings that already exist in the county. Tracy Pooler reminded the committee that they received a letter via drop box from David Popelka about the proposal. Rondeau asked three times if anyone would like to speak in opposition. No one spoke. Discussion ended. 7. Adjournment of Public Hearing: Strand made a motion to adjourn the public hearing, Silbert seconded. Motion carried, 4-0. Adjourned at 5:10 pm. 8. Call to Order of Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting: Rondeau called the meeting to order at 5:11 pm. 9. Roll Call: Ray - absent, Pocernich, Rondeau, Silbert, Strand - present. Other’s present: Director-Ruth Hulstrom (Via Teams), Tracy Pooler-AZA, Franki Gross–Secretary, and Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator. 10. New Business A. Petition to Amend Ordinance [Section 13-1-29 (b) (3) e. and f.] Silbert made a motion to approve the amendments to the open space ordinance section 13-1-29 (b)(3) based on the Zoning Ordinance and all applicable laws, the consideration of the Town Board, and the community or the general welfare and economic impacts of the proposal. Strand seconded. Pocernich questioned why it is being limited to the applicants sponsored by the housing authority. Hulstrom responded that this is a small fix to allow some current projects to move forward this year and reiterated that this code section is in need of a universal rewrite. Strand clarified that he is supporting the motion with the understanding that the department and the committee will be looking at the entire multiple unit development code section. Silbert confirmed that this is his understanding as well. Discussion continued by the committee. Motion carried, 3-1, Pocernich opposed. Page 3 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 16, 2022 11. Other Business B.Committee Members Discussion(s) Regarding Matters of the Planning & Zoning Department Silbert reiterated that the committee and the new director are committed and will be looking into the open space requirements. Pocernich stated he is getting a lot of phone calls regarding the zoning department and the timing of permits getting out. But more specifically regarding the Concert in the Corn that is put on by White River Ag. He states that they are being told that they will not be able to move forward with the Concert in the Corn because it is not an appropriate land use. Hulstrom stated that she has been in contact with Cole Vernon and Jeff Miller on this particular event. It came to the department’s attention because they had submitted a land use permit application for a garage with a bathroom and there was an address and Tax ID discrepancy when entering it into the system. At this time the department became aware that the proposed use of the property was not in line with what was permitted or potentially allowable. Their website was actively selling tickets for a two-night event and four nights of camping. This site is not permitted for this and camping at this point is not an allowable use with a conditional or a special use for an Ag-1 property. Hulstrom further stated that she reached out to the former zoning director, Rob Schierman and he stated that the event was approved by him last year for a one-night occurrence. He supported them having to pursue a conditional use permit. Abeles-Allison asked Hulstrom on the status of the conditional use permit application. Hulstrom confirmed that a conditional use permit application has not been submitted at this time. Mike Furtak commented that he dropped off to the department today a request for a special planning & zoning committee meeting to address this issue, payment, and authorized agent paperwork. The problem for them is timelines and that the classification list for Bayfield County Zoning comes under banquet/event center which does not apply to their event request. Silbert confirmed that what he heard Hulstrom state was that she was working with the applicant to get the proper application to help this event proceed. He thanked Hulstrom for working with them. Discussion continued by the committee. Furtak added that campgrounds need to be addressed with the current zoning classification list and what is or is not allowable in an Ag-1 or R-1 zone. Hulstrom responded and referenced that the code section Furtak mentioned for uses that are not on the list it states that applications will be made to the committee for interpretation. Abeles-Allison asked Hulstrom if at the next committee meeting this topic could be discussed and the committee could take action regarding this application. Hulstrom stated that typically with an event venue/banquet hall use it requires a conditional use permit and that a public hearing would need to be held. She is not sure it can happen all in one meeting. Furtak commented that the timing of the next meeting does not work for their timeline and would like to have a special meeting in the next two weeks to determine what is needed if anything for an event like this. Pocernich Page 4 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 16, 2022 commented that time is limited, and the timelines seem unreasonable. Would like to see the staff helping people get what they need and limit the number of times they need to come into the department. Hulstrom responded to Pocernich that she appreciates his input and that with the staff turnover, permit load and back log, it has definitely impacted the processing time of applications. She further states that she hears the concerns and wishes she could easily interpret the code and understand all of the processes automatically and have new staff understand things pretty readily. She understands that we are in the midst of the building season but unless they can have additional staff or time allocated to the budget the department is doing the best they can. They have prioritized getting backlogged applications issued. She offered for any committee members to come by the office if they would like to see the day-to-day processes in the department. They are welcome to stop in. She assured the committee that they are working as quickly and efficiently as they possibly can. The department does not have any interest in holding things up and want to make sure people get the permits they need in a good amount of time so they can get moving on their projects. Pocernich recommended that two part-time people be added to the department for the summer and Rondeau concurred. Pocernich stated he would bring it up at the next personnel committee meeting and Rondeau supported this. 12. Adjournment Rondeau called adjournment at 5:40 pm. Prepared by FIG on 7/11/2022-Completed by HRD 10/21/2022; given to REH 10/21/2022 Approved by REH on 10/28/2022 Sent to PZC on 10/28/2022 Final Approval on 11/17/2022 cc: (after final approval)- (8) Supervisors, Cty Admin, Clerk, DNR, Web k/zc/minutes/2022/#6 June