Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning & Zoning Committee - Minutes - 6/15/2023 Page 1 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 15, 2023 MINUTES BAYFIELD COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC MEETING JUNE 15, 2023 1. Call to Order of Public Hearing: Chairman Rondeau called the public hearing to order at 4:01 PM 2. Roll Call: Pocernich, Rondeau, Silbert, and Strand – present. Ray - Absent Other’s present: Director-Ruth Hulstrom, AZA-Tracy Pooler, and Franki Gross– Secretary 3. Public Comment – Chairman Rondeau stated at this time, we will open a meeting for public comment limited to 3 minutes per citizen. If you wish to speak, make sure you come forward. Make sure the microphones are on. The little red light will come on. State your name so we have it for the record. Ms. Kimberly Suske spoke and expressed concern regarding the commercial storage building request and the impact the light pollution will have on the area. Ms. Suske requests that the Committee consider placing conditions on the applicant that they have maybe motion activated lights or some kind of restrictive measures to reduce the impacts from lighting. Mr. Tom Croteau addressed the Committee expressing concerns about the commercial storage building request directly to the South from his property. He also is concerned with light pollution from the storage facility and the effects on his property value having a commercial building next to him. Mr. Croteau would like the Committee to consider conditioning the applicant to place a natural barrier between the properties. 4. Review of Meeting Format – Chairman Rondeau stated there is no Public Hearing so the meeting will move on to New Business. 5. New Business A. Ross Lightner (Bayview) – request a Special Use Permit for Storage (Campers, Boats, Mini-Storage, Etc.) in an A-1 zoning district. Property is an A-1 zoning district; a 4.75–acre parcel (Tax ID# 37489), further described as A A Bigelow & Co Sub Lot 55 in Doc# 2021R-590458 in Section 29, Township 46 North, Range 4 West, Town of Bayview, Bayfield County, WI. The proposed use includes the construction of a new 40’ x 150’ storage building. Hulstrom gave a summary of the applicant’s request and the property details. Hulstrom stated the property is undeveloped and requires a Class-B for the storage building usage. Hulstrom stated that the Town Board approved the request and placed the conditions that the lighting must be downward facing, the Page 2 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 15, 2023 units be limited to 30, and the building be painted a neutral color. Pocernich had questions for the applicant about how long he has owned the property and Mr. Lightner replied 2 years come August. Pocernich asked if there were other structures on the property and Lightner stated there is an old chicken coop that has fallen over but that is all. Silbert mentioned that Mr. Lightner has some storage facilities in Washburn, and they are well cared for and look very nice. Silbert made a motion to approve the Special Use Permit request for Mr. Lightner citing the Town’s conditions, downward facing lights that are dark sky compliant, 30-unit limit, and neutral paint color, and additionally some fencing or barrier between Mr. Lightner’s property and Mr. Croteau, and if possible be respectful to Ms. Suske’s side of the property, based on Zoning Ordinance and all other applicable laws, consideration of the Town Board recommendation, relevant public input, the maintenance of safe & healthful conditions, and the community or general welfare and economic impacts of the proposal. Hulstrom asked Silbert to repeat his motion because she didn’t get everything written down and wanted to make sure she didn’t miss anything and make sure she got the details of the conditioned screen or fencing correct. Silbert clarified that the screening or fencing be long enough & high enough to hide the building from Mr. Croteau’s property. Strand asked if the 40’ x 150’ building is being replaced with the 30-unit limit? Silbert stated that the 40’ x 150’ is what is being asked for and there will be 15 units on each side for a total of 30 units. Mr. Lightner confirmed that is correct. Hulstrom asked if the barrier is only for the North property boundary. Silbert stated yes, where the residences are located. Mr. Lightner asked for confirmation that placing a natural barrier like a tree fence would satisfy Mr. Croteau and the Committee. Mr. Croteau stated yes that is what he would prefer over a chain link fence. Pocernich asked the Chair why there isn’t a public hearing on this item and Hulstrom answered that this is a Class-B and doesn’t require a public hearing. Seconded by Strand. Motion carried, 4-0 6. Other Business B. Minutes of Previous Minutes: (May 18, 2023 & July 1, 2023) Hulstrom noted the July 1st, 2023, should be corrected to state June 1st, 2023 Special Meeting. Strand also noted a correction in the May 18th minutes that he cited the Smith request and meant the Dalbec request. Strand moved to approve the Minutes of the May 18th, 2023, Planning and Zoning Committee meeting with noted correction & the June 1, 2023, Special Meeting. Seconded by Silbert. Motion carried, 4-0 C. Discussion and possible action regarding Boathouse Ordinance Amendment Hulstrom stated the Committee should have been provided with all of the correspondence that the Department received back from some of the other counties that have also been struggling with boat houses. Some of the issues Page 3 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 15, 2023 the Department has been seeing are individuals utilizing boathouses for non- boathouse purposes, some as residences, some as patio houses, and party houses. The Department's concern is that the existing language regarding development of boathouses is not making it clear that these boathouses are meant to be utilized for boathouse only purposes. Hulstrom stated she feels like that is communicated with some of these emails the Department got back from other counties that are struggling with similar issues and had to update their boathouse language to make it clearer that the boathouse needs to be designed in a way where it minimizes the possibility of individuals using it for non-boathouse purposes. Strand commented on the flat roof design and Hulstrom stated that boathouse roofs must be gabled here in Bayfield County but there is no pitch requirement. Silbert asked about foundation standards and Hulstrom replied there are no restrictions on what a boathouse can be placed on. Discussion occurred about the standards that other counties have in place for boathouses, specifically Waushara County. The Committee noted they like the idea of adding a boathouse to the deed and that would be passed along to whoever purchased the property and they would be aware that that is a boathouse, and it should be utilized for boathouse purposes only. Pocernich asked what Bayfield County’s setback is for a boathouse and Hulstrom replied 10’ from the OHWM with no maximum. Hulstrom stated our ordinance language states a boathouse is an accessory structure and cannot be the first structure on the parcel, has a gable roof with eaves not to exceed 24 inches and shall be designed, constructed, and used solely for the storage of boats and or related equipment, and shall not include any habitable living area, including, but not limited to decks, patios, lean-tos, or porches. Pocernich asked if in our Ordinance we address plumbing. Hulstrom replied it states boathouses should not be equipped with potable water supply, fireplaces, patio doors, food prep equipment, furniture, any other features inconsistent with the use of the structure exclusively as a boathouse. Pocernich asked for clarification on when the affidavit would be used to record a boathouse on the deed. Hulstrom stated if the applicant was to want any kind of loft, 2nd story, etc., they would have to record the affidavit signing that they understand that they will build within the parameters of the ordinance language. Strand asked if Hulstrom understood the direction the Committee would like Hulstrom to explore regarding the different elements of the ordinance language from the other counties to make it clear that boathouses are for nautical uses only. Hulstrom stated she did. D. Discussion and possible action regarding Code Re-write Hulstrom stated that the Department is anticipating the code re-write to begin early next year. The Comprehensive Plan should be finalized by the end of the year and then the Department can begin pursuing funds for the re-write such as potential grant funds that could be utilized as matching funds. A number of ideas have been discussed, stated Hulstrom, as to how that could be done, but the one that rises to the forefront is looking at working with a third party or a consulting firm to help facilitate the code re-write and then having staff and the Planning and Zoning Committee or a steering committee help make sure Page 4 of 4 Planning and Zoning Committee Public Hearing and Meeting – June 15, 2023 that the re-write aligns with the needs of the field. Hulstrom stated that she is reaching out to get some numbers from consulting firms to present to the Committee. Rondeau voiced his support for a re-write due to the ordinances being so hard for a layman to understand. Rondeau also commented that the potential consulting firm have references in having experience with counties like Bayfield and not a firm that is used to dealing with a county of say 400,000 people. Silbert also gave support to the idea of hiring a consultant to help make the language easier to understand. Strand concurred that we need an outside consultant firm to do much of this but with substantial department input. Strand also commented that it is important to make sure that the potential firm will do what we want to do and not be boilerplate. E. Committee Members discussion(s) regarding matters of the P & Z Dept. Hulstrom noted that the Department anticipates putting in an additional request for more staff, at a minimum a part-time office person as well as being in discussion with Public Health about a possible short-term rental shared position. That person could help with doing some inspections for land use and sanitary, but their main specialty focus area would be short-term rentals. Hulstrom also stated that the Department anticipates a potential office staff retirement in the future. The Department doesn’t know exactly when, but we are trying to plan for the future, with future staffing as well, as we continue to see permit load increases. The Department wants to make sure that we're able to be timely in our review and issuance, commented Hulstrom, and so making sure that we can staff appropriately to be able to do that since there is a lot of regulations to review. Silbert asked how the proposed arrangement with Public Health would work. Hulstrom stated that the position would not be required to be a sanitarian but would be overseen by a sanitarian for the Public Health portion, and for the Zoning Department portion the person would be POWTS & Soils certified and be versatile in the Department. 7. Monthly Report / Budget and Revenue Hulstrom stated the Committee should have received the monthly report for May 2023 in their packet in Dropbox. Hulstrom also stated that land use permits & sanitary permits are both up compared to last year and the Department continues to be busy. Strand made a motion to receive and place on file the Monthly Report for May 2023. Seconded by Silbert. Motion carried, 4-0 8. Adjournment Rondeau called adjournment at 5:10 pm. Prepared by FIG on 6/31/2023; given to RH 7/7/2023 Approved by RH on 7/10/2023 Sent to PZC on 7/11/2023 Final Approval on 7/20/2023 cc: (after final approval)- (8) Supervisors, Cty Admin, Clerk, DNR, Web