Ordinance Amendment to approve a map amendment (rezoning) of lands in the Town of Baraboo from a Commercial to an Agriculture Zoning District filed upon William Brown, property owner.

Background: William Brown owns land in the NE ¼ of the SE 1/4 of Section 21, T12N, 14 R6E, Town of Baraboo, Sauk County, and as further described as Lot 1 CSM 2650 and in 15 Petition 9-2022.  Tax parcel identification number 002-0662-00000.  The intent of the map 16 amendment (rezoning) from a Commercial to an Agriculture zoning district is to allow for 17 the establishment of a (tourist) lodging house as a special exception pursuant to Sauk 18 County Code of Ordinances §7.036(5)(i). 19  20 Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §59.69(5) Sauk County has the authority to develop, adopt, and 21 amend a zoning ordinance.  At a public hearing held by the Land Resources and 22 Environment (LRE) Committee on March 22, 2022; the LRE Committee made findings 23 pursuant to Sauk County Code of Ordinance §7.150(9) and recommended approval of the 24 map amendment. 25  26 Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §66.1001 Wisconsin Statutes, any program or action of a local 27 governmental unit that affects land use shall be consistent with the comprehensive plan.  28 The Sauk County Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors 29 in 2009, defines managing and focusing “on efficient land use patterns that promotes 30 redevelopment of under-utilized lands.  It sets limits on outward growth, incorporates 31 permanent land preservation techniques, and achieves livable communities.”  Upon 32 evaluation of the request, the Land Resources and Environment Committee found that the 33 rezone request to enable a (tourist) lodging house meets this provision of Sauk County’s 34 Comprehensive Plan. 35  36 The proposed map amendment is also consistent with the Town of Baraboo 37 Comprehensive Plan.  Specifically, the town’s plan calls for future commercial 38 development along the County Road BD corridor. While the change in zoning to 39 Agriculture appears to counter the town’s plan, the end use is commercial in nature which 40 meets the consistency requirement.