DATE: June 23, 2009
Committee Members Present: Cassity, Ashford, Gaalswyk, and Netzinger.
Absent: Lehman.
Others Present: Mark Steward, Mary White, Dave Tremble, Marty Krueger, Lowell Haugen, Chad Brown, Brian Simmert, Linda Borleske, Joe Prem, and Bob Palmer.
Meeting called to order by Chairman Cassity at 9:00 A.M.
Staff certified compliance with open meetings law.
Motion by Ashford, seconded by Netzinger to adopt the amended meeting agenda. Motion carried, 4-0. At 10:00 a.m. The Committee will go to the public hearing, then reconvene in regular session immediately following the hearing.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Ashford to approve the minutes of the June 9, 2009 meeting. Motion carried, 4-0.
Public Comment: None
Communications: Channel 15 did a report on the Birkemeier sawmill. Krueger distributed a copy of a letter from Mary Kelly also regarding the sawmill. He also reported that he had received a phone call from Dennis Polivka, Town of Spring Green Chair, regarding the sawmill.
Jerry Schuette from Lake Redstone had contacted Krueger regarding what he thought was excessive permit fees to replace a septic system. He has also been in contact with department staff and had requested an extension of time to get the work completed.
Gaalswyk reported he had been contacted regarding possible ordinance changes to the ordinances on sawmills and camping. The citizen stated language on sawmills should stay the same and something should be worked out regarding a time limit on camping without permits.
The Committee briefly discussed the County Surveyor's position. Apparently, he is on vacation. Ashford stated that elected officers don't have a formal vacation. Cassity stated he left two messages on the Surveyor's answering machine with no return calls. Any further discussion would be held at the next meeting.
The Pace rezoning would not be discussed today. Pace, as well as two of his neighbors, had been contacted. Deed restrictions needed to be placed on the property. These deed restrictions would state that the property couldn't be divided any further. The deed restriction would be due by July 8, the committee would take action on July 14, and it would go to the County Board on July 21.
The Committee then reviewed a memo from Chad Brown, Assistant Corporation Counsel, regarding wind energy systems. Ordinances don't specify anything on this subject. Sauk County isn't a good place for strong winds. Four wind turbines have been applied for. These will be permitted as structures but there needs to be some regulation. Krueger stated that someone will be aggressively selling these. The Legislature is looking to the Public Service Commission to regulate them. Setbacks and tower heights are concerns. Shadow flicker and noise are problems. The County is not conducive to wind farms. Individual placements need to be focused on. Steward stated that this would be a "stand alone" ordinance. The Committee needs to try to accommodate the effort of alternative energy. The State is focusing on alternative energy and it would be difficult for Sauk County not to. Wind farms may need to go to the Board of Adjustment. Ashford asked if the Committee could ask the Corporation Counsel to draft something. The Committee is in favor of supporting the effort to use these towers so the wording needs to be liberal and to a minimum. Steward will draft something the Committee can review on July 14. The Committee requested Brown to find some web sites the Committee could use for review.
The Committee then reviewed the Planning and Zoning Department vouchers. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to approve the vouchers in the amount of $2,360.21. Motion carried, 4-0.
The next item to be discussed was the Comprehensive Planning Strategies. It was noted that the Planning and Zoning Committee is not the oversight committee for the comprehensive plan.
Dave Tremble appeared and explained the survey process. He briefly reviewed the survey categories and issues. The Steering Committee is meeting tomorrow night and are meeting with the Technical Advisory and Review Team. The committees need to proceed with caution to be sure they are seeing the whole plan and not just a small part of it.
The public hearing portion of the meeting was called to order by Chairman Cassity at 10:00 a.m.
Chair Cassity introduced the Committee and gave the order of the hearing.
The petition being heard today was a petition to rezone certain lands in the Town of Franklin, County of Sauk, Wisconsin, from an Exclusive Agricultural to a Commercial Zoning District. Lands are owned by Palmer Farms, Inc. Lands to be affected by the proposed rezone are located in Section 5, T9N, R4E, Town of Franklin, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Said parcel to be rezoned contains 2.5 acres more or less.
Brian Simmert appeared and gave the staff report and recommendation of approval.
The Committee had no questions.
Bob Palmer, property owner, appeared in favor. Dan Nachreiner is the owner of the proposed business and has outgrown his current location. Palmer plans to sell the property to Nachreiner. Cassity was concerned about erosion problems as the parcel is on a hill. Palmer explained that the site was being leveled off. There would be less runoff than there is now.
Mr. Joe Prem, Town of Franklin Chair, appeared to favor. He stated that the Town has no problem with the project and they had held a public hearing with no objections. The Village of Plain was planning an industrial park in the area. The property hasn't been annexed but may be in the future. Extraterritorial zoning was discussed. The Village of Plain does not exercise extraterritorial authority. Netzinger asked if extensive filling and grading would impact the septic system. Brian Cunningham from the Planning and Zoning Office has been to the site and the system will be a holding tank.
Steward confirmed that due to excessive land disturbance a holding tank was the most appropriate system for the lot.
Seeing that no one else wished to speak the public portion of the hearing was closed at 10:30 a.m.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to approve the change in zoning from Exclusive Agricultural to a Commercial Zoning District. Motion carried, 4-0.
Steward then distributed a program grading sheet for the department. This sheet was designed to show the importance of each program the Department provides. The Committee decided this information was very subjective and of limited use.
The Committee then reviewed Draft 2010 Budget form 1. The Vision Statement was briefly reviewed. The statement on educating citizens needs to be updated. Protecting the County's natural resources needed to be considered. The Committee then reviewed the Goals section. Netzinger stated how personnel handles the public was very important. They needed to work on being more friendly. Codes needed to be enforced but tactfully. The public needed to be educated. Long Term Goals were reviewed. The purchase of development rights was discussed. On the Long Term Goals page the Committee requested the implementation of a program to preserve farmland and other areas be changed from a completion date of 2010 to "Future."
Baraboo Range Protection Program mission and vision statements were reviewed briefly. Ashford stated there was enough money left to possibly purchase the development rights for one more parcel. Management and maintenance was discussed. A memo from the Corporation Counsel regarding the protection plan was discussed.
The Board of Adjustment mission and vision statements were briefly reviewed. Steward reported that the Board will hold off on selecting new officers until both of the new members are present. On the mission statement under "Prepare for Tomorrow," Netzinger requested that the word "professional" be removed. The Committee agreed that mission statements should be one statement, not four.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 14, 2009. There will be a special meeting on July 6, 2009 to review changes to Chapter 7.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to adjourn. Motion carried, 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Ashford, Secretary
Notes by mary white.