HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning & Zoning 03-07-01AMENDED AGENDA
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Thomas Dorsey, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Ronald Raymond, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee
DATE: Wednesday, March 7, 2001
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Croix County Agriculture Center, Baldwin, WI
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
OTHER BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Bruce and Pam Emerson to rezone approximately 3 +/- acres of land from
Agriculture to Ag /Residential. Location: The NW'/ of the NW% of Section 24,
T31 N R1 8W, Town of Star Prairie.
2) William and Ann Findlay to rezone approximately 21 +/- acres of land from
Agriculture to Ag -II, and approximately 12 +/- acres of land from Agriculture to
Ag /Residential. All property is located in the SW '/ of the NW % of Section 13,
T28N R1 7W, Town of Rush River.
3) Perch Lake Park Costs*
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE:
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: St. Croix County Zoning Office
* Amended Items
DATE: March 8, 2001
COPIES TO: County Board Office Committee Members
County Clerk News Media/Notice Board
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MINUTES
St. Croix County Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee
March 7, 2001
St. Croix County Agriculture Center, Baldwin, Wisconsin
Committee members present: Supervisors Ron Raymond, Linda Luckey, Art Jensen, Gerald
Larson and Buck Malick. Staff present: Steve Fisher and Deb Zimmermann
Chairman Raymond called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A motion was made by Jensen,
second by Larson to adopt the agenda. The next meeting for this Committee is Tuesday, March
13, 2001. Raymond explained the hearing process and opened the hearing. Fisher read the notice
into the record.
Bruce and Pam Emerson: The request is to rezone approximately 3 +/- acres of land from Ag-
riculture to Ag /Residential. Location: A parcel of land located in the NW 1 /4 of the NW ' / 4, Sec-
tion 24, T31N -R18W, Town of Star Prairie, St. Croix County, Wisconsin.
Bruce Emerson, property owner, told the Committee that they plan to sell this property to the
Jehovah Witness congregation to construct a new church. Steve Wickenhauser, property owner
to the south of the Emersons, stated that he supports this rezoning and believes it is a good loca-
tion for a church. He runs a 300 -cow dairy on his farm.
Fisher said that the Town of Star Prairie has recommended approval of the request and consid-
ered State Statute 91.77 in their approval. Fisher reminded the Committee that a special excep-
tion permit is needed to construct the church, according to the County Ordinance. A letter has
been sent to Einar Opdahl, of the Jehovah Witness Church, outlining the necessary steps in this
process. Fisher agrees that the Ag /Residential rezoning request is appropriate and conforms with
the County Plan. There was no one present in opposition of the request.
Einar Opdahl, representing the Jehovah Witness Church, said that the State has acquired their
present church through eminent domain, due to the Highway 64 project. There is some urgency
to the process, as they will have no church by fall, so would like to get things underway as
quickly as possible. A soil test has been conducted on the site, and it is suitable for a septic sys-
tem. The large dairy in the area will not pose a problem. The church will have an air purifying
system built into it. The driveway will be constructed so that cars may enter and exit the
property at the same time,
The hearing was recessed. Motion by Malick, second by Luckey and carried to table a decision
on this matter until the March 13, 2001 meeting.
William and Ann Findlay: Hearing reopened by Raymond. William Findlay presented a con-
cept map for 6 lots. The request is for 21 acres to be rezoned to Ag -II and 12 acres to be rezoned
to Ag /Res. All would be coming out of exclusive Ag. The concept map is designed according to
what was suggested by the zoning and planning staff. The Committee reviewed. There was no
opposition to the request.
The 21 -acres to AG -II is consistent with the rural character of the area, and a buffer is now be-
tween the Ag and Ag/Residential properties. Fisher agrees with planning's suggestion that Lot 2
should not be subdivided any further. Corporation Counsel and Zoning staff agreed with the two
conditions suggested in the report from Planning. The Town of Rush River has approved of this
request, and has considered State Statute 91.77 in making their decision.
Motion by Jensen, second by Larson to close the hearing. Motion by Malick, second by Luckey
and carried to approve both rezoning requests (21 acres from Ag to Ag -II and 12 acres from Ag
to Ag /Residential) based on the following findings:
5. The land is actively farmed by neighboring landowners. According to the records of the St.
Croix County Land Conservation Department, the owner has not been actively
participating in the credit portion of the farmland preservation program.
6. The surrounding land uses include a few residential sites and farmland. There is a very
large dairy operation, which is expanding to 1800 cows, approximately % mile southeast of
the site.
I . The Town of Rush River recommends approval of the rezoning request.
2. The rezoning generally conforms to the County Plan.
3. All the property is in the rural planning area and is an appropriate use.
4. The parcel is identified on the potentially productive agriculture map.
14. Buffering these lots from adjacent uses is recommended in the Plan and makes this
rezoning more appropriate to the site. Logically, a buffer lot would be located on the land
adjacent to the proposed Ag -II land and in the northeast quarter of the site.
With the following conditions:
1. The proposed six -acre ( + / -)lot located in the northeast quarter of the parcel shall not be
further subdivided.
7. The property owner has provided a concept plan showing the location of the two proposed
zoning designations and the possible future subdivision of these two zones into various
sized residential lots.
8. The proposed Ag -II zoning on 21 acres would be consistent with the rural character of the
area and would allow continued farming of the land.
9. The proposed use of the land for one 21 -acre hobby farm and three small acreage
residential sites and one larger acreage residential site fits the density of the County Plan.
10. Because this site is highly productive land, it is recommended that any proposed building
sites be appropriately placed on poor soils and near the edges of the lots to allow for
continued farming operations.
11. The proposed Ag -II zoning designation on 21 -acres would generally be in the southwest
and southeast quarters of the parcel.
12. The proposed Ag -II zoning would provide a buffer between the proposed residences to the
northwest and the large dairy to the southeast.
13. A larger acreage lot situated in the northeast section of the parcel and adjacent to the Ag -II
property would encourage agricultural use of the Ag -II parcel and provide a buffer to the
smaller residential lots.
2. The owner shall record a conservation easement against the property. This easement shall
be designed to create a natural buffer area between the Ag/Residential and Agriculture
zoned land.
Parks Department: A discussion was held by the Committee on Perch Lake Park Costs. This
issue will be presented to the Finance Committee and to the County Board on March 20
Motion by Larson, second by Raymond and carried to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
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Debra Zim erm nn, Recorder
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C. W. Malick, Secretary