MINUTES OF THE
OF
LAND USE ELEMENT
Present: Land Use Committee
Members-Lee Wiesner, Don Zigman, Leslie Hall, Donna Porter, Duke Marten, Dave
Scharlau, Ron Pearson, Marcia Wellnitz, David Pease, Gene Ratzel and Land Use
Element members Carol LaBreck and Dave Pederson.
Also present: Patrick
Beilfuss, Cedar Corporation-Patrick Scheller, Wausau Paper and citizen Vic
Wekkin.
Absent:
Minutes and Agenda were
mailed to all members. Before the Minutes were approved, Ron Pearson had two
questions:
Lee Wiesner made a motion to
approve the minutes and it was seconded by Donna Porter. Motion passed.
Dave Pease read the following
letter #1 from Town of
Date:
To: Citizens of the Town of
Barnes
Patrick Beilfuss-Cedar Corporation
From: Town of Barnes
Comprehensive Land Use Committee
Re:
The purpose of this letter is
to clarify the roles of the comprehensive land use committee, the members of
the land use element and the public.
First, a little history. The
Land Use Committee was formed and approved by the Town Board of the Town of
All of the meetings are
noticed and conducted according to the State of
The Comprehensive Land Use
Committee members are as follows: David Pease-Chairman, Leslie Hall, Ron
Pearson, LeRoy Wiesner, Marcia Wellnitz, Dixie Chermack, Duane Marten, Marie
Hughes (now replaced by Donna Porter), Don Zigman, Dave Scharlau and Gene
Ratzel. Their role is to work with Patrick Beilfuss of Cedar Corporation and
Tim Kane-UW Extension Agent,
The Land Use Element members
are: David Thorson, Todd Ruprecht, Michelle Ruprecht, Dave Pederson, Leigh
Jordahl, George martin, Sharon Moen and Bobbi Pearson. Their role is to
participate with the Comprehensive Land Use Committee, Patrick Beilfuss and Tim
Kane. When the Land Use element is finished, their participation will dissolve
and the members will become part of the public.
The public’s role is to
attend meetings and observe. According to the Open Meeting Law, no comments
from the public need to be recognized by the Chairman. When the Comprehensive
Land Use Committee has finished the land use plan, there will be a public
hearing. At that time, the public will have the opportunity to review the plan
and give their input.
We have a lot of work to do
and need an orderly atmosphere to do this. We hope this clarifies everyone’s
role.
Thank you for your
cooperation.
Town of
Gene Ratzel mentioned that
“Public Comment” is required on each element.
Dave read the following
letter #2 from Earl Gregoire:
Date:
To: Chairman,
From: Earl Gregoire
Re:
Would you please take the
time and read this to the committee and public.
I became concerned when I
read the
However, a lengthy and
orderly discussion did follow my presentation. I was under the assumption that
everyone’s input and participation is welcomed and encouraged. If I am wrong,
please let me know.
My presentation was prepared
after I received the map from Patrick following the May meeting. A cover letter
was attached to the map which stated, “It is your responsibility to make
changes to this map as you see fit. Everyone must take some time to do this”.
When the meeting began, I
raised my hand and asked Patrick if I could show the map which I spent many
hours researching and preparing. I only did what was asked of everyone.
Since many of the committee
members and the public also spoke, I don’t understand why my name was the only
one mentioned in the minutes. I feel honored to know that my hard work was
recognized.
I am also concerned about the
red dots which Patrick is putting in the center of every potential 4 ½ acre
lot. It seems that this is being done to clutter the map and is assumed that
every 40 acre parcel of forest land is going to be developed into 4 ½ acre
lots. This was never discussed by the committee and should not be on the map.
Who instructed Patrick to put the dots on the map? Perhaps we need to put red
dots on all R-1, R-2 and R-3 lots as well.
Another point I would like to
bring to the committee’s attention is the attention is the constant reference
to the survey question # 8 which states, “Is it important for the Town of
A parcel of land with a
dwelling on it can and should retain the northwoods character of Barnes. There
are several good informational brochures in the town office which addresses
shore land restoration and how to tuck your house into the woods. If we all
follow some sensible guidelines we can have development in Barnes and retain
the northwoods character. A dwelling does not have to ruin the forested lot if
it is planned right and we take advantage of the many resources available to us
by DNR and
I am asking the committee to
please refrain from using question # 8 and the response as a crutch to lean on
to stop growth on private property. Survey question # 8 was poorly worded with
many varying interpretations.
Thank you for your time.
There was discussion of
questions # 8 and # 20 on the Community Survey and following the intent of what
Barnes citizens really want. Citizens expressed their concerns in the comments
area of the survey. Marcia Wellnitz stated that after the survey was returned,
the committee heard many positive remarks, including having better citizen
return than other communities have had on their surveys.
There was discussion of the
“Northwoods Character” question.
There was discussion on
“Forestry Zoning”.
Patrick Beilfuss distributed
letter #3 from Patrick Beifuss and read as follows:
Date:
To: Town of
From: Patrick Belfuss
Subject: Land Use
As we struggle along with
Land Use issues, I would like to relay some information that I feel is
important as we continue towards our goals of a future land use map that
balances land owner rights and the desires of property owners.
I had a discussion with Mike
Furtak of the Bayfield County Zoning Office to verify some of the beliefs I had
and hopefully clear up some of the misconceptions I feel are being presented at
our meetings.
A Land Use Plan does not
dictate the future use of a parcel of land. It is one of many pieces of
information
√ Town Board Input
√ Land Use Plan / Map
√ The legality of the request
√ Zoning officers field report
√ Input from adjoining land owners
The Town Board Input and Land
Use Plan / Map are given more consideration.
The Town does have veto power
over the County’s decision, but there is a process that must be followed in
order to exercise this veto.
Land Use Plans do not affect
building permits. What this means is that a land owner that has the right to
build on his / her land through current zoning, will not be denied a building
permit because the land is shown on a Land Use Map as being left forested or
some other use.
Mike informed me that when
the F-2 Zoning Classification was created, the intent was for those lands not
be made available for development in the future. That does not mean that if
there are growth pressures, some of this land cannot be rezoned. I think what
it tells us is that if F-2 zoned land is to be classified as future residential
on the Town of
I hope this is of some help
and can clear up some questions so that we may move forward.
Sincerely,
Patrick Beilfuss
Don Zigman had a question on
“controlling the number of building lots available”. Patrick explained that
letter # 3 covers this. The Land Use Plan is an advisory document. Don Zigman
talked about lawsuits from the Town of
There was a question by Gene
Ratzel on SS 66.109 (?). (Zoning must follow land use plan.) He suggested that
we should have an attorney check this and get a written clarification. Patrick
will do this, as well as Gene.
Patrick explained that we
need a correct map showing what land is currently used for. (Business,
permanent structures, resorts, boat landings, etc.) We can do this several
different ways (as was discussed several meetings ago):
It was decided that Patrick
will mail us a map and we will use the Tax Rolls. Volunteers were requested to
do this project. Lee Wiesner, Ron Pearson, Marcia Wellnitz, Gene Ratzel and
Duke Marten and any others interested will do this at the Town Hall-working in
pairs will speed this up.
Motion to adjourn by Ron
Pearson and seconded by Gene Ratzel. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Wellnitz
Acting Secretary Town of
Barnes Land Use Planning Committee