MINUTES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

OF JULY 13, 2005

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: Dixie Chermack, Mike Furtak and Tim Kane.

 

Minutes and Agenda were mailed to all members. Before the Minutes were approved, Ron Pearson had two questions:

  1. “Lot size in Forestry”-(we will discuss this later)
  2. “Commercial”- to be called “industrial” should be “business” as we discussed several months ago.

 

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 Barnes Comprehensive Land Use Committee:

Date: 7/1/2005

To: Citizens of the Town of Barnes

      Patrick Beilfuss-Cedar Corporation

      Tim Kane-UW Extension Agent-Bayfield County

      Mike Furtak-Assistant Zoning Administrator Bayfield County

From: Town of Barnes Comprehensive Land Use Committee

Re: Comprehensive Land Use Monthly Meeting Protocol

 

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 Barnes on October 22, 2003. This is the working committee. On February 18, 2004, there was a Citizen’s Advisory Board meeting. At that meeting, brainstorming was done on ideas for the future of Barnes. Citizens were encouraged to sign up to work on any of the nine elements the Land Use Committee would be working on. The nine elements are: Issues and Opportunities, Housing, Transportation, Utilities and Community facilities, Agricultural, Natural and Cultural resources, Economic Development, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use and Implementation. We are now working on the Land Use element.

 

All of the meetings are noticed and conducted according to the State of Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. The Chairman controls the meeting.

 

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, Bayfield County and members of the elements committees.

 

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 Barnes Comprehensive Land Use Committee

 

Gene Ratzel mentioned that “Public Comment” is required on each element.

 

Dave read the following letter #2 from Earl Gregoire:

Date: 7/8/2005

To: Chairman, Dave Pease-Comprehensive Land Use Committee

From: Earl Gregoire

Re: June 8, 2005 Minutes

 

Would you please take the time and read this to the committee and public.

 

I became concerned when I read the June 8, 2005 Minutes which stated I gave a 45 minute presentation on percentages of forested and non-forested land. I thought I might have been long-winded. I asked several persons who were at the meeting how long the presentation was. All indicated that it was only about 10 minutes, not 45 minutes. I feel there was some sarcasm or harassment in that statement.

 

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 Barnes to retain its northwoods character”, to which 95% responded yes. I, and many others whom I talked with, did respond yes to that question. We did not realize that it meant no dwellings or development.

 

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 County Extensions, etc.

 

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: 7/13/2005

To: Town of Barnes Land Use Planning Committee and Citizen’s Advisory Board Members

From: Patrick Belfuss

Subject: Land Use

 

Dear Town of Barnes Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee and Citizen Advisory Board Members:

 

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 Bayfield County uses as advisory when addressing rezoning. Some of the other factors include:

            √ 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 Barnes Future Land Use Map, the Town should consider if certain areas are more suitable to development than others.

 

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 Summit “that are using their land use plan for and against zoning.” He will find out more for the next meeting.

 

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):

  1. Drive around and examine
  2. Use http://www.bayfieldcounty.org/landrecords/mapviewer
  3. Use Barnes Tax Roll (at town hall)

 

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