PLANNING, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

Monday, January 29, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, Don Bina, Brian Kapanke, Tom Rauk, and David Hansen (FSA rep.)  

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Don Meyer and Bob Keil   

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None

STAFF & GUESTS:  Jeff Bluske, Mary Meehan-Strub, Gregg Stangl, Bill Jung, Mike Weibel, Charlie Handy, Karl Green, Marion Naegle, Greg Yakle, Steve Mader, Jason Gillett, Steve O’Malley, and Cheryl Stephen

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair George Hammes called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Hanson/Rauk to approve meeting minutes of January 2, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously; Meyer and Keil excused

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

 

2007 WACEC (WI ASSOC. COUNTY EXTENSION COMMITTEES, INC.) CONFERENCE

Mary Meehan-Strub noted this as a reminder.  Any Supervisor wanting to attend the 2007 WACEC Conference on March 26-28 needs to get County Board Chair approval; registration deadline is February 18.  (Mary also distributed answers to committee questions from the last meeting regarding WNEP.)

 

COUNTY SURVEYOR ANNUAL REPORT

The 2006 County Surveyor Annual Report was sent with the agenda.  Bill Jung asked if there were any questions.  Hearing none, Chairman Hammes declared received and filed.

 

APPROVE GRANT ACCEPTANCE FOR GILLS CREEK PROJECT – PHASE II

Gregg Stangl briefly reviewed as detailed information was sent to the members.  This grant of $149,800 is for Phase II of the Gills Creek Project which will be used for continued installation of Best Management Practices.  The DNR has listed Gills Coulee Creek project as top priority due to excessive sedimentation and loss of in-stream fish habitat.  MOTION by Bina/Hansen to approve the grant and acceptance of $149,800 as Phase II of the Gills Creek Project.  Noted the individual projects will be 100% funded – 70% from the grant and balance from budgeted funds.  Motion carried unanimously; Meyer and Keil excused.

 

LIVESTOCK PREMISES REGISTRATION AND ANIMAL UNITS

This agenda item was at the request of Supervisor Bina.  Gregg noted currently the annual requirement is livestock premise registration that includes types of animals – not actual numbers.  DATCP is working on a voluntary individual animal identification program that would give each animal a number per registered premises.  Though beneficial to the County, this information will not be available based on confidentiality as stated in State Statutes and WI Admin. Code.  Supervisor Bina expressed concern of not all of the farms and small acreages that house animals are getting registered.  

 

CONTINUED – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 760 FOR DAVID AND MONICA BRECKLIN – TOWN OF BANGOR

Jeff Bluske reviewed noting at the January 2, 2007 public hearing, the Town Chairman asked for referral until after the Town met.  Per phone call on January 16, the Town of Bangor approved unanimously the conditional use permit no. 760 for a dog daycare for David and Monica Brecklin.  Based on this, County staff recommends approval including the 13 conditions as the committee included in their approval at the January 2, 2007 meeting.  MOTION by Kapanke/Rauk to approve the conditional use permit no. 760 for David and Monica Brecklin, Town of Bangor, including the 13 conditions as follows: 

1.

This permit is granted in order to operate a commercial animal establishment for 10 dogs maximum.

2.

This permit is valid only with an approved commercial animal establishment permit and upon payment of the yearly permit fee as indicated by the La Crosse County Health Department.

3.

Chapter 11 of La Crosse County’s Code or Ordinances deals with the minimum standards which provide for construction materials, spaces allowed for each dog, temperature control, cleaning, air exchange, food storage, potable water and vaccination which must be met in order to stay in compliance.

4.

Off street parking is required and should be designated for any on-site customers.

5.

No signs advertising business are allowed EXCEPT one on the building.

6.

No employees except for family members.

7.

La Crosse County has a contract with the Humane Society to perform inspections and declare compliance or issue citations.

8.

Only those kennel and runway areas that meet the Health code are included in this permit.

9.

It will be necessary at times to reduce the number of dogs until compliance with the Health code is obtained.  Until then the owners are subject to the termination of this permit.

10.

Absolutely no animal waste products generated from this permit are allowed to surface or otherwise drain to the creek.

11.

This permit is nontransferable.

12.

A state tax identification number is required to record sales tax.

13.

A new zoning/occupancy permit must be obtained changing the use of the 24 ft x 30 ft garage to a kennel.

Motion carried unanimously; Meyer and Keil excused.

 

CONTINUED – ZONING PETITION NO. 1736 FOR FERDINAND AND SAM L A ROTH – TOWN OF ONALASKA

Jeff reviewed noting this was to rezone from Exclusive Agriculture back to Agricultural District A for 2-5 acre lots as designated under the County Plan.  Per the Town Administrator, the Onalaska Town Board approved the rezoning at their January 22nd meeting.  County staff recommends approval including the same conditions per January 2, 2007 PRD meeting.  MOTION by Bina/Kapanke to approve zoning petition no. 1736 for Ferdinand and Sam L A Roth, Town of Onalaska, including a condition that it is for single family residential only with minimum lot sizes of 2 acres.  Motion carried unanimously; Meyer and Keil excused.

 

UPDATING THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH TOWN UPDATES

Charlie Handy and Jeff Bluske reviewed.  Currently with the County Plan that was approved in 2001, any town plan updates need to be incorporated into the current plan on a yearly basis during the month of February which was directed by policy of this Committee.  He also noted the La Crosse County Comprehensive Plan, that includes land use, is scheduled to be completed in November, 2007 by the County Board (state law requires by 2010); this new plan will supersede the one of 2001.  Based on this information, he asked for input as to, how to handle the 3 town plan updates from the Towns of Onalaska, Holland and Hamilton.

 

Lengthy discussion followed.  Noted that each plan update has about 200 pages of related information; this same information is available on the County website.  Supervisor Hanson would like to see the state law and the required process.  Discussion on who should review – staff or committee; should current Comp Plan Steering Committee be involved.  Noted that once the County Comprehensive Plan is adopted in November, the steering committee will be disbanded.  Should it come before this committee and the Executive Committee and the County Board?  Should the incorporation of amendments be done by motion, resolution, or by ordinance?  Noted per 2010 law, amendments need to be done by public hearing followed by approval of an ordinance.  Mike Weibel noted that the previous plan was adopted by resolution.  Question of who is notified and how; should include all County Board members if they will be acting on the town amendments.  Should these three plan amendments brought in today be handled now or wait until the next cycle being the County Plan is being adopted in November?  Jeff commented on what is the meaning of being consistent; is it 100%, or 80% of the time, and when would someone contest?

 

MOTION by Hanson/Bina to direct staff to bring back recommendations on how town plan amendments would be incorporated into the County Plan.  Motion carried on 4 to 1 vote; Hammes-no; Meyer and Keil excused.

 

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

RECESS (5:38 p.m.)

MOTION by Hanson/Bina to recess until the 6:00 p.m. public hearings.  Motion carried unanimously; Meyer and Keil excused.

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

 

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder