Town of Germantown

Town of Germantown

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

February 21, 2024

Present: Commission Chair Shannon Armel, Commissioners: Keith Korbein, Tamaya Loewe, Gervase Thompson, Mick McCormick, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein

Absent:  Zoning Administrator Dick Martin

Guests:  Chris Renner, Pat Pavloski

–Call to Order

The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chairperson Shannon Armel at the Germantown Town Hall at 5:30pm. 

–Pledge of Allegiance

–Possible approval of the Minutes from the January meetings.

Tamaya Loewe made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 10, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting January 24, 2024 Planning Commission Public Hearing as presented, seconded by Keith Korbein; motion passed 5/0.

–Discussion and possible approval of revisions to final PUD of Sand Point Lake

Request was made to get culvert GPS location for inclusion into the culvert inventory for roads. 

The email from Larry Koopman of Lampert & Lee on his completed review of the Sand Point documents was reviewed.  He noted some of the changes were for the better.

The next step would be the public hearing followed by a Planning Commission meeting.  This was scheduled for March 20, 2024 starting at 5:30pm.                                          

–Work session on Short Term Rentals

To reiterate, short term rentals are not commercial as per the WTA, even though owners can money renting them, as they are not used for anything outside of the normal use of a house. 

The sample ordinance from the WTA was reviewed.

Copies of all state inspections, permits, insurance, a basic floor plan, and maybe even a copy of the register could be required.

Long-term is 180+ days.  Short-term  is less than 180 days.

How do time shares fit in?

Would an appeal process be needed, like that found in other ordinances?

Could a minimum square footage (like 864) be required on ground level to have so many square feet per person to be rented?

What about enforcement?  Do not want the work put into this ordinance to be a waste of time.

Need to ask WTA about Section V.1.

Also need to ask them where the ordinance is that they reference in Section IV.B.4.

Can there be a cap on occupancy?

Should ask Chris Leopold, the town’s Emergency Management director, if there is anything that he would like to see included that would assist emergency services in doing their job.

 –Adjourn.

Keith Korbein made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mick McCormick; motion passed 5/0.  Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Michaele R. Korbein

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer