Town of Germantown

Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
February 10, 2021
5:30 p.m.

Present: Commission Chair Shannon Armel, Commissioners Gervase Thompson, Mick McCormick, Keith Korbein, Ken Jax, Zoning Administrator Dick Martin, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein

Absent: None

Guests:   Brad Pavloski 

 

Call to Order

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

 

Pledge

 

Possible approval of meeting minutes.

Ken Jax made a motion to approve the January 13, 2021 minutes correcting the header to say Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, seconded by Mick McCormick; motion passed 5-0.

 

Discussion and possible approval of a Conditional Use Permit for four billboard signs for Gary Merk at N6734 Highway 58.

Comments included:

-Not aesthetically complimentary to the area.

-Could prove a driver distraction being in a rural area when deer run out, possibly causing accidents.

-There is other technology out there to find what you are looking for.

-Do not want to see these large billboards to look like neighbor municipalities

-Do not want to set a precedent on having others request them.

-Disappointment was expressed that no one showed up to present additional information and graphics for discussion, so they only have the proposal from the last meeting.

-Would like to see a sign that would be sized as per the sign ordinance instead of billboards.

-Sign would need to advertise for the person owning the property, not another person/business.

-Dick Martin talked to Paul Merk who indicated he would relay the info to Gary Merk from the last meeting, but Dick had not heard anything back from them.

Ken Jax made a motion to deny a conditional use permit for four billboard signs for Gary Merk at N6734 Highway 58, seconded by Keith Korbein; motion passed 5-0.

 

Work session on signs and sign ordinance.

-Mauston Chamber of Commerce on County Road G just east of Germantown Junction needs to be removed as it is not being maintained per the ordinance and is becoming a safety hazard since part of it fell to the ground and is laying under it.  Dick Martin suggested the Board should send the letter to remove it.

-Copies of the Elroy, Mauston, and New Lisbon sign ordinance will be emailed to everyone.

-Shannon will forward what Vierbicher had put together re: signs as per state statutes.

 

Work session on camping and camping ordinance.

Discussed:

-30 consecutive days -if those days start in one month and end in the next, then need two monthly permits.

-Season: May 15 to September 15 was thought to be the season, allowing setup time before Memorial Day and removal after Labor Day.  Hunters in November would be same.

-Permit must be posted.

–Color code monthly and seasonal permits that would be posted.

-Storage of campers would only be allowed on land with a residence.

-Regarding enforcement, if there is a driveway, you can drive in as it is public access; if you would go off the driveway, then you are trespassing.

-Need to give copy of ordinance when giving out a permit.

-Length of time to camp without a permit -72 hours as it currently states.

-If a permit is denied, we must give them an avenue to appeal.

-The most camping permits you could get would be a seasonal permit plus one 30-day permit. Then the camper equipment would have to be removed.

-Number of campers on a property goes by parcel.

-Well, septic, and other requirements must be attested to on the application.

-Tentative suggestions for costs: for a permit for $20 per month/any part of a month, for a permit for the season of $80 for May 15 to September 15, and keep the violation costs at $200/day plus Town Cost plus possible jail time up to 6 months.

-Shannon will type in these things so a copy can be emailed to everyone for review.

 

Work session on golf carts.

Nothing discussed this evening.

 

Work session on fireworks and fireworks ordinance.

Nothing was done this evening.

 

Adjourn.

Next meeting will be March 24, 2021 at 5:30pm.

 

Ken Jax made a motion, seconded by Keith Korbein, to adjourn at 6:45pm.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Michaele Korbein

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer