Town of Germantown

Town of Germantown

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

February 12, 2025

Present: Commission Chairperson Keith Korbein, Commissioners Gervase Thompson,  Mick McCormick, Tamaya Loewe and Mike Edwards, Zoning Administrator Dick Martin; Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein

Also Present: Ray Monroe and guest for Dirty Turtle, Mark Loewe

–Call to Order

The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chairperson Keith Korbein at the Germantown Town Hall at 5:49pm. 

–Pledge of Allegiance

–Possible approval of meeting minutes

Tamaya Loewe made a motion to approve the January 15, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes, seconded by Mick McCormick: motion passed 5/0.   

–Staff Meeting for possible campground for Dirty Turtle

Town Center does not allow campgrounds by ordinance.  Need to review why this is not allowed in Town Center. Spot Zoning is strongly frowned upon and putting this in there would be spot zoning. Some of the members have heard from neighbors who are not in favor of it.  If they really want to try to get this in, they could try to get the zoning ordinance changed.  The owners would need to file a petition to do so.  It would need a public hearing, the Planning Commission would have to vote on recommending it to the Town Board for approval, and finally the Town Board would do the final approval.

–Discussion and possible approval of rezoning for Castle Rock Hideaway

Questioned what the economic benefits and how it would affect roads. Clientele has changed over the years. The hope is to be able to provide something for everyone, for every income level and have a greater diversity of those coming to the area.

Tamaya Loewe made a motion, seconded by Mike Edwards, to approve rezoning of the Castle Rock Hideaway property to commercial and recommend approval to the Town Board; motion passed 5/0.

–Discussion and possible approval of Conditional Use permit for Castle Rock Hideaway

Tamaya Loewe made a motion, seconded by Mike Edwards, to approve the conditional use permit for Castle Rock Hideaway as presented contingent upon the approval of the Board to rezone Castle Rock Hideaway property to commercial; motion passed 5/0.

–Work Session continued on Short Term Rentals

Need to send out the last updated version to members for review.  With all the work that has gone into this, there is still the question of enforcement and the note that this cannot be put in place to make money for the town. There may be an alternative solution of going with the basic ordinance from the state and then going with a room tax.  This discussion will continue.

–Adjourn.

Discussed changing the day to meet for future meetings.  The best day for all is the third Tuesday of the month.  So, next meeting date to be March 18, 2025 at 5:30pm.

Tamaya Loewe made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mick McCormick; motion passed 5/0.  Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm.

Respectfully submitted by Michaele R. Korbein, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer