Town of Germantown

Official Website of the Town of Germantown, Juneau County, WI

Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
July 17, 2019
5:32 p.m.

Present:              Commission Chair Shannon Vogele, Commissioners Keith Korbein, Ken Jax,

Patrick McCormick, Gervase Thompson, Zoning Administrator Dick Martin,

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein

 

Guests:                 Joshua Langen and Daniel Lindstrom, both from Vierbicher Associates Inc.

 

Absent:                none

 

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at the town hall at 5:32 p.m.

 

Pledge

 

Possible approval of meeting minutes

A motion was made by Keith Korbein, seconded by Gervase Thompson, to approve the minutes from the June 12,  2019 meeting. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Work session on zoning ordinance updates

Joshua Langen and Daniel Lindstrom introduced themselves as Community and Development Directors from Vierbicher.

They presented their agenda: (Planning Commission answers to their agenda questions are in italics).

 

1)            Introductions were done by the rest of the group, including a little background and thoughts about what all would like to accomplish through this process.  

 

Joshua and Daniel reviewed their agenda for this meeting along with our June minutes, but after reviewing our minutes, said much of the work was done at the June meeting.

 

One question came up regarding whether it is time to consider changing from a Town to a Village.  They did say they could help with this in the future, but it depends on if that is what the public wants.  Specific criteria would need to be met before this could happen, and it would include a robust public engagement process.

 

2)            Purpose of Zoning Ordinance Update:

        2-1                 Increase predictability and simplify development procedures

        2-2                 Establish a clear understanding of the Planned Unit Development process

2-3                 Simplify document into easy to read tables to reduce document volume and reduce redundancy and

possibility off errors during future amendments

  • Address any nonconforming situation

2-5                 Address other land-use situations (general provisions, etc.)

2-6                 Update land use regulations to comply with state and federal changes

2-7                 Implement the Comprehensive Plan and ensure consistency with statutory requirements.

 

3)          Project Schedule -this is tentative, and from what they have heard so far, may need to do what we need in parts over a slightly longer time period to accomplish our main goals and important points:

3-1                 Increase predictability and simplify development procedures (July 2019)

3-2                 Facilitation of a Plan Commission-level kickoff meeting (July 17, 2019)

3-3                 Facilitation of two (2) Commission-level working meetings

3-4                 Presentation at a Public Hearing

3-5                 Presentation to the Town Board

 

4)            Input on Key issues and Questions

               4-1         What are your goals for this project? Finish this sentence;  When adopted, we should have a zoning code

and map that:  Simplification, more control by town, protect town, let developer know what to do rather than the developer flexing the rules

 

4-2         Describe positive recent development projects in the Town:  taxes going down, developers are following zoning ordinance rules, developers do nice developments, good roads.  Note that beauty is in the eye of the beholder -what one person likes is not what someone else may like

 

4-3         Describe recent development projects in the town that were more of a challenge and why:  cutting all the trees, dust clouds, brush piles, developer getting to the finished point but taking awhile

 

4-4         Describe land use issues or challenging areas/corridors in the town:  putting two PUDs together, the process of going about the PUD, time limits, presentations, check lists were in process of being created but were not finished as all they did was repeat the ordinance

 

                              They noted that shrinking the code offers less chance to miss something, and it makes for more protection for the town.  For example, parts of Land Ordinance #9 could be kept and incorporated into the zoning ordinance, so then Ordinance #9 could completely be repealed to avoid future complications.

 

4-5         What emerging development trends are you seeing in the area or in other peer communities?  Town Center, lots having waterfront property on man-made ponds, how the County shoreland ordinance pertains to them

 

               It was noted that Dave Donnelly of the County indicated that the Juneau County Shoreland Ordinance is being updated and it is currently in to the DNR for review and approval.

 

               Joshua noted that the DNR has started claiming some man-made water areas to be under their rules; just something else we need to watch out for and consider for storm water management plans, as that is what the ponds really are.  Storm water management plans should be gotten on each development.

 

4-6         Are there other local trends that we should be aware of?  Many of the homes are second homes, for retirees and for recreational

 

               They discussed where the commercial area is -mainly tried to keep it along Hwy 58.  Comprehensive plan map and current zoning map were reviewed.

 

4-7         What areas of the Town are you most concerned with?  Again, it was Town Center, lots having waterfront property on man-made ponds

 

4-8         What are some other general concerns with zoning, land development, etc. in the Town?  Much of that is listed in the June planning commission meeting minutes, how ACT 55 pertains

 

 

Joshua and Daniel said they will try to help the Town as well as the developers;  putting in minimum standards section and simplifying the process will do that.

 

Keith Korbein made a motion, seconded by Shannon Vogele, to adjourn at 6:30 p.m.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Michaele Korbein

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer