Town of Germantown

Planning Commission Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
October 9, 2024

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

Absent:  none

Also Present: 2 members of the public who left after 15 minutes

–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 meeting minutes

It was noted that the copy of the June 19, 2024 Planning Commission meeting minutes as approved were missing three paragraphs under Staff Meeting on the pop-up restaurant along with the notation that they did not get to the Work Session on STRs.  Keith Korbein made a motion to approve the amended June 19, 2024 Planning Commission meeting minutes to include the missing paragraphs, seconded by Gervase Thompson; motion passed 5/0.   Also, Tamaya Loewe made a motion to approve the September 11, 2024 Planning Commission meeting minutes as presented, seconded by Keith Korbein; motion passed 5/0.

–Work Session continued on Short Term Rentals

The two public members asked if they could speak.  They voiced concern about the Town being careful on wording of an ordinance with regard to liability.

It was noted that on the 2022 survey done by UW students for the Town Board, the question of “Do you support the use of STRs (i.e., one week or less) in Germantown for tourism”  found that respondents were neither strongly oppose nor strongly in favor of this type of activity.   Since then, due to the large increase in STRs, work on an STR ordinance has started.  And since Vierbicher was not approved to work on this, the Commission will undertake that themselves, with the help of the Town’s attorney. 

Discussion continued and centered around reviewing what each member would like to see in an ordinance and on what State Statues says can be done, much of which was already noted in previous minutes.

–Adjourn.

Keith Korbein made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Gervase Thompson; motion passed 5/0.  Meeting adjourned at 6:54pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Michaele R. Korbein

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer