OCTOBER 18, 2005
TOWN OF FARMINGTON
ZONING ORDINANCE, SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE REVISION, LAND USE PLAN MAP
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES - (Unapproved)
Prior to the meeting, notice was posted in the West Bend News, Kewaskum Statesman, at the Town Hall, Fillmore Fire Hall and Green Lake Access.
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm by Chairman Gary Schreiber. Present were Town Supervisors Ike Roell and Art Seyfert, Clerk Joanne Oneska, and several citizens.
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
NOTICE OF HEARING was read by Town Clerk Joanne Oneska, which includes adopting a new Zoning Ordinance, new Land Use Plan Map, and this revision to the Subdivision Ordinance:
To control the rate of residential development and
implement the Vision Statements in the Town of Farmington’s Future Land Use
Plan, limitations will be placed on the number of lots created
through platting. the Town of Farmington will review and approve up to
26 subdivided lots on an annual basis, subject to the Town of
Farmington’s Future Land Use Plan. will accept and process no more than
26 new home building permits based on the following allocation:
A.
On an annual basis, the Town of Farmington will only approve 13
lots in a State reviewed final plat. will process 13 new
home building permits in any development of five (5) or more lots.
B.
On an annual basis, the Town of Farmington will only approve
13 lots by certified survey map recordable at the Washington County
Courthouse. will process 13 new home building permits that
are part of a recorded certified survey map.
On a first-come,
first serve basis on January 1 of each year, the Town of Farmington
will consider
a limited number of lots
in new subdivisions and CSM’s recorded annually,
will accept and process building permits, based on the above
allotment. This building permit allotment will be pro-rated from the
date of ordinance adoption to the remainder of the year this ordinance becomes
effective.
PROCEDURE Chairman Gary Schreiber explained that those who wish to comment need to fill out the form provided - they will only be allowed to speak once, for 3 to 5 min., or they can put comments on the form and hand them to the Town Clerk.
BACKGROUND Chairman Schreiber explained that the Town Board enacted a zoning moratorium in February. Numerous meetings were held by the Plan Commission and Town Board on the proposed zoning ordinance. A planner, Warren Utecht of Martenson & Eisele, Inc., was hired. Two meetings were held at the Turner Hall in Fillmore, where people signed up to be on a Land Use Planning committee. 17 names were chosen and they met on 3 different occasions. More meetings were then held by the Plan Commission and Town Board with the planner, which brings us to the point we’re at now.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
ANN ENRIGHT Served on the committee and a lot of recommendations were thrown out and changed by the Plan Commission. Regarding the subdivision ordinance change on 26 building permits allowed in one year, what happens if a house burns down after they’re all issued. Also, what about lots that didn’t require a Certified Survey Map – lots existing prior to this code should be grand fathered in. Smart Growth has to be adhered to by 2010 – there is a housing element to consider – current and future needs. Don’t feel that this meets needs of all people – large lot sizes puts many out of the market.
JOE ENRIGHT All of us on the plan commission did not vote for all of these changes: #1 – totally against 5 and 3 acre lots – will use up more farm land. #2 Plan Commission letting any developer come in. Our subdivisions should be rezoned to Residential – you don’t want horses or pigs next to your home. #3 We cannot restrict our own people in this town to 13 lots per year – I did not vote for all of this.
NORBERT DETTMANN In 1970, we layed out projected growth for Town. Look to the north where they have larger lots – rich people put a house on 40 acres and then it’s not farmed. The average person cannot afford 5 acres – add a provision so people can have 2 acre lots.
CHRIS ELBE Provide for Building Permits in an emergency. Gary Schreiber stated he can’t see where the town wouldn’t take that into consideration.
RYAN THEUSCH 5 acre lots are too big – it’s a waste of farm land – people let it grow in weeds. I was on the committee – we talked about 1 or 2 acre lots. Kristen Rex land is close to Fillmore – should not be 5 acres lots – should be 1 acre lots.
KRISTEN REX The Town Board and Plan Commission have not listened to the people. I served on the committee – they didn’t take our advice. If you wanted to preserve farmland, you would have smaller lots – I think you want to stop others from living here. I don’t approve of limiting Building Permits – average has been 28 per year over the last 10 years – feel Town Board or Plan Commission has manipulated a situation regarding rumors of lots of people moving here – how many farms are for sale? The only large one is mine.
JOHN GUTTMANN It’s not easy to make a decision for the whole town – we did our best to suit the town – things were changing fast. Been here 12 years and hope to farm here all my life. Don’t want to take away individual rights. In the survey, people want to see growth slow down.
RICH MCKEE Building permits - what happens to people who have lots – you should limit what each developer could take out – you’re encouraging the big guy to come in and do that. GARY SCHREIBER – you had ample opportunity to attend meetings. RICH MCKEE You need to look at the minutes – you didn’t follow the committee’s advice.
DOTTIE BROUGHTON Reasonable way to regulate growth – emergency provision is a good idea – developer to purchase all permits is unreasonable.
GEORGE MUTH Plan is to farm here my whole life – but things change – we could want to sell. This would hurt me, the large lots. That’s not really preserving farm land. Limiting Building Permits is not good – somebody could buy all for a development. 5 acres is too big – wastes a lot of land – put small lots by Fillmore and Boltonville.
CALVIN STEINERT Subdivisions should be classified residential – don’t want goats, chickens, etc. in subdivisions. Farmington is growing – can’t stop growth.
RICK KOPESCHKA If this is accepted, could it be reviewed in a year or so? GARY SCHREIBER – Believe it will be looked at periodically. RICK KOPESCHKA 5 acres is too much – I have 2 acres. An acre around a hamlet is good size.
KRIS RADTKE Limits will devalue everyone’s land – where are our young people going to buy land and be able to stay in this community? Building is good for the economy – housing provides jobs in this community from Ike Roell to Rich McKee. You need to provide areas for young people to stay – not 5 acres.
MARY BUSSE For farming and limiting growth – farming is to be preserved – they should sell to other farmers. Go to Milwaukee and see how land is eaten up. What were cities built for – to house people there. Then everybody can drive here to enjoy this open country land.
DICK FINCH Proposal makes some sense – have not addressed saving of farmland and open space for the long run - #1 – Cluster development or conservation development. 1/2 to permanent preservation and other 1/2 to maybe 2-1/2 acre lots. Other tools to preserve farmland are not in this plan. Commercial should be addressed to a greater degree: how many, size of lots, is it good for community, what would they look like – make it tough to pass a test so it’s not a detraction.
KAY MORLEN Thanks to those who worked on this. Agree with Kristen Rex that recommendations were never listened to – wasted Warrens time, town money. Not one person in this room has yet agreed to these larger lot sizes – it made me divide my land. Worried that Town Board will pass this without a referendum or a vote – take time and give the public time to look at this. Also worried about the Town being sued in the future – you just can’t do this to people – we’ll suffer tax wise as it’ll cost us all money.
WES WEINHOLD Most towns around here have 35 acres and it does seem to work. The number of houses in the past few years is scary to me – we do need a limit. Ought to have 1 acre lots in growth area and 35 in farm area. Someone mentioned you can’t stop growth – a city in California has stopped growth. Economy – local people living here – if the city people keep moving out here, this will be a suburb. No longer in rural area if there’s that much housing. Limiting number of permits idea is good – big developers won’t bother here.
KATHY BOYD Commend Plan Commission & Board for work in bringing us this far. Voice in this town and county is overwhelmingly in favor of farmland. Density and farm land are 2 separate issues to be addressed. Conservation subdivisions, conservation easements – need to ensure we’ll have areas left. So many people play the “I’ve been here longest game” – look at achievements rather than longevity.
DARRYL PREE Believe it’s good there is a plan in place – would be nice for farmers to sell 1-1/2 acre lots to preserve a large part of farmland.
There being no further comments, the public portion of the hearing was then closed.
TOWN BOARD ACTION:
a. New Land Use Plan Map Art Seyfert stated the Land Use Plan Map allows: 1-1/2 acre lots up to 1/4 mile out around all 3 hamlets of Boltonville, Fillmore and St. Michaels; 3 acre lots around any existing country subdivision. Country subdivisions will be Country Estates with limits on buildings and animals. In Agricultural zoning, 4 lots of 5 acres in 5 years, 10 acre or more are unlimited. Moved by Art Seyfert to accept the Land Use Plan Map as posted, seconded by Ike Roell and carried. Gary Schreiber stated regarding discussion on reading the ordinances – notice of the hearing was posted in the Kewaskum Statesman, West Bend News and 3 posting places in the town – nobody contacted any of us to see the ordinances.
b. New Zoning Ordinance Gary Schreiber stated the Town will look into emergency situations. Joanne Oneska advised there is a Planned Unit Development on Shalom Dr. that was approved several years ago by the Town Board, and that should be grand fathered in for Building Permits. Art Seyfert stated this ordinance will have to be reviewed again, but feels we should accept it. Moved by Ike Roell to adopt the new Zoning Ordinance as written and repeal the old one. Art Seyfert seconded and the motion carried.
c. New Subdivision Ordinance Revision Moved by Art Seyfert to accept the revision to the Subdivision Ordinance regarding allowing 26 Building Permits yearly, as written, seconded by Ike Roell and carried.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON LIFTING ZONING MORATORIUM Ike Roell stated we still need to get a road ordinance in place. Gary Schreiber noted it could have an impact on the zoning ordinance, so until the Road Ordinance is done, the moratorium will continue – may have to call another meeting.
ADJOURNED 8:07 pm on a motion made by Art Seyfert, seconded by Ike Roell and carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Oneska, Town Clerk