The Sawyer County Zoning Committee held an extended discussion about two connected issues: (1) how to treat apartment conversions and multi-unit residential uses in commercial zone districts, and (2) the status of the multi-dwelling development ad‑hoc committee amid fast-moving state legislation affecting accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Committee members said they have received recent requests to convert commercial spaces (examples mentioned: an upstairs area at a local liquor store) into multiple apartments. Staff noted commercial districts currently list motels as a permitted use but do not explicitly list "apartments" or "multi-dwelling" as a permitted or conditional use. Some members suggested drafting a conditional-use option for apartments in commercial districts to provide a clear path for conversions that meet building and life-safety codes.

State legislation update: Staff and county counsel (Rebecca Roper) reported that Assembly Bill 449—legislation to permit accessory dwelling units statewide (e.g., mother-in-law suites and similar second units with independent living quarters)—is moving quickly through the Legislature and could be enacted soon. Counsel said if AB 449 becomes law, it would preempt local ordinances in part and substantially change the work of the local multi-dwelling ad‑hoc committee, which previously recommended limiting dwelling units per lot. Because of the bill’s potential preemption, counsel recommended pausing the ad‑hoc committee's draft changes until final state action is known.

Zoning rewrite funding and next steps: Committee members noted a $100,000 capital improvement line in the draft 2026 budget to support a comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite, including a forthcoming RFP process. Staff suggested fast-tracking a narrowly targeted amendment to permit apartments as a conditional use in certain commercial districts; several members expressed support for adding apartment/capital code language as a conditional use rather than a permitted use.

Ending: The committee asked staff to prepare draft language for adding apartments by conditional use in selected commercial districts and to bring back a discussion item on special-use permits (SUPs) and the multi-dwelling work once the status of AB 449 is clear.