Plan commission sets Oct. 29 public hearing on allowing artisan and craft workshops in A1 district

The City of Delafield Plan Commission agreed on Sept. 24 to schedule a public hearing on Oct. 29 to consider proposed text amendments to Chapter 52 that would allow artisan and craft workshops and studios as a conditional use in the A1 Agricultural District subject to conditions. Applicant Bonnie (last name not specified) and staff presented draft language and outreach efforts to neighbors in Hawthorne Farms.

Staff reported an analysis showing roughly 18 A1 parcels that met draft criteria such as being adjacent to a collector or arterial and at least three acres in size; staff recommended a 3-acre minimum based on parcel sizes and locations. Several residents in Hawthorne Farms provided supportive feedback, and staff asked the applicant to submit any written support for inclusion in the meeting packet.

Commissioners discussed several site-control and nuisance-avoidance provisions to include in conditional-use review. Topics included whether portable toilets (porta-potties) should be permitted, and if so under what screening or temporary-use conditions; staff said porta-potties would be used only temporarily and that proposals should demonstrate either plumbing plans or screening as part of the conditional-use/site-plan review. Commissioners also discussed allowing temporary food and beverage carts or vendors as part of a business plan, with staff recommending those be managed on a case-by-case basis as part of the conditional-use and site-plan review to avoid permanent, unsupervised placement.

A motion to schedule a public hearing for Oct. 29 passed by voice vote. Staff will prepare final draft language for the hearing and include any written neighbor feedback.