Environmental Resources Committee forwards six rezones and a town solar/wind ordinance to county board

The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee met April 1 and voted to recommend approval of six separate zoning change petitions to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors and to forward a town zoning ordinance update on wind and solar to the county board.

The committee recommended approval of rezones for parcels in the towns of Tonnable Plain, Elderon, Town Hall, Green Valley, Frankfort and Reed. Committee staff reported that each petition met the county zoning code standards for size, frontage, access and dimension and that most had supporting town resolutions or recommendations. Committee members moved approval by voice vote on each petition; the committee did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting record and each motion carried.

Why it matters: Rezoning changes how land may be used and can permit different future development or conservation options. The committee’s recommendation is advisory; the county board will take final action at a later meeting.

Details of the petitions and committee action - Zopfi (Zappi/Zotfi) Family Irrevocable Trust (Town of Tonel Plain): request to rezone approximately 77.78 acres from FP (Farmland Preservation) to GA (General Agriculture). Staff reported the site is actively farmed and the town recommended approval. The committee voted to recommend approval and forward conclusions of law to the county board. - Christopher Fury (on behalf of David and Krista Gruna) (Town of Elderon): petition to rezone from GA (General Agriculture) to RR (Rural Residential). The committee postponed action because a town resolution had not been provided; the hearing was closed and the item will be reopened at a later meeting when complete information is available. - Daniel Weaver (Town of Hull/Town Hall): petition to rezone from FP to GA. Staff said the rezoning would allow a conditional-use path to regularize an existing equipment rental/storage use; the Board of Adjustment had issued a conditional-use permit that would lapse if rezoning does not occur. The committee voted to recommend approval and forward to the county board. - Brandon Layer (on behalf of Grama/Brass Properties) (Town of Green Valley): petition to rezone from UR (Urban Residential) to RR (Rural Residential) to allow a larger storage building (rural residential allows up to 2,000 sq. ft.). Staff confirmed on-site septic, well and electrical already exist; committee voted to recommend approval and forward to the county board. - Christopher Schumacher (on behalf of Marcus and Sarah Nolt) (Town of Frankfort): petition to rezone from GA to C (Commercial). The town recommended approval; the committee voted to recommend approval and forward to the county board. - Tim Vreeland (on behalf of Mark and Katie Luby) (Town of Reed): petition to rezone from GA to RE (Real Estate) for a parcel described in a preliminary certified survey map. The town recommended approval; the committee voted to recommend approval and forward to the county board.

Town zoning update — wind and solar The committee also reviewed a revised town zoning ordinance amendment from the Town of Ringgold (listed at the meeting as a Town of Ringo/Ringgold submission) addressing solar energy systems and wind energy systems. County corporation counsel and planning staff had reviewed the draft and advised the town on language that had extended beyond state authority. The town revised the ordinance to make several provisions “recommended” rather than mandatory so the ordinance aligns with state oversight (including the Public Service Commission where appropriate). The committee voted to approve forwarding the amended town ordinance to the county board for consideration.

What happens next: The committee’s approvals are recommendations to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors, which will consider final approval at a future county board meeting. For the petition that was postponed (Gruna/Elderon), the committee closed the hearing and will reopen the record when the town recommendation is available.

Notes: All listed motions passed by voice vote as recorded in the committee’s meeting minutes; the meeting transcript records “motion carries” on each item but does not include a roll-call vote or per-member tallies.