The Walworth County Board of Adjustment denied a variance request from applicants Eric and Greta Wautowska to reduce the required 75‑foot shore yard setback to approximately 48 feet for property at N3163 Quail Road, Lake Geneva.

The decision came after board members reviewed the criteria for variances and concluded the property does not show unique limitations or unnecessary hardship that would justify an exception to the Walworth County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

Chair Ann Seiver said, “There’s nothing about this property that’s any different from the properties around it, really,” and added environmental concern was a key factor for her vote. Seiver described the water feature on the property as “a spring fed stream that goes to Lake Como. You can drink out of this stream.”

Nick Sigman, zoning staff, summarized the request to the board as a petition for a reduced shore yard setback under the county’s shoreland rules and provided the property’s zoning as R‑2, single‑family residence district. The applicants had sought an approximate 48‑foot setback where the ordinance requires 75 feet.

Board members discussed the variance criteria — unique property limitations, unnecessary hardship, and harm to the public interest — and repeatedly said they did not find the factual basis to grant the variance. One member said the board’s role is to protect resources and consider long‑term consequences when a variance “stays with this property from now for as long as it’s there.”

The motion to deny the petition carried and the petition was denied. The board did not set a future action on this matter during the meeting.

The item was presented as a new business petition; public comment and additional evidence were not recorded in the meeting transcript.