Portage County board approves $250,000 contract to rewrite county zoning and subdivision code

The Portage County Board on a voice/electronic vote approved a contract with Foth Infrastructure and Environment LLC to assist with a comprehensive repeal-and-replace of the county’s general zoning code and subdivision ordinance.

The vote followed debate about whether towns governed by county zoning had given sufficient advance consent to a county-led code rewrite and whether the project scope — described by staff as a repeal and recreation of the current code — was the right use of county funds.

The matter was moved by Supervisor Schwartz and seconded by Supervisor Vinny and then discussed at length. Supervisor Madine questioned whether the county had letters of support from the towns governed by the county code and said, “If they are not planning to be part of the broader picture of ordinances, then we would simply have a short a series of shoreline ordinances that I would not be willing to spend a quarter of a million dollars to update.”

County staff and committee members responded that the board previously approved Resolution 46 and that a survey and outreach had been done during the earlier planning process. County staff said the project will include a year‑long opt‑in period after the county adopts new ordinance language so towns can review and decide whether to adopt the county code locally. Director Reid (planning and zoning) told the board the project will be “a totally new code” and will include renaming and revising zoning districts, reviewing permitted uses and special exceptions, and updating definitions and processes to make administration clearer for towns, plan commissions, the public and staff.

Mike Poehls, identified by staff as head of the Towns Association and a member of the RFP review committee, was cited in the meeting packet as supporting the review; the board discussion included multiple supervisors who said they had attended unit meetings or listening sessions and heard generally receptive responses from town officials.

Board discussion also noted the distinction between this project (general zoning and subdivision code) and shoreland and floodplain rules, which the county administers under state statute. Several supervisors said they favored hiring an outside consultant to produce a higher‑quality product rather than trying to do the work in‑house on a limited‑term basis.

After the discussion the board approved the contract. The approved scope, as described at the meeting, is a repeal and recreation of the general zoning code and the subdivision code, followed by a 12‑month opt‑in period during which towns may choose to adopt the new county language.

The county indicated that further public outreach and engagement with town plan commissions and unit meetings will be part of the project schedule.