Marathon County ERC recommends approval of seven rezoning petitions

The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee on June 3, 2025, voted to recommend approval to the County Board for seven rezoning petitions affecting parcels in Rib Falls, Eau Plain, Reed, Marathon, McMillan, Eau Plain (again) and Knowlton.

CPZ staff presented each petition and recommended approval, saying the proposals "meet all the zoning district standards as it relates to size, frontage, access, and dimension" and that they appeared consistent with each town's comprehensive plan and future land-use map. Staff also noted legal notices were published and adjacent owners were notified by mail for each request.

The petitions included: Randy Ross on behalf of Verlyn and Jane Ross Trust (general agriculture to urban residential, Town of Rib Falls); Tamara Meyer (farmland preservation to general agriculture, Town of Eau Plain); Chris Fury on behalf of Dennis Clemens (general agriculture and urban residential to rural estate; general agriculture to rural residential, Town of Reed); Matthew McGee on behalf of KPS Enterprises Inc. (neighborhood commercial to light industrial, Town of Marathon); Donald Sebastian (rural residential to commercial, Town of McMillan); Tim Vreeland on behalf of Daryl and Donna Zimmerman (farmland preservation to low-density residential, Town of Eau Plain); and Tim Vreeland on behalf of Robert and Kelsey Shway (rural estate to rural residential, Town of Knowlton).

Supervisors asked a few clarifying questions during the hearings. Supervisor Dreybeck asked why one petition had not been on the previous month's agenda; staff said some towns did not get the required resolutions to county staff in time to include them in an earlier packet. Supervisor Kroll asked whether a rezone from farmland preservation could qualify as a farm consolidation; staff replied that the residual parcels were already nonconforming and a consolidation would have required rezoning the residue out of the farmland preservation district, so that option would not have applied. Supervisor Kroll also asked whether staff had received public comments on a Knowlton petition; staff said they had not.

Each petition was moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote with the committee chair calling "All in favor, say aye" and "Opposed? Motion carries." The committee forwarded the proposals and staff conclusions of law to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors for final action.

The committee advised towns that, should the County Board approve a rezoning, the town should update its comprehensive plan if applicable. No public testimony was offered on any of the seven petitions during the hearings.

The committee completed the rezoning hearings and moved on to other agenda items.