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Sawyer County Lakes Forum urges lake-based dimensional standards as committee weighs camping-cabin changes
Summary
The Sawyer County Lakes Forum asked the ad hoc committee to revisit lake classifications and dimensional requirements and urged legal review of options after state statute changes. Committee members raised campground density, plumbing and whether camping cabins should be treated like dwellings.
Jean Acala, vice president of the Sawyer County Lakes Forum, told the Multi Dwelling Development Ad Hoc Committee that the forum wants Sawyer County to restore or consider lake-specific classifications and dimensional requirements as the committee finalizes zoning changes.
Acala said Sawyer Countys minimum lot dimensions and allowed densities are smaller than neighboring lake-rich counties and urged the committee to "consider at minimum Sawyer County lake classifications and dimensional requirements of other lake-rich counties as a starting point." She also noted the county has about 252 named lakes and many unnamed lakes that vary in character and need different protections.
Edgewater property owner Linda Zillmer followed Acala and said prior to recent state statutory changes Sawyer County used a four-tier lake classification system with different dimensional requirements for different lakes. Zillmer asked the committee to ask county legal to review whether the county can use its subdivision ordinance to require larger lot dimensions moving forward — for example, applying one-acre minimums in future subdivisions while not retroactively changing existing lots.
The public comment and committee discussion then shifted to a related agenda item: proposed changes to the countys camping-cabin rules. Jay (zoning staff) summarized the issue: current county rules allow camping cabins only on licensed campgrounds, limit cabins to 300 sq. ft. and prohibit gas, water and sewer connections. A campground owner requested changes that would raise the size limit to 400 sq. ft. and remove prohibitions on electric, plumbing and gas. Jay said he used the states ATCP 79 camping-cabin definition as a reference in his draft options.
Committee members raised multiple concerns: whether camping cabins with plumbing or permanent slabs become de facto dwellings; whether campground density rules (for example, campsites per acre) would allow many camping cabins on a shoreland parcel; wastewater and septic capacity for cabins with toilets; and whether the change would effectively allow tiny-home-style permanent occupancy inside campgrounds. Member Laura said her town denied a petition because the proposal lacked sufficient detail; other members said towns should be offered options (for example, a 30% cap on camping-cabin units per campground) rather than a single countywide change.
The committee did not take a final vote on camping-cabin amendments. Members asked staff to provide regulatory detail on plumbing and wastewater-capacity rules (including state SPS and ATCP guidance), and to provide model options for towns to consider.
Quotes from the public: "Sawyer Countys general zoning ordinances have much smaller dimensional requirements and allow much higher development densities than similar lake rich counties in the region," Jean Acala said. Linda Zillmer said the county "used to be protective just in shoreland" and suggested subdivision ordinance tools for future larger lot minimums.
Ending: The committee directed staff to gather comparative county dimensional standards, state regulatory guidance on camping-cabin water and sewer, and model approaches (including town-level opt-ins like a percent cap) for the next meeting.
