Zoning committee gives preliminary OK to 6-lot Berkey subdivision with conditions

The Walworth County Zoning Committee on Feb. 20 voted to approve a preliminary plat for a proposed six-lot subdivision on a 57-acre site, subject to conditions including placement of survey monuments, corrected lot acreage, sanitary filings, and required town and state reviews.

County staff said the preliminary plat (identified in the packet as William Pamela Berkey) proposes six large lots, the smallest of which is about 5 acres and the largest approximately 22–23 acres. Staff noted several items that must be resolved before the final plat: placement of survey monuments, inclusion of all required certificates on the final plat, reconciliation of shown building setback lines with zoning setbacks, correction of an apparent square-footage error for Lot 2, clarifying whether Fergie Lane is an easement or an outlot, and confirmation of ownership consent and address for the subdivider. The sanitation division reported that soil-test reports had not been filed at the time of the staff review; staff told the committee that those files have since been recorded.

Staff also reported that the Town of East Troy and the Village of East Troy had approved the preliminary plat as part of extraterritorial review, and that the Town of East Troy road superintendent approved the proposed access points onto Swaboda Road. The county planning and land conservation divisions raised no objections. The county staff recommended approval subject to addressing all Land Use and Resource Management staff concerns, obtaining Wisconsin Department of Administration review and any required revisions, obtaining final plat approval from the Town of East Troy after addressing the town’s comments, and meeting all applicable state statutes and county ordinances.

The applicant’s representative, Warren (surveyor/applicant representative), told the committee the outstanding items were minor and expected to be addressed on the final plat. Committee member Jim Van Dreiser moved to approve the preliminary plat with the staff-stated conditions; Joanne Lisonbee seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded dissents.

Committee members and staff noted that Lot 4 (the largest parcel) could be divided in the future, and that a drainage way across the southern portion of the site will be preserved. Staff also flagged a typographical error on the draft plat notes ("count" instead of "county") and requested a clear statement of who is responsible for protecting the identified drainage area.

The committee closed the public hearing portion with no speakers registered for or against. The approval was recorded as a conditional preliminary approval; final plat approval will return to the committee after the applicant submits corrected documents and receives required town and state reviews.