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Plan Commission adopts 11 municipal code amendments, including moving wind/solar reviews to conditional use
Summary
The commission approved staff‑proposed amendments to the Village of Germantown municipal code — updates to building‑code references, permitting procedures and zoning provisions, including a change moving wind and solar energy conversion systems from permitted to conditional uses in the zoning code.
The Germantown Plan Commission voted Jan. 13 to approve a package of 11 amendments to the Village municipal code governing building, zoning and subdivision standards.
Community Development Director Jeff Retzlaff presented the changes. Amendments to the building code include an update to Wisconsin Administrative Code references and new application notices informing permit applicants about responsibilities related to wetlands, floodplain and environmental requirements, and when wetland delineations or as‑built surveys could be required. The building code amendments also codify existing inspection procedures for temporary occupancy permits and potential as‑built survey requirements near envelope limits.
Amendments to the zoning code include moving wind and solar energy conversion systems from a permitted use to a conditional‑use category, which adds a public hearing and both plan commission and village board review (Retzlaff cited Wisconsin Stat. § 66.0401 in addressing state limits on local regulation of wind and solar). The package also clarifies accessory building rules in the A‑1 district, removes certain animal storage uses from the M1 limited industrial district, expands the M2 general industrial conditional‑use list to explicitly include waste‑hauling vehicle operations and dumpster/truck storage and transportation operations, and refines fence and easement review requirements. A new subdivision design standard adds a 20‑foot perimeter buffer for subdivisions along adjacent public streets and clarifies corner‑lot width rules.
The public hearing on the draft amendments drew three speakers: Attorney Brian Randall (who supported amendment 7 as drafted), and Melanie Smythe (who said she supported amendment 4 and amendment 7 as written); no speakers registered opposition. After discussion the commission approved the full set of amendments, amendments 1 through 11, by voice vote; the motion carried with no opposing votes.
Retzlaff said the package codifies several current staff practices and introduces clearer notice language for applicants about wetland and floodplain responsibilities.
