Towns largely back 30% cap on park models and camping cabins; committee forwards amendment after heated public hearing

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on Aug. 15 voted to forward a proposed amendment to the county zoning code that would limit the combined total of park‑model trailers and camping cabins in licensed campgrounds to 30 percent of permitted sites. The committee action followed a formal public hearing that brought owners of campgrounds, adjacent residents and town officials to the podium.

Jay, a zoning staff member, summarized results of a poll the county sent to town boards asking what percentage limit they preferred for park models and camping cabins. Most responding towns recommended 30 percent. Jay read the returns aloud: Bass Lake 30%, Couderay 30%, Draper 30%, Edgewater 100% (but with caveats), Hayward 30%, Hunter 30%, Glenwood 30%, Meadowbrook 30%, Meteor 30%, Ojibwe 30%, Radisson 100%, Round Lake split, Sand Lake 30%, Weyauwega (Weyorgore in record) 50% and Winter 30%.

Public testimony highlighted sharply divided views.

"The idea that there is no problem with turning campgrounds into trailer parks conflicts with existing zoning regulations in multiple areas of the code," said Jenny Chaback, who identified herself as speaking for a group of residents and landowners concerned about environmental impacts and shoreland density. Chaback urged the committee to follow town boards’ input and said camping cabins are dwellings, not campers.

Edgewater property owner Linda Zilmer urged clearer definitions and environmental safeguards. She told the committee that some town boards wanted park models and camping cabins addressed separately and stressed concerns about impervious surface, septic sizing and shoreland density: "Pouch sizing by state standards is inadequate at only 30 gallons per day," she said, referring to septic design guidance discussed at the hearing.

Campground owner Don Robinson, whose family owns Lake Chipway Campground, said the industry has evolved and that limiting owners would harm smaller operators trying to remain viable. "Times have changed," Robinson said, and noted some visitors prefer park models or cabins to tents. His daughter, Jill Robinson, said seasonal campground users often become year‑round residents and that campgrounds help local housing markets.

Several town representatives who submitted poll responses told the committee they preferred a 30 percent cap as a way to balance development and environmental protection. Others recommended different limits or asked the county to separate park models and camping cabins into distinct regulatory categories.

Legal counsel told the committee that state definitions do not include a 30 percent cap; adding a percentage is a local policy choice. Counsel also cautioned that a full ordinance rewrite should address definitions and administrative placement of numeric limits so the text aligns with state definitions and county policy.

After nearly two hours of testimony and discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed Option F amendment — using a 30 percent cap on combined park models and camping cabins — to the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors for final action. Staff will transmit town poll responses and the draft ordinance to the county board for consideration.

Stakes and next steps The committee vote only forwards the draft amendment to the county board; the change is not yet law. Zoning staff and legal counsel noted that if the county board adopts the amendment, the change could create nonconforming situations for existing campgrounds that had approvals made without the 30 percent wording (staff said determining consequences will require a case‑by‑case review). The committee and counsel also said a larger rewrite of the zoning ordinance is under consideration and could separate park models from camping cabins or create a new land‑use category for clustered tiny‑house or park model parks off shoreland.

Quotes from the hearing are drawn from committee minutes and verbatim public testimony recorded in the meeting transcript.