Waupaca planning commission recommends temporary-permit route after public hearing on rezoning request

Mayor Brian Smith chaired a public hearing Oct. 1 on a request to rezone Parcel No. 3430323, owned by Julia A. Motive and Steve Motive, from R-1 (residential) to A-1 (agricultural). The item was listed as Ordinance No. 15-2025 and drew several neighbors and the applicants to the meeting.

The commission heard from Josh (city administrator) and staff that the parcel — described in the application as roughly 49 acres and lacking a street address — would be used to grow produce for local resale and to store tools in a movable agricultural shed brought in on skids. Josh said the proposed shed would be under 350 square feet and removable for transport. Neighbor questions focused on access, existing buildings on the property and whether rezoning would allow future owners to keep animals.

The Motif applicants attended and answered questions. Steve Motif, the applicant, said the family has farmed the property historically and that the shed would support vegetable production for a local farmers market. He said one old storage building would be removed if the new shed were allowed.

Commissioners raised concerns about turning an R-1 parcel into A-1. Commissioner Henry Velacher noted that A-1 zoning allows broader agricultural uses and, as written in the city code as read by staff, agricultural districts may permit livestock “not to exceed 1 animal unit per acre” and include standards for principal structures and accessory buildings. Velacher and others questioned whether an accessory shed could be allowed without a principal residence on the same parcel under existing codes.

Justin Behrens, director of public works, read relevant sections of the municipal code for temporary structures and temporary uses, including language that portable storage and temporary buildings require permits and that a temporary-structure permit is required for structures erected from 15 to 180 cumulative days in a calendar year. Commissioners noted an apparent inconsistency in the code text about a separate line saying temporary uses in a development area are limited to 8 weeks; staff and commissioners said that discrepancy would need clarification by Community Development staff.

After discussion, commissioners advised the applicants that a temporary-structure or temporary-use permit from the Community Development Office is the more appropriate route for the movable shed they described. Mayor Brian Smith and other commissioners said they preferred to keep the parcel zoned residential rather than change it to agricultural, in order to avoid creating a new, broader agricultural entitlement that a future owner could use differently.

Angela Lesage moved, and Dana Guskey seconded, a motion to "resend the request from the Motifs for the rezoning of the property." The motion carried by voice vote; commissioners then discussed next steps for the applicants with staff. The commission indicated the applicants should pursue a temporary-structure/temporary-use permit, agree to remove the existing dilapidated shed, and that staff could consider waiving the permit fee as an administrative courtesy. Josh told the applicants to contact Community Development during regular business hours to apply for the temporary permit.

The commission did not adopt a rezoning ordinance for Parcel 3430323 at the meeting; instead the matter was returned to staff for processing under the pathway the commission recommended.

Votes at the meeting also included routine approvals: the commission approved the agenda and placed prior meeting minutes on file earlier in the session.

The applicants and staff were directed to follow up with Community Development for permit application requirements and any required conditions. The transcript records several requests from commissioners to review A-1 district standards citywide and to clarify temporary-structure time limits in the municipal code; staff said those are matters the commission can address at a later date.