Marathon County ERC recommends multiple rezones, approves final plat

The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee on Sept. 30 recommended approval of several rezoning petitions and approved a final subdivision plat, forwarding most items to the County Board for final action.

Committee members voted to recommend approval of rezoning petitions that would change land from general agriculture or farmland preservation to rural residential, rural estate or general agriculture in the towns of Knowlton, McMillan and others. The committee also recommended approval of a package of 234 parcels in the towns of Brighton, Eau Pleine, Hull and Marathon to align the county zoning map with the county farmland preservation plan.

The committee followed staff reports and town resolutions when voting. Garrett Poggle, Marathon County land use specialist, presented staff reports that said the petitions met zoning standards for size, frontage, access and dimensions and were consistent with applicable town comprehensive plans. Shad Harvey, Marathon County land resources manager, explained that the 234-parcel package resulted from a 2024 farmland-preservation plan update and was intended to make county zoning consistent with Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) requirements.

During public comment, petitioner Ronald Hahn said he supported his rezone request. Dean Beck, Town of Easton chairman, spoke during public comment about separate county agenda items, urging caution on proposed animal-waste ordinance changes. Kevin…