ERC sends comprehensive zoning code draft to townships for review, schedules open house

Marathon County’s Environmental Resources Committee voted Sept. 2 to send the draft comprehensive update to Chapter 17 (zoning code) to townships for review and to host an open house for questions and comments.

County planning staff said the draft addresses topics raised at prior meetings, including battery energy storage systems (BESS) and spill prevention, and tourist rooming houses (short-term rentals). Staff noted the draft requires commercial battery-energy-storage systems to meet NFPA 855 standards and that the draft includes a requirement for financial assurance for commercial systems to cover potential spill cleanup costs. On tourist rooming houses, staff explained that the county health department already inspects and permits such operations and that zoning restrictions are of limited effectiveness and difficult to enforce; state law limits some local zoning authority for short-term rentals.

The committee received a resolution from the Town of Brighton requesting changes; staff said that resolution appears related to the county’s farm preservation ordinance and will be reviewed separately because it follows a different state approval process. Staff proposed and the committee approved sending the zoning draft to townships in September–October, holding an open house, revising in November as needed, and seeking adoption in December.

Supervisor Dreierbeck moved to send the draft to townships; Supervisor Crowe seconded. The motion carried. Staff said they will present the town comments at a future meeting and prepare any needed ordinance revisions.