Kenosha County committee approves affidavit to adjust drainage easement on Jefferson Bay plat

The Kenosha County Planning, Development & Extension Education Committee on an unspecified July date approved an affidavit of correction to amend the drainage easement on Jefferson Bay Plat No. 3531 in the Town of Randall, clearing the way for a property owner to site a house closer to the lot’s center while retaining the stormwater capacity required by county review.

The change was presented by the county planning staff and applicants after an engineering study and county review found the revised detention shape would meet ordinance standards. "The shape of it is then changed to reflect more of this here where you can see how the topography is here that then allows for the house location," said Andy, director of planning and development, describing the revised easement and the review process.

The nut of the change is administrative: the recorded plat easement is being adjusted by an affidavit of correction so the owner can avoid siting a house within the previously large easement while preserving the same drainage function. "All we wanted to do was push the easement, but, obviously, maintaining the same amount of drainage," said Holly, the property owner, describing the revised low point and how it would preserve capacity for a 100‑year watershed study standard.

County staff explained the sequence of steps the applicant must complete after committee approval. The applicant’s engineer must revise plans to meet a list of conditions noted in the county engineer’s review, submit an as‑built to verify final topography, pay a $30 recording fee, and record the corrected instrument. "As soon as that's recorded, then you can issue the permit," Andy said when describing the permit milestone.

Supervisor Julia Robinson moved to approve the affidavit of correction; Supervisor Aaron Decker seconded the motion. Committee members voiced assent and the motion carried. The approval was contingent on the county engineer’s remaining conditions being satisfied and the corrected instrument being recorded.

Committee members and staff noted the change followed normal administrative and review procedures because the original plat and easement were approved through the town and county processes; an affidavit of correction is the instrument used to alter a recorded plat easement. The county engineer provided a written review stating the revisions met engineering requirements subject to the listed conditions.

The applicant’s engineer, identified in meeting materials as a civil engineering and land surveying firm, prepared the grading plan showing the revised low point and a separate swale between the subject lot and the neighboring property to retain runoff. During discussion, staff clarified the driveway location and setbacks; the driveway will be sited at one point on the east side outside the easement and will slope toward the revised swale.

The committee’s approval was administrative in nature and requires the applicant to return paperwork and the certified as‑built; the county will sign and record the affidavit after conditions are met. No alterations to county ordinance or policy were made.

Votes at a glance

• Motion: Approve affidavit of correction to amend drainage easement on Jefferson Bay Plat No. 3531 (tax parcel referenced in meeting record). Mover: Supervisor Julia Robinson. Second: Supervisor Aaron Decker. Outcome: approved; unanimous among members present. Conditions: applicant to satisfy county engineer’s listed corrections, provide as‑built verification, and record the corrected affidavit; $30 recording fee required.

Less urgent items discussed later in the meeting included an update on a local solar developer’s interest in battery energy storage systems and a land‑swap conversation involving a lakeshore parcel; those items were informational and did not require committee action.