Staff reports progress on countywide zoning-map review and updates conditional-use permit process
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Summary
Planning staff told the ZLR Committee that the countywide zoning-map review is underway across 12 towns and that the county has updated its CUP ordinance to make town actions advisory; a worksheet and guidance were sent to towns on June 5.
Planning staff updated the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee on June 10 about ongoing work to review and clean up Dane County's zoning maps and about recent changes to the county's conditional-use permit (CUP) process.
Todd Violante, planning and development director, said the zoning-map review project is making steady progress: 12 towns are in various stages of completion, four towns are in the approval process and another four are in review. Staff are coordinating with towns to pair map cleanups with any town comprehensive-plan work when possible. "We found approximately a 100 inconsistencies" in Dane County properties during an earlier intern review, Roger Lane said, and staff are prioritizing high-impact parcels such as those with deed restrictions that conflict with assigned zoning.
On the CUP process, staff said the county amended ordinance language in February to make town action advisory for conditional-use permits and that the final implementation step was outreach. Staff sent a letter and a CUP worksheet to towns on June 5 explaining the new timeline, options for town decision-making, examples of potential nuisances to consider (traffic, outdoor activity, exterior lighting), and updated guidance on how towns can recommend conditions. "We have also prepared a CUP worksheet, for them. They could go through the application and pick out potential nuisances," staff said. The committee received the report; no formal action was required.
Committee members asked about town responses and coordination with town clerks, planning commissions and boards. Staff said they had not yet received substantive town responses to the June 5 mailing and that planners and assistant zoning administrators will work closely with towns during the map-review process. Staff also noted the project offers training opportunities for two new county planners through direct interaction with towns.
