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County board denies rezoning petition for Paul Lierman, 15-9
Summary
The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors voted 15-9 to adopt a report denying a request to rezone a 5-acre parcel from exclusive agricultural use. The Planning and Park Commission had recommended denial; several supervisors said farmland-preservation criteria and town plans influenced the decision.
The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors voted 15-9 to adopt a report denying a request to rezone a 5-acre parcel owned by Paul Lierman from exclusive agricultural use.
The Planning and Park Commission had recommended denial after a public hearing; the county board took up the commission’s recommendation during its regular meeting. Supporters of the denial cited farmland-preservation criteria and the county’s agricultural land-use designation; opponents and the parcel’s town officials had urged approval or further review.
Supervisor Matthew Palkowski, chairing the Planning and Park Commission’s report to the board, said the parcel’s land-use designation is agricultural and that the commission found the application did not meet rezone criteria. He told the board the parcel sits within farmland-preservation areas and that carving a 5-acre residential lot out of productive acreage would undermine that program.
Supervisor Benke (Supervisor Behnke) said the commission made the right recommendation and urged the board to preserve farmland. Supervisor Ryan Phipps and other board members said they would prefer the matter go back to the Planning and Park Commission so staff and the landowner could seek revised configurations that might meet criteria.
Corporation Counsel told supervisors the board could either accept the commission’s recommendation or reject it and refer the petition back to the Planning and Park Commission for reconsideration; the counsel said referral would not automatically approve the rezone. Several supervisors confirmed they understood a “yes” vote on the pending motion meant supporting denial.
After discussion the board approved the motion to adopt the commission report and deny the zoning amendment petition by a 15-9 vote. Supervisors and staff noted the landowner may submit a revised petition with a different parcel configuration for future consideration.
The Planning and Park Commission also reported other docket items, including five variance requests and an ordinance violation that it has forwarded to corporation counsel for adjudication. The commission’s next meeting was noted as tentatively scheduled for June 2.
