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Kanarraville planners debate commercial-use list, glamping and Rogalski property; send clarification to town board
Summary
Planning commissioners reviewed a draft codification of permitted commercial uses, discussed whether camping/glamping should be allowed near Canary Falls and a possible state grant to acquire the Rogalski property, and voted to send the draft to the town board for review.
The Kanarraville Planning and Zoning Commission spent the majority of its May 1 meeting reviewing proposed codification of commercial uses, debating whether camping or ‘‘glamping’’ should be allowed outside Main Street and discussing a three-acre parcel owned by the Rogalski family that is listed for sale and has been advertised as potential glamping.
Planning staff presented the draft codified use list and told commissioners the printed copy before them reflects edits made after an earlier review. “These are the ones that we're working on codifying,” staff said, adding earlier, outdated copies in the book reflect prior language. Staff and commissioners disagreed about whether camping, tent or RV uses appear on the current permitted-use list; planning staff said she did not see camping listed.
Commissioners and residents discussed the Rogalski parcel at length. Staff said the parcel is “just over 3” acres (discussed as approximately 3.19 acres in the meeting) and that Rogalski operations previously ran a seasonal dry camp and a small gift shop. A staff member said the Rogalskis had kept an active business license and that earlier uses included overflow parking, a small store and dry camping without hookups.
A town official told the commission that Holly (first name only in the record) is pursuing a state recreation grant that would cover 100% of a purchase price with no local match; if approved, the town would have to use the parcel as part of Canary Falls (parking, store or office) and could be subject to grant conditions. Staff also cautioned that timing and legal constraints around changing zoning after a property is listed for sale need review; Reed Erickson (referenced in the meeting) was cited for having previously explained legal limitations on changing uses midstream.
Commissioners weighed alternatives: keep the commercial-use list as-is; explicitly confine restaurants and full indoor dining to Main Street commercial districts; create a separate allowed list for “walk-up” snack bars and small retail uses allowed in all commercial districts; or add camping/glamping as an allowed use subject to minimum acreage and a cap on sites (examples discussed included requiring 3 acres minimum, or 2 sites per acre, and excluding acreage occupied by an existing house from the site-count calculation).
Planning staff proposed a simple approach: make permitted uses clear so applicants can “march in” and be approved if they meet setbacks and requirements, rather than rely on conditional uses. After discussion, Commissioner (Speaker 4) moved and Commissioner (Speaker 5) seconded a motion to forward the draft codified use list and proposed clarifications to the town board for review next week; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.
The commission asked staff to research legal timing and potential litigation risk for changing zoning on a property already listed for sale and to provide clearer ordinance language that distinguishes Main Street commercial uses (full-service restaurants and similar) from smaller walk-up or seasonal uses (snack shacks, juice bars, small stores) that could be permitted across commercial districts.
The commission also discussed the post office; planning staff said the postmaster, Cassie, has been invited and is expected to attend the next meeting to present plans for relocating postal services.
