Winona planning panel recommends conditional permit for 10‑acre home site in New Hartford Township

The Winona County Planning Commission voted to recommend a conditional interim use permit that would allow a new residential building site on a 10‑acre parcel in New Hartford Township, sending the matter to the County Board for final action on Aug. 12 at 9 a.m.

The petition (docket PCO7‑17‑2501) was filed by property owners William and Carol Ebert and applicant Andrew (Andy) Petaski. Planning staff presented a site plan showing the proposed 10‑acre division from a quarter‑quarter section along Store Drive and described topography that rises steeply at the north end of the parcel. Staff said the site contains just under 2 acres of mapped prime soils — about 20 percent of the 10‑acre parcel — which meets the county standard (the county’s threshold was described in the staff report as 40 percent). The staff report recommended approval with four conditions.

The commission heard from petitioner Andy Petaski, who said he and his partner bought the property and “fell in love with the land,” and that they intend to build a barndominium roughly 100 by 50 feet. “It’s 10 acres…we’re applying for the conditional use permit because…it’s a nice private piece of land,” Petaski told the commission. No other members of the public spoke during the open public hearing.

Commissioners asked staff about prior divisions on the parent parcel; staff noted two earlier conditional divisions in 2021 and 2023, each at about 20 acres, and confirmed the current request is consistent with those previous approvals. Staff also said the petitioners met with the New Hartford Township board on May 8 and that the township had no comments on the request.

A commissioner moved approval “with the facts and findings and the conditions that they have,” the motion was seconded, and the commission voted to recommend the petition to the County Board. The County Board is scheduled to consider the petition at its Aug. 12 meeting at 9 a.m.

Details recorded in the staff materials include the parcel location (New Hartford Township, section 9), proposed building setbacks (applicant indicated approximately 114 feet from the township road and about 93 feet from the eastern property line), and that the proposed building site is largely wooded.

If the County Board approves the conditional interim use permit, the staff‑recommended conditions included standard items tied to the county findings of fact; the commission’s action was a recommendation only and not a final land‑use decision.