The Sawyer County Zoning Committee conditionally approved the final plat for the Preserve, Phase 5 — a proposed 21-lot subdivision with four outlots — contingent on receipt of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ stormwater management approval and recording of the same covenants used on prior phases.

Zoning staff stated the final plat follows earlier preliminary approvals, that all lots in Phase 5 will exceed five acres, and that private roads will remain private. Staff reported that the subdivider submitted a wetland delineation and that the stormwater plan for Phase 5 was under review; the committee was told the plat could not be recorded in the Register of Deeds until the DNR approved the stormwater plan.

Developer Jeremy Hill addressed the committee and said the stormwater permit for Phase 5 had been approved and that other phases are in various stages of DNR review. A member of the public, Linda Zilmer, commented on the cumulative effect of five-acre lot subdivisions on forest fragmentation and on conservation easement demand; she urged more prudence in approving incremental residential fragmentation.

Committee members moved and seconded a conditional approval that requires DNR stormwater approval before recording and mandates recording of the same covenants used on earlier phases and completion and filing of the wetland delineation. The motion passed on roll call with all committee members voting in favor.

Zoning administration said it will not sign or record the final plat until the stormwater approval is received and covenants are recorded; staff will coordinate final paperwork with the developer.