The Sawyer County Zoning Committee approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 25-044 for Michael and Carrie Olsen to relocate a 12-foot by 24-foot accessory structure onto vacant land in the Town of Edgewater, subject to conditions that the structure be used for storage only (no habitable area) and that the principal dwelling land-use permit be obtained and built within three years.

Zoning staff noted the request is processed under Sawyer County Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, section 4.26 parent 1, which carries automatic conditions: a land-use permit for the accessory structure and, within three years, a land-use permit for the principal dwelling. Staff said the lot has steep topography and the applicant had already applied for a soil test, driveway permit and fire number.

The applicant, Michael Olsen, told the committee he intends to relocate an existing shed from another property and eventually build an Airbnb; he said he has formed an LLC for property management. A neighboring property owner, Linda Zilmer (Edgewater), asked the committee to consider conditions barring future lot splits and variances because of the steep topography and potential for future additional development. County legal counsel Rebecca cautioned that conditions must be supported by substantial evidence under state law (citing limits for conditions on conditional-use permits) and warned the committee to avoid conditioning approval on future variances.

Committee member Kaye Wilson moved to approve the CUP with added condition that the accessory building contain no habitable space and be used for storage only; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. The committee included staff’s suggested conditions — that the accessory structure meet all county zoning and conservation requirements, setbacks and applicable state and federal laws — and added the no-habitable-space condition. The zoning administrator noted enforcement can require remedy actions such as replanting vegetation or removal of structures if violations occur.

The committee recorded votes in favor from all members present and closed the item.