Delafield planning commission forwards citywide zoning change to allow artisan, craft workshops in A‑1 district

The Delafield Plan Commission on Oct. 29 recommended that Common Council consider a text amendment to Chapter 52 that would allow artisan and craft workshops and studios as a conditional use in the A‑1 agricultural zoning district citywide.

Planner Amy Barrows told the commission the amendment would add A‑1 to the zoning districts where such uses may be permitted by conditional use permit, and would attach conditions including a minimum lot size of three acres, required access to a collector or arterial street, dust‑free parking surfaces sized to the use, and requirements for proper sewage disposal. The draft also would permit occasional outdoor display and retail sales when specified in an approved conditional use and requires that any outdoor display be brought indoors at the close of each day.

Barrows said the change was prompted by an expected conditional use application for a farmer’s‑market‑style venue proposed for the Bill Barr Farm (an applicant, Bonnie Knoff, is preparing a CU submittal). Under the draft, agricultural properties would be allowed to sell products produced off site as well as items produced on site where the property meets the conditions (the B‑1/CBD provisions already allow on‑site production and sale).

Commissioners emphasized that each A‑1 site would still require its own conditional use review, including individual neighbor notice within 300 feet, and that the commission could limit frequency, hours, food‑truck operations and other specifics when a permit was requested. Amy Barrows said the city attorney reviewed the redline language and made technical edits; the substance of the draft remained unchanged.

After discussion the commission moved and seconded a recommendation to forward the ordinance amendment to Common Council; the motion passed on an aye vote and will be considered by council in a future meeting.

The amendment, if approved by the council, would allow prospective farmer’s‑market or artisan/craft uses to seek a conditional use permit in the A‑1 district subject to the conditions in the ordinance, including notice to neighbors and operational limits. The commission noted that most A‑1 parcels with arterial/collector access (17 of 18 parcels in current city data) are at least three acres and would be eligible to apply under the proposed text.

Provenance: Amy Barrows introduced the amendment and described the conditions (transcript excerpt). Topic introduction: “public hearing number 1 is a text amendment…” Evidence: "Public hearing number 1 is a text amendment suggestion for…chapter 52 zoning ordinance…to amend the text section 52‑142‑22 regarding applicable zoning districts and related conditions for artisan and craft workshops and studios as a conditional use." Topic finish: commission motion to forward to Common Council (transcript excerpt).