The Saint Croix County Community Development Committee approved on Nov. 20 conditional use permits for three home occupations operated at 2339 US Highway 12 by Samuel and Kendall Romo, but only after substantial public comment, staff review, and a set of detailed conditions intended to address traffic, safety and environmental concerns.

Neighbors and public commenters raised a range of allegations: that a motocross track and expanded dirt work had been created without permits, that runoff and mud puddles could create mosquito breeding grounds and risk well contamination, and that multiple commercial operations on one residential parcel set an unwelcome precedent. One commenter said he had photographic evidence and asked the county and DNR to investigate potential water‑quality impacts.

County staff displayed recent drone images showing an excavated motocross track that was not visible in earlier county aerial imagery and noted the DNR may require stormwater or erosion‑control permits. Staff told the committee the motocross track itself was not part of the CUP application under consideration; they advised neighbors to photograph alleged public events and contact the sheriff for weekend enforcement since county staff are not always on site.

The applicants, represented by counsel, said they resubmitted a scaled plan and offered concessions: removal of semi‑tractor storage, reduction of camper counts from earlier requests down to 25 trailers located in two designated 30×125‑foot areas, relocating shed storage to the rear 24×50 mapped area (limit of up to 8 sheds), planting 38 seven‑foot evergreens for screening, and limiting public use of any track. Applicant Samuel Romo said the motocross activity was for family use only and would not be opened to the public.

Committee members pressed staff and the applicant on DOT driveway requirements for large trailers accessing US Highway 12, the jurisdictional role of the DNR on erosion control, and whether screening should be a fence or tree row. To reduce immediate visual and security concerns, the committee included a condition requiring either solid screening or a substantial privacy fence along the east side of the camper storage and around the visible frontage; the applicant said he preferred trees but agreed to work with staff on an acceptable solution.

Conditions attached to approval include: securing all necessary local, state and federal permits and licenses (including DOT driveway approvals as required); no parking, deliveries or pickups from US Highway 12; camper storage limited to 25 trailers in the two mapped 30×125‑foot areas; no semi truck outdoor storage; shed construction limited to existing accessory building and storage confined to a mapped 24×50 area with a maximum of eight sheds; no more than two seasonal non‑resident employees; annual inspection by the local fire department and LP tank safety measures for stored campers; a two‑year CUP review; and a prohibition on advertising or promoting any uses not authorized by the CUP (for example, public motocross events).

A motion to approve the CUPs with the listed conditions passed on a recorded vote, 3 to 1. Staff will monitor compliance and has enforcement tools, including revocation, if repeated violations occur.