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Marathon County ERC recommends two rezones, adopts separate shoreland and floodplain codes and adds $50 floodplain fee
Summary
The Environmental Resources Committee voted Jan. 7 to recommend two property rezones to the county board, adopt separate shoreland (Chapter 22) and new floodplain (Chapter 27) ordinances, and add a $50 floodplain approval fee to the zoning schedule.
The Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee on Jan. 7 recommended approval of two rezones and voted to adopt separate shoreland and floodplain code chapters and a new $50 floodplain approval fee.
Garrett, Conservation Planning & Zoning (CPZ) staff, presented the rezone petitions: Steve and Dawn Eisenberg’s request to change parcels in the Town of Knowlton from Rural Residential to Rural Estate, and Arthur and Lori Young’s petition on behalf of Charles and Linda Young to rezone land in the Town of Green Valley from General Agriculture to Low Density Residential. In each case staff said the petition met zoning district standards, the town board recommended approval, and staff recommended the committee forward approval to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors.
After no public testimony, the committee voted to recommend approval of both rezones. Supervisor Drabek moved to recommend the Eisenberg rezone and Supervisor Schoenborn seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote. Supervisor Kroll moved to recommend the Young rezone and Supervisor Schoenborn seconded; that motion also carried.
The committee heard a staff report from Shad Harvey, CPZ land resources manager, on amendments to Chapter 22 (shoreland, wetland and floodplain code). Harvey said the main changes split shoreland standards from floodplain standards, align language with the Wisconsin DNR model ordinance, add clarifying notes and statutory updates (including an exemption for certain fences), and incorporate validated flood studies to improve permitting clarity. The committee voted to approve the Chapter 22 changes as presented.
Harvey next presented a new Chapter 27 to house floodplain regulations separately, including LOMAR (letter of map amendment) procedures and added flood studies for the Plover River and 4 Mile Creek. The committee voted to adopt the new Chapter 27.
Staff said some floodplain work had previously been captured under shoreland permits, leaving a gap in cost recovery for standalone floodplain review. To address that, the committee added a $50 floodplain approval fee to the zoning fee schedule. Supervisor Drabak moved the fee; the motion carried and staff said the charge aligns with neighboring counties’ practices.
What happens next: the committee’s recommendations will be included in materials for the County Board of Supervisors, which takes final action on rezones and ordinance adoptions.
