Zoning staff (Jay) presented a preliminary draft solar ordinance and related zoning amendments at the Sawyer County Zoning Committee meeting. The draft distinguishes accessory residential solar (proposed accessory-cap 50 kW nameplate) from mid-scale, large-scale and community-based solar and would require conditional-use approval for larger installations and for battery-energy storage systems (BESS). Staff said BESS units are typically large, containerized installations sited near substations and recommended screening, setbacks and noise-mitigation measures if such facilities are proposed.

Jay said the draft is derived from a Wisconsin model solar ordinance and other county ordinances; he asked the committee to review the draft and return comments next month and suggested legal counsel also review the draft for legal issues. He noted a moratorium on solar permits that currently expires in April and flagged the option to extend the moratorium if necessary to allow completion of the ordinance.

The committee then addressed two other items: apartments/multifamily provisions and home-bakery rules. Staff described options including a commercial-residential hybrid zone and narrower dimensional standards to enable tiny or accessory units. Public commenters and committee members raised concerns about property values, infrastructure (water/sewer), and whether apartments belong in certain commercial zones. County legal counsel Rebecca Roker cautioned about pending state legislation (Assembly Bill 449) and existing case law on condominium ownership that could affect county authority to regulate certain housing forms; she recommended pausing substantive changes until state action is clear and suggested incorporating ad-hoc work into the upcoming comprehensive rewrite.

Committee action: a motion by Dale Magnuson, seconded by Kaye Wilson, carried to send the apartment and bakery draft amendments (with an edit to the bakery definition to distinguish shelf-stable baked goods from items requiring refrigeration) to town boards for input. Staff was directed to continue work on the solar draft, provide it to legal counsel for review, and bring a more detailed discussion back in January to preserve the county’s ability to act before an April moratorium deadline if needed.

Next steps: legal counsel will review the solar draft; committee members and towns will provide comments on apartments and bakery proposals; staff will return the solar ordinance and any recommended moratorium timing to the committee for further action.