Marquette County panel recommends rezoning for Craftsman property in Newton

The Marquette County Planning and Zoning Committee voted to forward a rezoning request from property owner Daryl Craftsman to the full county board for final approval.

At a public hearing, staff described the request as a rezone of two tax parcels (018008250000 and 018008210000) in Section 29, T17N R9E in the town of Newton from Prime Agriculture (AG-1) to General Agriculture (AG-2). Jean, zoning staff, told the committee the Town of Newton approved the rezone at the town level and that surrounding properties on the east and west are already zoned AG-2, making the applicant’s parcel an island in the AG-1 district.

Craftsman, who signed in for public comment, said a recent survey showed his tax bill’s acreage did not match surveyed acreage and that he wants to split the larger parcel to retain a residence parcel and create one or more separate building sites. “My house, which is located on 16.2 acres according to my tax bill… your property is on 22 some acres,” Craftsman said, explaining the discrepancy and why he needs a resurvey and rezoning.

Committee members asked staff whether the request was compatible with neighboring zoning and how driveway and access rules would apply. Jean said the highway department and a surveyor would address access and driveway separation; zoning staff do not issue driveway permits.

Motion and next steps: John Bennett moved, Dave Krentz seconded to forward the rezoning recommendation to the Marquette County Board. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote; the chair said the county board will consider final approval on Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m.

The committee’s recommendation does not itself rezone the property; the county board must take final action and staff indicated that, if approved, the applicant may then record survey legal descriptions with zoning and land information for recording and tax-bill updates.