Committee approves driveway access off County B near Dollar General after amendment

The Sawyer County Public Works Committee approved a driveway access permit for a parcel behind the Dollar General on County B, adopting an amended motion that allows the applicant to use whichever of the proposed driveway locations works best for final engineering and zoning constraints.

Staff described three candidate driveway locations and noted the presence of a nonmotorized walking path near the proposed access. Applicant representatives said they would accommodate any requested pedestrian-path restoration or signage and emphasized safety; one applicant said, "I'm ex law enforcement, and Henry is law enforcement. So we're and we have 2 little kids," underscoring their concern for safe access.

Committee member Mister Bennett initially moved to approve the driveway closest to the Dollar General; after discussion about lot lines and possible shared access for multiple lots, Chuck Van Etten moved to amend the motion to a blanket approval allowing the driveway location that ultimately proves most suitable. The amendment was seconded; the committee rescinded and re-made the motion on the floor to reflect the amendment. Members asked staff to check zoning setback requirements with Jay in zoning and to coordinate final placement and any culvert or walkway restoration with highway staff.

The motion to approve the driveway access (with the condition that specific placement be coordinated with county staff and zoning) was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps: Staff will confirm whether any lot-line setback requirements or pedestrian-path replacement rules apply and will work with the applicant to finalize driveway location, culvert design and any required safety signage.