Committee sends Riverway Marina clubhouse PUD amendment for short-term rental use to Plan Commission with no recommendation

ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — The Village of Ashwaubenon Site Plan Review Committee on Jan. 7 voted to send a planned-unit-development (PUD) amendment request from the new Riverway Marina owners to the Plan Commission with no recommendation. The amendment would allow transient residential, or short-term rental, use of the Riverway Marina Clubhouse at 457 Marina Lane.

Aaron, the village presenter, said the PUD amendment would specifically allow short-term residential use of the clubhouse but would not authorize camping on the breakwater. He told the committee that "as it currently stands, residential use is not a permitted use within public use zone properties" and that owners seeking short-term rental use would need to meet licensing requirements and building-code standards.

On licensing, Aaron said a short-term rental must have at least a Brown County license and added, in the words used in the meeting, "If it rents for, 10 or fewer nights per year, July 1 or June 30, greater than that does require the Ashwaubenon license as well." He also said owners would need to consult a design professional to ensure egress, restroom and other building upgrades are completed before a residential use would be authorized.

Dennis Kettles, who identified himself in the meeting as an operator linked to the marina, said the proposal is for a single unit and described the clubhouse interior and patio as suitable for gatherings. A caller identifying herself as Laurie Dennis said the previous owner listed the building at just under 1,200 square feet. Former owner/operator Laurie Byer later said there are boats ranging up to 40 feet in the marina and estimated about 10 boats are large enough for overnight sleeping.

Committee members raised several concerns: one member said short-term rentals in Brown County have grown from about 700 to more than 900 over the past year and expressed hesitation about adding more short-term rental units. Members also queried whether the village can regulate sleeping on boats; staff said the code is silent on sleeping on private boats and would only treat a boat as a zoning/enforcement issue if it were advertised as a short-term rental. Staff offered to research whether the village has authority to regulate sleeping in navigable waterways.

A member moved to send the PUD amendment to the Plan Commission with no recommendation and another member seconded; the committee voted to send it with no recommendation and the chair announced the motion carried. One member stated "no" after the vote was recorded. Staff reminded the committee that the final decision on an ordinance amendment to a PUD would rest with the Plan Commission and Village Board.

Next steps: the PUD amendment will be considered by the Plan Commission (and later the Village Board) under the usual ordinance-amendment process; owners must pursue required licenses and building-code upgrades.