Portage County board grants variance for holding tanks to serve one‑bedroom unit at Stevens Point property

The Portage County Board of Adjustment on Sept. 15 approved a variance for Barry and Mary Moody to install holding tanks to serve a proposed one‑bedroom dwelling at 1639 North 2nd Avenue, Stevens Point, subject to three conditions requiring a Portage County sanitary permit, preservation of the proposed POWTS (private on‑site wastewater treatment system) distribution cell reserve area, and restriction of the residence to a one‑bedroom unit.

Staff explained the request is a variance because the proposal is for a new residential structure; holding tanks for new residential uses are permitted only by variance under the county’s sanitary ordinance. The board heard technical testimony about on‑site constraints: a proposed reserve drain‑field area must be identified and preserved, setbacks apply, and the lot’s soil and recent wood‑chip fill may create complexities for a conventional drain field. Staff and the board noted that holding tanks have historically been a method of last resort in Portage County and that any future conversion to a septic/drain‑field system would require state sanitary permits and likely an engineering design.

Barry Moody, who identified himself in the record, told the board that local contractors advised using two 2,000‑gallon holding tanks and that a conventional septic system could cost roughly $15,000–$18,000 to install. He said he had contracted for yearly inspection and service. "I think it's probably in that 15 to $18,000 to get that septic systems in place," Moody said. Staff explained that holding‑tank waste is commonly delivered to municipal treatment facilities or land‑spread sites depending on the pumper’s capabilities.

The board’s approval included conditions intended to preserve future onsite options and limit long‑term impacts: the county sanitary permit must be obtained; the location of any reserved distribution cell must be documented and preserved (no building on that area); and the property’s proposed dwelling must remain a one‑bedroom unit unless additional state permits and approvals are obtained. The conditions also require yearly pumping/inspection arrangements consistent with holding‑tank practice.

The motion to approve carried on a roll call; staff reminded the petitioners of documentation requirements and the 30‑day appeal window. The board noted concerns about shoreline/stream proximity (Hay Meadow Creek) and the need to avoid creating a long‑term pollution risk; members said preserving the reserve area and requiring sanitary permitting reduces that risk.

What happens next: The Moody family must obtain the Portage County sanitary permit and document the preserved drain‑field area in the property file before final issuance; any future increase in dwelling size or bedrooms would require state sanitary permitting and further county review.