Waupaca County board adopts comprehensive plan amendment and approves two zoning changes in Helvetia and Dayton

The Waupaca County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19, 2025 adopted a comprehensive-plan map amendment and approved two zoning ordinance amendments affecting parcels in the Towns of Helvetia and Dayton. The board recorded the votes for the measures as unanimous in the meeting minutes.

The comprehensive-plan amendment (PLUM-005-2025) concerns a Town of Helvetia petition to change the preferred land-use designation of part of the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 31 (Fire Number N7528, parcel prt 08-31-23-4) from Commercial to Agriculture on approximately 19.76 acres to allow a proposed split and future agricultural use. The resolution cites Wisconsin Statutes 66.1001 as the statutory authority for county adoption and notes that the Planning & Zoning Committee held a public hearing on Aug. 7, 2025 and that the township of origin approved the amendment. Supervisor Ricky Ertl moved to adopt the resolution; Supervisor Kevin Will seconded. The motion is recorded in the minutes as carried 22-0.

Separately, the board enacted zoning ordinance Z-009-2025 (Town of Helvetia), responding to a petition by JP Media Holdings LLC to rezone the same ~19.76-acre parcel from Rural Commercial-Neighborhood (RC-N) to Agriculture and Woodland Transition (AWT). The county record states the Planning & Zoning Committee recommended granting the petition because the Town of Helvetia approved the request and the change was consistent with the town comprehensive plan. Supervisor Eisentraut moved and Supervisor Bosquez seconded approval; the minutes record the motion as carried 22-0. The ordinance becomes effective upon filing with the county clerk or as provided in county code (e.g., subject to town resolution procedures and statutory timelines).

The board also approved zoning ordinance Z-010-2025 for the Town of Dayton, petitioned by Aaron R. Niemuth et al, to reclassify approximately 0.851 acres in the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 1 (Fire Number N2396) from Agriculture and Woodland Transition (AWT) to Rural Residential (RR). The Planning & Zoning Committee held a public hearing on Aug. 7, 2025 and recommended approval; Supervisor Suhs moved the measure, Supervisor Zaug seconded, and the minutes show the motion carried 22-0.

According to the meeting record, the Planning & Zoning Committee’s recommendations rested in part on approval by the respective towns and on consistency with each town’s comprehensive plan. The county clerk’s certification in the minutes notes that the zoning amendments were enacted by the County Board on Aug. 19, 2025.

Clarifying details recorded in the minutes (not specified in later county documents available in the record) include the petition numbers Z-009-2025 and Z-010-2025 and the approximate acreages; the meeting minutes do not specify dollar amounts for any permits, fees, or financial conditions tied to these actions. The minutes also outline the standard effective-timing procedure for county ordinances that involves filing with the county clerk and, where applicable, a town board resolution to approve or disapprove the amendment.

Next steps: the ordinances will take effect according to the filing and town-notice provisions described in the county code; anyone seeking the certified ordinance text or the full record of the Planning & Zoning Committee hearing should contact the Waupaca County Clerk’s Office for the certified documents.