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Planning committee approves sawmill permit for Cassian site with 200-foot buffer
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Summary
The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee on March 4 approved a Conditional Use Permit for a proposed sawmill on property in the Town of Cassian (applicant John Lawrence), adding a 200-foot vegetative buffer on the south and west boundaries and requiring that log-watering use the retention pond rather than a well. The vote was unanimous (5–0).
The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee voted unanimously March 4 to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a proposed sawmill to be operated by John Lawrence (Stettin Properties LLC) on PIN CA-334 in the Town of Cassian, adding two new conditions requested by committee members.
Planning Director Karl Jennrich and Land Use Specialist Scott Ridderbusch presented the application and read the staff report into the record, outlining standard conditions including state permits for stormwater and grading, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) MFL withdrawal requirements, compliance with Oneida County sign and off-street parking rules, and a minimum of 35 parking spaces. The notice of public hearing was posted at the courthouse and published in the Northwoods River News; staff noted no written public comments had been filed, and the Town of Cassian told staff it had no concerns.
Why it matters: the CUP establishes conditions that control where and how the mill may operate on the site, and the committee’s added conditions address buffer distance and water source — two issues often raised by nearby residents and environmental staff in similar land‑use cases.
During the public portion of the hearing three members of the public spoke: Al Frost, Robert Conchetta and Molly Petts. The minutes do not record the content of their remarks.
Key committee actions and conditions: the committee amended Condition #12, increasing the vegetative buffer on the south and west property boundaries from the 25 feet listed in the application materials to 200 feet (motion by Chair Scott Holewinski; second Dan Hess; unanimous). The committee also added a condition that any watering of logs must source water from the site retention pond and not from a well (motion by Chair Holewinski; second Dan Hess; unanimous). After those amendments the committee approved the CUP as amended (motion by Mitchell Ives; second Bob Almekinder; unanimous vote 5–0).
Other material conditions listed in staff’s report include: (1) the nature and extent of the conditional use must not change from the approved description; (2) the project must be substantially commenced within three years of permit issuance; (3) coordination with the Oneida County Land Information Office; (4) obtain WDNR/State stormwater and grading permits for disturbances greater than one acre; (5) submit DNR MFL withdrawal paperwork prior to development; (6) signage and parking to comply with County Zoning and Shoreland Protection Ordinance requirements; (7) a minimum of 35 parking spaces; (8) any exterior lighting must be downcast and shielded; (9) dumpsters must be screened; (10) obtain required zoning and sanitary permits; and (11) outdoor storage restricted to designated site-plan areas.
Implementation notes: the permit approval is conditional on the applicant meeting the listed state and county permit requirements and providing required documentation to county staff. The committee’s amendment creating a 200‑foot vegetative buffer and the watering restriction are now part of the CUP conditions and will be enforced by the county as part of permit compliance.
What comes next: county staff will finalize permit paperwork and the applicant must satisfy the listed requirements (state and county permits, DNR MFL withdrawals and other items) before construction and operations may proceed. The committee did not record any appeals or next‑step timeline beyond the permit’s conditions and the standard three-year substantial commencement window.