Minocqua plan commission asks chair to explore overlay zoning districts with Oneida County

At its Feb. 24 meeting the Minocqua Plan Commission unanimously approved a motion directing Chairman Mark Hartzheim to explore with Oneida County whether overlay zoning districts could be used to address local priorities, including camping, portable shipping containers and short-term rentals, and to report findings at the commission’s March meeting.

Hartzheim framed two broad paths: a town-created, town-only zoning regime (which he said would likely take three to four years and require separate administration) or working with Oneida County to modify or add county zoning districts that towns could opt into. He said an overlay district “seems like the right tool,” arguing it would allow targeted limits—on items such as shipping containers, camping, maximum building height and short-term rentals—without drafting an entirely new set of base zoning classes.

Karl Jennrich of Oneida County Planning and Zoning told the commission that shoreland zoning remains under county authority and “will always be handled by Oneida County,” and that a town choosing its own zoning would need its own zoning administration, a Board of Adjustment and legal counsel. Jennrich said he would consult county counsel about whether overlay districts could be used to provide towns more flexibility while remaining under county enforcement.

Member Billy Fried noted a prior Oneida County motion to prohibit storage containers had failed, but said the county indicated it might consider new districts; he recommended Minocqua draft proposed overlay rules that could be offered for other towns in the county to adopt.

Motion language: an amended motion by Mark Pertile, seconded by Jay Christgau, asked the chair to pursue the possibility of overlay districts with Oneida County for items such as, but not limited to, camping, portable shipping containers, and short-term rentals, and to report findings at the next Plan Commission meeting in March. The voice vote carried 7-0.

Next steps: Chairman Hartzheim will raise the overlay-district concept with Oneida County staff and counsel; the commission expects a report at its March meeting. The commission also discussed the possibility of public hearings at the town level and whether county-level public hearings would be required.