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Vernon County planning commission continues review of subdivision ordinance, delays action on 2025 Wis Act 68
Summary
The Vernon County Planning Commission spent its Jan. 7 meeting reviewing a draft subdivision and land division ordinance, hearing a staff presentation on major vs. minor land divisions and voting to defer consideration of changes tied to 2025 Wis Act 68; the commission set follow-up questions on town authority, parcel counts and staff workload.
The Vernon County Planning Commission on Jan. 7, 2026, continued work on a draft county subdivision and land division ordinance, hearing a staff overview of the distinctions between major and minor land divisions and the ordinance’s intended public-safety and plan-consistency purposes. The meeting was held in the Vernon County Board Room and available virtually.
Laurence Johns, who presented the draft to the commission, outlined the fundamental aims of a land division ordinance: ensuring accurate legal descriptions of properties, avoiding boundary disputes, discouraging substandard developments, protecting public health and safety, promoting development consistent with the county comprehensive plan, safeguarding community interests and fostering green spaces. Johns described the differences between major and minor land divisions as a basis for how the ordinance would treat different parcel changes.
Chair Charlie Jacobson said the commission will wait to discuss the implications of 2025 Wis Act 68 later in the year, after it is clear which changes to state law will take effect. The chair’s decision postponed any formal action tied to that Act while the commission completes its definitions and clarifying language in the draft ordinance.
Commissioners raised several follow-up questions the staff will need to answer before further drafting: whether a county subdivision ordinance is mandatory or optional for towns; how many parcels are created annually in Vernon County’s unincorporated areas; and how much additional staff work the ordinance would require. The commission continued a line-by-line review of definitions in the draft ordinance and identified those implementation questions as next steps.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved the Dec. 10 minutes on a motion by Supervisor Kay Stanek, seconded by Mary Stanek; all seven members present voted in favor and the motion carried. Later, Supervisor Sandy Schweiger moved to adjourn, seconded by Odessa Hemmersbach; all voted in favor and Chair Jacobson adjourned the meeting at 3:26 p.m.
The commission set its next meeting for Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m. and recorded the meeting minutes as submitted by County Clerk Jerry Pedretti.