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Plan commission recommends patch to accessory-structure rules, proposing 1,500-sq-ft aggregate limit
Summary
After a public hearing, the Pewaukee Plan Commission recommended that the common council adopt an amendment allowing up to 1,500 square feet in detached accessory structures (maximum two buildings) instead of a strict two-tiered size rule; commissioners debated whether pools, decks and play structures count toward the limit and staff clarified detached garages and sheds do count.
The Pewaukee Plan Commission voted to recommend that the common council approve a draft amendment to the accessory-structure section of the zoning ordinance that would change how detached outbuildings are counted.
Staff (Speaker 2) explained the draft would replace the existing strict two-tier approach (one larger building up to 1,200 square feet plus a second building limited to 200 square feet) with an aggregate cap of 1,500 square feet across up to two detached accessory buildings. Properties of 2.5 acres or larger would retain a separate, larger allowance (the draft keeps the higher 2,400-square-foot allowance for those larger parcels).
Why it matters: commissioners said the aggregated approach addresses practical situations where property owners already have an existing modest building (for example 300 or 400 square feet) and need flexibility to add a larger detached garage or workshop while keeping the total footprint limited. Several commissioners signaled support for a two-structure limit combined with the 1,500-sq-ft aggregate.
During the public hearing and discussion, Committee member (Speaker 6) raised concerns that including items such as decks or pools in the accessory-structure count would be overly restrictive. Staff (Speaker 2) clarified that play structures, decks and pools are not counted toward the detached-accessory-structure total; the code language applies to detached garages and sheds. "So we're really talking the detached garages and sheds in this case," staff said.
The commission voted to recommend approval to the common council by voice vote after members said they were comfortable with the aggregate 1,500-square-foot approach and maintaining a two-structure maximum. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally of individual votes.
Next steps: the measure will be forwarded to the common council for final adoption; staff noted the draft numbers can be adjusted by the council if it chooses.
