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Board approves sweeping zoning, mining, riverway and recycling code updates
Summary
The St. Croix County Board unanimously approved updates to its code on nonmetallic mining, the Lower St. Croix Riverway overlay and solid waste rules, and approved a zoning rewrite that passed 17–1; changes align county rules with state codes, adjust stormwater design standards and clarify home-occupation limits.
The St. Croix County Board on March 17 approved a package of ordinance revisions affecting land use, mining reclamation, riverway protections and municipal solid waste rules.
County staff presented the changes as a mix of compliance updates and local tweaks. The board unanimously passed an ordinance to repeal and recreate Chapter 14 (nonmetallic mining reclamation) so county rules conform with Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 135 while retaining more restrictive zoning standards in Chapter 15. Supervisor Van Summeren moved the Chapter 14 ordinance; Supervisor Shirley seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
A separate rewrite of Chapter 15 (zoning) — which Supervisor Counter moved and Supervisor Shirley seconded — passed on a recorded vote, 17–1. Community Development staff Jason told the board the changes follow a March 2025 comprehensive revision and add committee-requested tweaks: a limit of one major home occupation per parcel, clearer language that only one dwelling is permitted per parcel (limiting accessory dwelling units), and additional statute citations to preserve farmland-preservation certification.
The board also unanimously approved a reconstituted Chapter 17 creating the Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay District. Jason described consolidation of leftover provisions from the older general zoning code, a shift of conditional-use permit (CUP) routing to the community development committee, and a higher stormwater standard keyed to a 25-year/4.7-inch rainfall event. The DNR reviewed and approved the draft, Jason said.
Finally, the board unanimously approved changes to Chapter 21, the municipal solid waste, reduction, recovery and recycling ordinance, to reflect state administrative-code changes, add newly recyclable items, and remove or streamline provisions the county lacks staff capacity to enforce. Jason said the update is tied to the county’s annual grant for the recycling program.
What happens next: Each ordinance becomes part of the county code as approved; Chapter 15 recorded a 17–1 vote. The board did not indicate any immediate implementation delays; staff will handle administrative steps for enforcement and public notice.
