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Committee regularizes campground expansion, approves rezoning and conditional use permit for Bagos' Blueberry Hill property
Summary
Sawyer County approved rezone 24-10 and conditional use permit 24-14 to formalize recent campsite additions and cap the total sites (town recommended 57); staff required compliance with state campground licensing (ATCP 79), setbacks, wastewater standards and other conditions.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee approved rezone 24-10 and conditional use permit 24-14 to regularize and limit expansion at a campground owned by John and Trish Bago.
Staff said the rezone (to RR2) and CUP are intended to bring existing, unpermitted sites into compliance and to authorize an additional number of sites subject to conditions. Staff noted discrepancies between records and on-the-ground site counts: they reported 59 existing sites on record with a permitted number of 40, the applicant acknowledged adding 12 sites about three years ago and seven sites about 17 years ago, and staff recommended a maximum of 60 sites while the town recommended capping the operation at 57.
Applicant Trish Bago told the committee the operators had added 19 new sites and were seeking to obtain proper zoning approvals after the fact. Staff emphasized that campground licensing and county conditional-use approval are separate processes — DATCP (ATCP 79) licensing covers campground operations while the county’s CUP and zoning requirements cover setbacks, density and land-use compliance.
The CUP's proposed conditions include compliance with ATCP 79, setbacks (50-foot minimum from adjacent property lines for campers, park models, trailers and tents), no mobile homes, down-shielded lighting, wastewater and septic compliance with state and county rules, portable transfer tanks if used for wastewater, seasonal operation April 1–Dec. 1, 24-hour manager availability, and quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The committee adopted staff-recommended findings and conditions and approved the rezone and CUP, limiting total sites consistent with the town’s recommendation.
During discussion, town representatives and members urged improved packet timing and better early delivery of staff reports to town plan commissions so local boards have adequate time to review staff analysis before making recommendations.
