Committee conditionally accepts 15‑lot preliminary plat for Pine Cone Pond, requires stormwater plan

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee conditionally accepted the preliminary county subdivision plat submitted by Pine Cone Pond LLC for a proposed 15‑lot subdivision in the Town of Lenroot, subject to a stormwater management plan requirement.

Staff presented the application and reported the water feature on site is a man‑made pond, which triggers a 40‑foot setback for building rather than the 75‑foot shoreline setback that applies to state‑navigable shorelines. Staff said the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) still requires a stormwater management plan before disturbing more than one acre, and that the subdivider must meet county subdivision ordinance requirements including road standards; the town indicated the roads would remain private and towns may choose whether to accept roads as public.

Applicant John Bulmer said the lots are intended to be owner‑occupied single‑family dwellings and that he confirmed the pond was created in 1976. A public commenter asked that notices include zone district and total acreage to help the public understand proposed lot sizes.

Committee members discussed ordinance language on private versus public roads and agreed the town's choice not to accept roads as public channels the application toward private‑road standards. The committee voted to conditionally approve the preliminary plat with the condition that the applicant provide a stormwater management plan for review before final plat approval.

Roll‑call votes recorded in the transcript show the committee voting in favor as listed (K Wilson, Tweed Schuman, John sski, Steve kianon, Ron buckolz, etc.). Staff noted additional required steps: compliance with county subdivision ordinance, DNR permitting for stormwater if applicable, and submission of any additional documentation requested by the zoning administrator prior to final approval.