Sawyer County zoning committee approves Rendevu tiki bar on Sand Lake with conditions after heated public hearing

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee voted 4–1 to approve conditional use permit (CUP) 24-15 for a tiki-bar restaurant proposed by owner Paige Heath on Sand Lake, adopting staff-recommended conditions intended to limit noise, lighting and occupancy.

Paige Heath, who identified herself as the applicant, told the committee she plans a low-key “Rendevu” restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor seating, limited live music and a seating capacity she described as 50 to 75. Heath said she is purchasing adjacent land to resolve access and parking and described mitigation measures she would take, including soundproofing, downward-facing lighting and no-wake buoys for dock access. “It’s not a party bar at all,” Heath said during her presentation.

The permit was approved with a package of conditions read into the record by staff and incorporated into the motion. Those conditions include hours of operation limited to 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday; a seating/occupancy cap not to exceed 75 people; compliance with all applicable town, county, state and federal laws (including shoreland and DNR requirements); downward-facing, minimal exterior lighting; required soundproofing/screening measures; and that the conditional use permit be tied to the current owner (a new owner would need to reapply for a CUP).

Opponents, many of whom live immediately adjacent to the parcel on Rendevu Road, raised multiple concerns during the public hearing. Several residents said they received late notice of the proposal and that the county and town did not provide sufficient information ahead of the town meeting. One opponent said, “We were not told this was going to happen,” and others described worries about increased traffic and safety where Rendevu Road meets Highway 70 and Highway 27, potential septic-system impacts, nighttime light and noise, liability for neighboring properties and boat/parking congestion.

Jay, the county zoning staff member who presented the application, told the committee that 14 notification letters were sent to adjacent property owners, six were returned and four registered objections. Jay also noted there were no formal site plans submitted yet and that any structures must meet the required 75-foot ordinary high-water mark setback for new construction.

Committee members said they were troubled by gaps in site planning and some neighbors’ claims about late notice and stressed that several of the concerns would be addressed through the permit conditions and by requiring compliance with health and shoreland regulations. Legal counsel led the committee through the required findings of fact and advised that the conditions should be clearly recited and entered into the record before the final vote.

At the roll-call vote recorded in the hearing, multiple committee members voted in favor and the motion carried 4–1. The motion maker read the conditions into the record and the committee adopted the findings of fact tying the permit approval to those conditions.

The permit allows the applicant to pursue required licensing (including any town-issued liquor license) and to submit final plans and any necessary health, septic, stormwater and DNR approvals. The committee also noted town responsibility for Rendevu Road maintenance and encouraged the applicant to continue working with the town on access and parking arrangements.

Next steps: Heath must secure required local licensing and any state or DNR approvals as applicable; the conditional use permit requires compliance with the conditions adopted by the committee. The committee’s approval does not change shoreland setbacks or waive state DNR or health requirements; those permits and final site plans must be obtained before commercial operations begin.