Sawyer County Zoning Committee approves several CUPs and plats, tables one rezoning

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on Oct. 18 approved several land‑use actions — including conditional use permits for a kennel with a 65‑dog limit and a one‑chair home salon, a 15‑lot final plat, and an extension for The Preserve Phase 3 — and formed an ad‑hoc committee to consider changes to the county’s multi‑dwelling development ordinance. The committee tabled a rezoning request in Edgewater to allow the town to provide a recommendation.

The meeting, held at the Sawyer County Courthouse in Hayward and chaired that day by Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman, opened at 8:30 a.m. Zoning Administrator Jay Kozlowski and Deputy Kathy Marks staffed the hearing; county legal counsel Rebecca Roeker participated virtually. The committee reviewed rezoning, conditional‑use and plat matters brought by property owners and applicants across several towns in the county.

Key outcomes — voted by the committee during the meeting — included approvals and conditions:

Votes at a glance

• RZN #24‑012 (Town of Edgewater): Rezoning request from Agricultural One (A‑1) to Commercial One (C‑1) for a 1.85‑acre landscaping business was TABLED until November to allow the Town of Edgewater to issue a recommendation. Motion to table by Kay Wilson; second by Steve Kariainen; roll call: Suralski, Wilson, Shuman, Savitski and Kariainen — all in favor.

• RZN #24‑013 (Town of Meadowbrook): Rezoning of 25 acres from Forestry One (F‑1) to Agricultural Two (A‑2) to allow bees and small livestock — APPROVED with Findings of Fact. Motion by Marshal Savitski; second by Kay Wilson; roll call unanimous.

• CUP #24‑018 (Town of Bass Lake): Conditional use permit sought for a 165‑sq.‑ft. accessory tool storage structure on a 5.22‑acre A‑1 parcel — DENIED. Motion to deny by Kay Wilson; roll call recorded unanimous yes. The committee cited noncompliance with town and county ordinances, incompatibility with surrounding uses and potential negative effects on property values and residential development as reasons for denial.

• CUP #24‑019 (Town of Sand Lake): One‑chair in‑home stylist salon (less than 25% of floor area) — APPROVED with conditions: appointment‑only hours (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.), obtain DATCP licensing, Stone Lake Sanitation District approval for wastewater change of use, comply with the county sign ordinance and all other applicable laws. Motion by Steve Kariainen; second by John Suralski. Kay Wilson recused from consideration and vote.

• CUP #24‑020 (Town of Ojibwa — Reel Speedy LLC): Conditional use permit for a kennel/animal rescue facility (boarding, grooming, veterinary services) on 17.4 acres — APPROVED with conditions, including a 65‑dog limit; DATCP licensing and veterinary services compliance; entrance on Dorscheid Road; potential vegetation screening; sign ordinance compliance; and that the CUP stay with the property. Motion to approve by John Suralski; second by Marshal Savitski; roll call unanimous.

• Pine Cone Pond, LLC final county subdivision plat (Town of Lenroot): Final plat for 15 lots — APPROVED. Motion by Steve Kariainen to approve the final plat; second by Marshal Savitski; roll call unanimous.

• The Preserve Phase #3 extension (Town of Round Lake): Request to extend the final plat timeframe for Phase 3 (19 lots and five additional outlots) because wetland delineation and stormwater conditions prevent meeting the 180‑day deadline — APPROVED. Motion by Kay Wilson; second by Steve Kariainen; roll call unanimous. Committee agreed to default to Wisconsin Statutes Ch. 236.25 timeframes if necessary.

• 2025 meeting dates: Committee approved a revised 2025 meeting schedule (one date adjusted for a holiday). Motion by Marshal Savitski; second by John Suralski; all in favor.

• Multi‑Dwelling Development Ordinance amendment: Kozlowski proposed updates and recommended formation of an ad‑hoc committee including town board supervisors; the committee approved forming the ad‑hoc committee. Motion by Marshal Savitski; second by John Suralski; all in favor.

What the approvals and conditions mean

The kennel permit's 65‑dog limit and requirement that licensing and veterinary standards comply with DATCP and county rules establish specific operational constraints the owner must meet before opening. The CUP was issued with a condition that the permit is attached to the property (not only to the current owner), which governs future owners and use continuity.

The Pawnbrokers and small‑business‑type approvals (one‑chair salon) included explicit public‑health and wastewater conditions: the salon owner must receive required DATCP licensing and sign off from the Stone Lake Sanitation District for any change in wastewater treatment classification.

The committee consistently referenced the Sawyer County Code (Appendix D) sections cited in applications when evaluating compliance; for plat timing, the committee referenced Wisconsin Statutes Ch. 236.25 as the default timeframe for recording final plats.

Public comment and procedural notes

Public comment was recorded for several items; a rezoning in Edgewater was specifically tabled so the town could provide its recommendation. The meeting included a short break and reconvened at 10:16 a.m.; Vice Chairman Shuman adjourned the meeting at 10:50 a.m.

What’s next

The tabled Edgewater rezoning (RZN #24‑012) is scheduled to return in November after the Town of Edgewater issues a recommendation. Other approvals include conditions that must be satisfied by applicants (for example, DATCP licensing, sanitation district approvals and compliance with county sign and zoning ordinances) before full implementation.

Sources: Sawyer County Zoning Committee public hearing transcript, Oct. 18, 2024.