Sawyer County zoning committee approves rezone, two conditional-use permits and three subdivision actions

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on its October meeting approved a package of land-use actions that included a rezone for a proposed landscaping business, two conditional-use permits for small personal-service businesses, and conditional acceptance of several subdivision plats pending state stormwater plan approvals.

The committee approved a rezone request (application 24-12) to change 1.85 acres from Agricultural One to Commercial One to allow a landscaping business that would store equipment and materials on site. The town of Edgewater recommended approval; the committee voted to approve the rezone with the staff’s findings of fact and left driveway and highway-access permitting to the town or state, not the county.

Votes at a glance: - Rezone 24-12 (A1 → C1 for a permitted landscaping business): approved (motion carried, roll call recorded as all in favor). - Conditional use permit (CUP) 24-21 (Brenda Montero — massage therapy studio in Draper): approved, 4–1 (conditions include fire inspection, licensed electrician work, proof of liability insurance, HHS inspection if required, and hours by appointment 10 a.m.–5 p.m.). - Conditional use permit (CUP) 24-22 (Bucktail Lodge — salon/spa owner Joseph Shering): approved with staff and town conditions (hours by appointment, liability insurance, sanitary reconnect permit if required). - Sugar Bush preliminary county subdivision plat (seven lots, Town of Bass Lake): committee accepted the preliminary plat and conditionally approved it per standard subdivision requirements. - The Preserve, Phase One final plat (22 lots) and Phase Two final plat (30 lots): both were conditionally approved pending approval of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stormwater management plans and with proposed protective covenants noted in the record.

Staff and applicants said required state and town permits remain in place before any changes in access, sanitation or business operations can occur. Jay Koslowski, the county zoning staff member presenting reports, reiterated that sanitary and DOT access permits are administered by separate agencies and that the county can condition approval on those credentials.

Public comments accompanying the agenda raised enforcement and public-health concerns (see separate coverage). Several town officials and applicants testified in favor of their respective proposals; the committee recorded objections and letters into the public record where they were submitted.

What’s next: approvals that were conditional will not be finalized until required outside approvals are provided (for example DNR stormwater permits or sanitary reconnects where a change-of-use changes sewer sizing). The committee’s decisions were finalized in recorded roll-call votes and staff will issue decision letters documenting conditions and follow-up requirements.