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Residents raise setback, permit and shooting‑range concerns at Spring Valley meeting
Summary
Resident Robin Mersberger asked the board to address a setback dispute and permit problems; neighbors also opposed proposed year‑round sporting clay shooting and a beer and wine bar at Blonhaven, and the P&Z rezoning will return to the commission May 26.
At the May 11 Town of Spring Valley meeting, resident Robin Mersberger raised a setback dispute involving a permit submitted by Geraths and said Rock County had made a mistake on the setback measurement. Mersberger said neighbors feel charging an additional fee for a variance is unfair and that the family wants to add electricity to an existing building; town staff reported they could not open the documents from the consultant GEC.
Town staff (recorded in the minutes as Kevin Kawula) told those present that the options are to move the building or apply for a variance. The transcript records that the exact town staff title for Kevin was not specified in the minutes. The board discussed the need for better checks and balances with Rock County and concerns about confusion in permit processing.
Separately, board members discussed activity at Magnolia Game Farm and a request from Blonhaven. The minutes say Magnolia currently has limited year‑round shooting and would require a new conditional use permit (CUP) for expanded activity. Neighbors who attended opposed Blonhaven's proposal for year‑round sporting clays and a beer and wine bar, citing concerns about shot fall, alcohol on site and shooting distances from neighboring properties. The minutes note that the property is zoned A‑1, under which a restaurant is not an approved use and a family farm business is limited to no more than four employees.
P&Z member Colleen Seichter reported a separate rezoning application (a nonconforming A‑2 parcel up to 2 acres proposed to rezone to B‑1, with remaining acres to A‑3); Seichter said the request first appeared before P&Z in December 2025 and will return to P&Z on May 26 to finalize a plan.
The board did not take formal votes on these public‑comment items during the meeting; residents were urged to pursue P&Z procedures and, if necessary, variance applications.
