Sawyer County zoning panel approves several rezonings and CUPs, tables contested resort case

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee met on June 10 in Hayward and approved a series of land‑use requests, including two rezones and two conditional‑use permits, while tabling a high‑stakes resort application for further legal review.

The committee approved Rezone 26‑008 (Emerson and Evelyn Martin), allowing 6.378 acres in the Town of Hayward to move from Agricultural‑1 to Residential‑Recreational‑1 so the owners can split a lot and build a second home, after the applicant, Emerson Martin, explained he wants a second house on a two‑acre parcel. Zoning Administrator Jay Kozlowski presented maps and staff findings before the committee voted to approve the request.

The panel also approved Rezone 26‑010, which would reclassify four 1.53‑acre lots to Commercial‑1 to permit additional boat‑storage buildings; agent Justin Prettaski said buffering trees and driveway access off Sheptic Lane would be preserved. The committee recorded findings of fact and approved the motion following a short public comment from the Hunt family opposing commercial zoning.

In a separate case, the committee denied Rezone 26‑011, a request tied to an existing noncompliant garage on a 0.57‑acre lot owned by Mark Geddes. Zoning staff noted the town board had unanimously opposed the rezone and submitted a resolution of disapproval; residents raised traffic and neighborhood‑character concerns. Committee members discussed enforcement options for the noncompliant structure, including requiring a dwelling be built to make the garage conforming or pursuing removal and citation processes if compliance is not achieved.

On conditional‑use permits, the committee granted CUP 26‑015 to Kathleen Daley for a home‑occupation wellness studio (red‑light therapy) in RR‑1 with hours restricted to Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and approved CUP 26‑016 to allow a 250‑foot telecommunications tower on town‑owned Meadowbrook property to support the county’s new simulcast radio system. Gary Pelletier of Gencom and Sheriff Doug Mrotech both told the committee the tower would fill critical public‑safety coverage gaps.

The committee gave conditional acceptance to the Deer Lake Shores preliminary plat (20.76 acres, proposed 13 lots), subject to the town’s requested changes (lot combinations, septic easement language and shared‑driveway clarifications) before final approval.

The meeting also advanced two process items: the zoning administrator and legal counsel were authorized to reissue a request for proposals to consult on either a comprehensive zoning rewrite or a major revision (proposals due Aug. 17), and the committee voted to proceed toward a public hearing on drafting an 18‑month moratorium on large data centers to allow staff and counsel to produce clearer ordinance language.

The committee adjourned after signing documents. Several actions were unanimous or carried on recorded roll calls; a more detailed list of votes follows.

Votes at a glance: approve minutes (May 15) — carried; Rezone 26‑008 — approved; Rezone 26‑010 — approved; Rezone 26‑011 — denied; CUP 26‑015 — approved (hours limited Mon–Sat); CUP 26‑016 — approved (tower for county simulcast); CUP 26‑017 — tabled to Aug. 21 for legal briefing; Deer Lake Shores preliminary plat — conditionally accepted subject to town approvals; committee authorized RFP reissue and to pursue moratorium public‑hearing language.