Merton Plan Commission approves comprehensive‑plan changes for two parcels on County Road K

At its July 1, 2026 meeting, the Town of Merton Plan Commission approved two resolutions to change the Comprehensive Land Use Plan – 2035 designation for parcels at N56W30020 County Road K — a 32‑acre parcel (Tax key MRTT0396-999-006) and an adjoining 8‑acre parcel (Tax key MRTT0396-999-002) — from “Governmental and Institutional” to “Rural Density and Other Agricultural Lands.” The requests were filed on behalf of petitioner Andy Gehl.

Attorney Van Kleunen, presenting the 32‑acre request, said the item had been the subject of a public hearing but drew “not a lot of comments” other than one written statement and recommended the Plan Commission approve the resolution so the chair could sign it and forward it to the Town Board for an ordinance and subsequent rezoning. "If this makes sense for the parcel and the Plan Commission is in agreement with it, then I would recommend that they approve this resolution for the 32 acres," Van Kleunen said.

Planner Marilyn Haroldson told commissioners that placing the parcels in the agricultural category would still allow certain activities under conditional use — for example, agricultural tourism or ag‑business operations — and that the Comprehensive Plan categories are intentionally broad to allow flexibility in later rezoning. Attorney Chris Jaekels noted the Comprehensive Plan text includes “Mixed Use” as a future designation and read from the plan’s estimates, saying mixed‑use development "may contain a combination of public, institutional, office, retail, service, light industrial, research and development and/or other commercial uses" and could represent about "65 acres or less than 1% of the total acreage in the Town" after 2035.

Chairman Klink questioned whether a mixed‑use designation would fit the immediate area, noting the parcels lie near schools, churches, agricultural lands and subdivisions and describing mixed use there as close to a spot zone. Commissioner Siepmann cautioned the commission about an incoming state law often referred to in the discussion as the “Truth in Planning” law, warning that if the Town places a use in the Comprehensive Plan it could limit the Town’s later discretion when rezoning.

On motions made by Commissioners Caliendo and Olson for the 32‑acre parcel and by Commissioners Siepmann and Caliendo for the 8‑acre parcel, the Plan Commission approved amendments changing both parcels’ land‑use designation to “Rural Density and Other Agricultural Lands.” The commission recorded the outcome as "motion carried." The approvals send the resolutions to the Town Board, which must adopt an ordinance to implement a rezoning consistent with the amended Comprehensive Plan.

Next steps: after the Town Board acts on the ordinance, the parcels will be placed into specific zoning districts consistent with the Comprehensive Plan designation; any future proposed uses would then be subject to the rules for that zoning district, including whether uses require conditional‑use permits or would be permitted outright.