Committee backs rezoning, sets conditions for Baus retail use at Fur Farm Road

The Calumet County Planning, Zoning & Farmland Preservation Committee unanimously recommended that the County Board approve a map amendment to rezone about 3.6 acres at W703 Fur Farm Road from General Agricultural (GA) to Heartland (HL) to allow operation of Graybarn Trading LLC. The petitioners, Scott and Susan Baus, requested the change during the committee’s March 12 meeting; staff member Meuer told the committee that current zoning prevents the owners from operating their business and recommended approval.

Following the public hearing, the committee also directed staff to issue a conditional use permit to allow a retail store on the property once the County Board completes the rezone. Depies outlined recommended, permit-specific conditions: provide one ADA-compliant parking space in accordance with Section 82-95 of the Calumet County Zoning Ordinance, provide a portable restroom or other sanitation for the public building, ensure any future exterior lighting is shielded to prevent spillover, and obtain a building permit from the Town of New Holstein for the barn conversion. The Town indicated it approves the business but wants a building permit issued for the conversion.

Procedural actions were recorded in the minutes: the committee voted to forward the map amendment to the County Board with a recommendation of acceptance (motion by Budde, seconded by Kesler; motion carried unanimously) and later moved to direct staff to issue the CUP upon rezone with the listed conditions (motion by Budde, seconded by Ott; motion carried unanimously). No County Board action is recorded in the March 12 minutes; the rezone will take effect only if the County Board approves the map amendment.

The request cites Section 82-137 of the Calumet County Zoning Ordinance (map amendments) and the CUP request referenced Section 82-52(d). The committee’s action is a recommendation to the County Board and not a final zoning change.