TOWN OF GENEVA

PLANNING COMMISSION

N3496 COMO ROAD

LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

December 19, 2011

Plan Commission Chairman Joe Kopecky called the monthly meeting for the Town of Geneva Plan Commission to order at 6:30p.m.  He asked everyone to rise and say the Pledge of Allegiance.  Roll call-present were the Chairman, Jim Anton, Gary Cocroft, Phyllis Olson, Andy Schmidt, and Mike Mumford. Jim Thometz was excused. Attorney Richard Torhorst and Building Inspector Joe Mesler were present.  A quorum was declared. 

Andy Schmidt made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 28, 2011 meeting as presented.  Jim Anton seconded the motion. There was no discussion.  The motion passed unanimously 6-0. Gary made a motion to move the discussion for DEG Music presentation to be second on the agenda and to approve the second amended agenda as presented.  Phyllis seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously 6-0.

Communications and Reports-Chairman Kopecky read a letter which was e-mailed at 2:45 p.m. and dated December 17, 2011 from Dan Lauderdale into the minutes requesting the Commission approve the Children’s Advocacy Center for Walworth County.  This request was not on the December agenda.  Each Commission member received a copy of the letter.

Robert and Diane Nelson W4080 Palmer Road-They are requesting a farmland separation and a CSM.  The property is forty-acres and is zoned A-1. The plan is to separate five-acres with the farm buildings.  Diane had previously presented all the paper work showing the details of the farmland separation. Phyllis made a motion to recommend to the Town Board to approve the farmland separation and CSM (Certified Survey Map) for separating five-acres with farm buildings from forty-acres zoned A-1 for Robert and Diane Nelson W4080 Palmer Road.  Andy seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously 5-0. They will be at the January 9, 2012 Town Board meeting for a decision.

DEG Music W3475 Springfield Road The property is 4.5 acres and is zoned M-1.  This request is for informal discussion for a rezone and land division.  Attorney Robert Leisble presented the discussion.  Mark Schafer is the owner of the wholesale business of musical instruments.  Part of the property is M-1 which is industrial business and the rest of the property along County Road H is zoned residential.  The plan is to rezone the residential to M-1 and then divide the 4.5 acre parcel and sell the other M-1 lot which is next to County Road H.  Attorney Leisble stated the M-1 zoning conforms to the 2020 Smart Growth Plan for the Town of Geneva. Attorney Leisble’s office will contact Mary if they want to present the formal presentation at the January 23, 2012 meeting. 

Lodge at Geneva Ridge W4240 Highway 50-Conditional Use-The request is for an LED exterior sign to promote the Lodge. This request is in the ETZ with Williams Bay.  This request is being sent back to the Plan Commission by the Town Board. Nick Johnson and Ken the engineer from The Lodge presented the plans. The sign has been approved but the number four condition for the frequency of messages on the sign must be reconsidered.  After a lengthy discussion about the frequency of the messages on the sign, Mike Mumford made a motion to reconsider item four of conditional use for the Lodge at Geneva Ridge and recommend to the Town Board to reduce to one-minute minimum from ten-minutes minimum the frequency of messages on the  LED sign. Gary seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.  They will be at the January 9, 2012 Town Board meeting for a decision. 

The Lodge at Geneva Ridge W4240 Highway 50Amend the current conditional use for the Lodge, and request a conditional use for the senior and assisted living facilities. Warren Hansen will present the two conditional uses.  These requests are in the ETZ with Williams Bay.  Warren stated the water park and convention center would be eliminated as well as parking spaces that would have been required for the water park and convention center when the existing conditional use is amended. He also stated that if the senior and assisted living facilities do not succeed the units can be converted back to hotel units. Attorney David Williams and Scott Lowell who represent the Condo Homeowner’s Association located on the Lodge at Geneva Ridge property requested if they could possibly get some answers from Warren about this project.  They have been inquiring as to whom the investors are in this project and to who is really in charge so they can get answers to why they have not been informed anything about this project and how it will affect the homeowner’s association.  Attorney Williams and Scott Lowell have tried to speak to Vance Antinou about the current agreement the Condo Association has with Anvan/Vance Antinou. Their concerns are who is going to maintain Red Chimney Road, and why are they losing parking spaces.  Chairman Kopecky suggested that Warren Hansen try to set up a meeting for Attorney Williams and Scott Lowell to meet with someone from the Lodge that can give them the necessary answers. Joe suggested the meeting be set up by Wednesday December 21, 2011.  Warren said he would do his best and would let Chairman Kopecky know.  Chairman Kopecky suggested that this request be tabled until the meeting takes place.  Andy made a motion to table this request until the project has been discussed with all the appropriate people.  Mike seconded the motion.   The motion to table passed unanimously 5-0. 

The Lodge at Geneva Ridge W4240 Highway 50-Conditiional Use-Nick Johnson will present plans to update the outside lounge area with a gas fire-pit, re-do the pergola, and improve the existing landscaping.  This request is in the ETZ with Williams Bay. Nick said the outside lounge area needs to be updated and improvements would be made for outdoor weddings. Seating for weddings would be removable. Nick said he would be meeting with Prairie Tree Landscaping soon.  Nick will be at the January 23, 2012 meeting for a recommendation.

Joe Mesler presented the Building Inspector’s report. He said the economy is picking up.  Gary made a motion to accept the monthly report presented by Joe Mesler.  Phyllis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously 5-0. 

Attorney Torhorst said he is working with the attorney for Williams Bay on re-writing conditional uses for the ETZ with Town of Geneva and Williams Bay.  He was asked if it would be completed by the end of the year 2011.  The answer was no.

Jim made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.  Phyllis seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Van Lue