N3496 COMO ROAD

LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

February 27, 2012

Plan Commission Chairman Joe Kopecky called the monthly meeting for the Town of Geneva Plan Commission to order at 6:32 p.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, and Jim Thometz. Attorney Richard Torhorst and Building Inspector Joe Mesler were present. A quorum was declared.

Jim Thometz made a motion to approve the minutes from January 23, 2012 meeting as presented. Gary Cocroft seconded the motion. There was a discussion about who made the motion for the approval for recommending the Child Advocacy Center for Walworth County. Mary did check her minutes that she took on January 23, 2012 and she did not find anyone different than Andy Schmidt making the motion for the conditions and Phyllis Olson seconding the motion. The motion to approve the minutes was 6-0-1 with Chairman Kopecky abstaining. Chairman Kopecky asked Mary if there were any changes to the agenda. She stated the Lodge at Geneva Ridge had not completed their agreement with the condominium owners so they would not be presenting their request tonight, and Kurt Wagner had withdrawn his request for a Plat approval for a garage. Jim Thometz made a motion to approve the amended agenda. Gary Cocroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Chairman Kopecky abstaining. Chairman Kopecky presented each Commission member with a book that contained Walworth County Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinances. He asked each member to study the book and familiarize themselves with the ordinances.

Bill Henry will present a Certified Survey Map for the Child Advocacy Center for Walworth County located on County Road NN. Bill stated he had tried to talk to John Tierney the Town Engineer to see if he had reviewed the CSM for the Advocacy Center. He stated the City of Elkhorn had approved the CSM with the two easements and the 5.2 acres for the building. Chairman Kopecky read the twelve conditions that Walworth County Board on February 16, 2012 had placed on the Child Advocacy Center. Andy asked Bill Henry why Walworth County did not include the conditions the Town had requested for smoke detectors and fire alarm system on their approval of the Child Advocacy Center. Attorney Leibsle stated Attorney Michael Cotter who represents the Walworth County Board stated the smoke detectors and fire alarm system are not required by code. Attorney Leibsle stated the WCAC will provide a full fire alarm system with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as indicated in the record at the January 23, 2012 Plan Commission meeting and at the February 13, 2012 Town Board meeting. Bill Henry stated that some type of fire alarm system will be installed when the building is built but is not sure if a complete system would be installed immediately. It depends upon the donations. Attorney Leibsle said Walworth County would not get involved with the Town of Geneva for a recommendation of a Pilot agreement with the WCAC. Jim Anton questioned the size of the property. He asked if they would consider two acres instead of five acres and alternate sites. Walworth County Board agreed that the five acre site would be the best. Chairman Kopecky closed the open hearing. He asked if anyone would like to make a recommendation for the CSM. Phyllis Olson made a motion to recommend to the Town Board to approve the Certified Survey Map for the Child Advocacy Center for Walworth County on County Road NN dated January 23, 2012. Mike Mumford seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-1-1 with Jim Anton voting nay, and Chairman Kopecky abstaining. This request will be on the March 12, 2012 Town Board agenda.

DEG Music W3475 Springfield Road-The property is 4.5 acres and is zoned M-1. The request is to rezone property along County Highway H from R-1 to M-1. There will be a land division and a Certified Survey Map with this request. Attorney Robert Leibsle will present the request. The business is used as a warehouse business. Mr. Schafer receives packages and he then forwards them to other suppliers. The rezone would be from R-1 to M-1and then the land division would be Lot 1 would be 1.39 acres and Lot 2 would be 2.15 acres. These lots would be consistent with the Walworth County 2035 Land Use Plan. The Town of Geneva would have to re-do their 2035 Land Use Plan by October for Walworth County approval. Chairman Kopecky said he would prefer that section of land along County Highway H as a business strip. Currently there are businesses mixed among residential homes along Highway H. Gary Cocroft said he would post a sign on the property. Attorney Leibsle will be at the March 26, 2012 Plan Commission meeting for a recommendation.

Mercy-Walworth Medical Center Highway 50 and 67-Conditional Use-The request is for two (2) illuminated directional signs with internal LED lights that are not moving, and a building mounted sign, Richard Gruber will present the request. This request is in the ETZ with Williams Bay. The Commission members had reviewed the packets from January and Richard Gruber asked if there were any concerns about the signs. He stated the signs are a necessity because of the expansion for Mercy that is in progress. The signs would be able to direct patients in the correct direction when they enter the property. Chairman closed the public hearing. Andy Schmidt made a motion to recommend to the Town Board to approve two (2) illuminated directional signs with internal LED lights that do not move, and a sign that would be mounted on a building for Mercy-Walworth Medical Center located on Highway 50 and 67. Jim Thometz seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Chairman abstaining. Richard Gruber will attend the Town Board meeting on March 12, 2012 for a recommendation.

Doug Schuldt N3382 County Highway H-Rezone-He is requesting to rezone two parcels from B-2 to R-2. He is remodeling the old Schultz’s liquor store into a home, and would like to build a new home on the adjacent lot. This property is in the Lake Como Beach Association. Doug had talked to the County. He said that if the Town would re-do the 2035 Land Use Plan by October the County would have no problem with this request. Chairman Kopecky closed the public hearing. Mike Mumford made a motion to recommend to the Town Board to approve the rezone for Doug Schuldt N3382 County Highway H from B-2 to R-2 for two parcels. Gary Cocroft seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Chairman Kopecky abstaining. Doug will attend the Town Board meeting on March 12, 2012 for a recommendation.

Larry Simon is requesting a tree cutting permit for his property located at N4834 County Highway H. Larry was asked to stop clearing out his tree line because he did not have a permit to cut trees. He cleaned out box elders and buck thorn. He said he did save the black maple trees. Larry said he would replace what he has cut with evergreen trees. He showed a plan where he had cut brush and trees and that would also be where he would plant evergreen trees. Phyllis made a motion to approve a tree cutting permit for Larry Simon N4834 County Highway H and that he would replace with twenty-five (25) bare -root evergreen trees by the year end of 2012. Jim Thometz seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0-1 with Chairman abstaining.

Discussion only for a free standing sign at Calvary Community Church located on Highway 50. Pastor Chuck Cervenka presented the discussion. He did not know he was supposed to come to the Town of Geneva for the sign. He went to Williams Bay. He was very apologetic to the Plan Commission. He stated the sign will not have any more movement. He said the brightness goes down as the night progresses and the sign goes off at 11:00 p.m. He would have the messages be at a one minute interval. The Commission thanked him for coming in to discuss the sign.

Public Comment-Gene Decker and two other people from the Association asked about the Kurt Wagner request on the agenda. It was stated earlier that he did not need to come to the Commission because he had been granted a zoning permit from the County and a building permit from the Town. The Association had granted him permission to use the unplatted road at the end of Acacia Road to access his property which was a thirty-foot easement. Attorney Torhorst stated no one can be denied access to their property with ingress or egress. He also said Mr. Wagner had a right to cut a tree within twenty feet of his garage for access to his property.

Building Inspector Joe Mesler presented the January report. He stated there would be an item on the March agenda to discuss procedures for the Plan Commission with regards to the Building Inspector’s office.

Andy Schmidt made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Jim Anton seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Van Lue

Archive

View all from: 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008