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October 12, 2009 Town of Mt. Pleasant Plan Commission meeting minutes
TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT
PLAN COMMISSION
Minutes of meeting of October 12, 2009
American Legion Hall, Monticello, Wisconsin
The meeting of the Town of Mount Pleasant Plan Commission held October 12, 2009, was called to order by Chairman Hans Sulzer at 7:30 p.m. Plan Commission members Hans Sulzer, Scott Dilley, DuWayne Fenner, Michael Gengler and Greg Schwartzlow were present. Also present were Don and Marlis Silver.
At the request of the chairman, the commission members first considered the minutes of the meeting of the commission held August 10, 2009. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes were unanimously approved as written.
The chairman then requested Don and Marlis Silver to advise the commission concerning a potential realignment of boundaries with an adjoining landowner. After hearing their questions, Mr. Gengler advised the Silvers concerning Section 1-8-1(a)(3) of the town’s Land Division and Subdivision Code, which allows adjoining landowners to adjust boundaries without using land divisions, provided no new lots are created. Mr. and Mrs. Silver then left the meeting.
As the next item of business, Chairman Sulzer asked Mr. Gengler to report to the commission concerning the recently enacted statute on siting of wind energy systems. Mr. Gengler reviewed 2009 Wis. Act 40, which was enacted September 30, 2009, and is to be effective October 14, 2009. He stated that under the new law, the Public Service Commission, with the assistance of a new Wind Siting Council, will publish rules specifying the restrictions that local governments may place on wind energy systems in Wisconsin. After those rules are promulgated, local governments may not impose more stringent standards on wind energy systems than those published by the Public Service Commission.
Mr. Gengler further advised the commission that the new law eliminates overlapping jurisdiction of county and municipal governments over wind energy systems. If a town has a wind energy ordinance, then an applicant for approval will have to apply to the town and will not be required to apply to the county even if the county has a separate wind energy ordinance. Correspondingly, if a town does not have a wind energy ordinance, the county will receive and act on an application for a wind energy system in a town without its own ordinance. Under the new law, an applicant for a wind energy system must first apply to the local governmental unit having jurisdiction (the town or county, as applicable). However, the applicant has the right to have the local government unit’s decision reviewed by the Public Service Commission for consistency with the Public Service Commission’s new rules.
Following a discussion, it was the consensus of the commission to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the town adopt its own ordinance related to wind energy systems, since town residents would probably rather have the town board consider applications for wind energy systems in the town. Formerly, because Green County has its own ordinance, adding a town ordinance would create a second layer of review. Now, there will be only one layer of review prior to the Public Service Commission, and that review should take place according to the sense of the commission at the town level. Mr. Gengler offered to prepare a draft ordinance for consideration at the next commission meeting.
The chairman then asked the members of the commission to consider Mr. Fenner’s proposal for additional guidance to land dividers under the town’s Land Division and Subdivision Code. The commission considered guidelines previously prepared by Sally Roe when she was a member of the commission, and responded to questions by Mr. Fenner about the operation of the ordinance and changes adopted since 2007. It was the consensus of the commission that communications with land dividers at the early stages of a proceeding could be improved, but that no changes to the previously approved guidelines would be made at this time.
At the request of the chairman, Mr. Gengler explained the purpose of changes to the Land Division and Subdivision Code that had previously been recommended to the town board by the Plan Commission. The amendment will require land divisions to be used when landowners convey part of their land without creating plats or certified survey maps. The new law will take effect only as to conveyances occurring after its effective date.
The chairman advised the commission that there were no additional questions of interpretation of ordinances administered by the Plan Commission.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
______________________________
Michael T. Gengler
Secretary
Archive:
April 9, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Special Board Meeting
March 21, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Board Meeting
March 14, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Plan Commission Meeting
February 21, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Board Meeting
February 14, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Plan Commission Meeting
January 17, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Board Meeting
January 17, 2011 Town of Mt Pleasant Caucus
December 13, 2010 Town of Mt Pleasant Board Meeting
November 15, 2010 Town of Mt Pleasant Regular Board Meeting
November 15, 2010 Town of Mt Pleasant Special Meeting--Budget Hearing