Plan Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Plan Commission Public Hearing and meeting held on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.


Mayor Fulton opened the public hearing at 4 p.m. on the request from the Oconto Yacht Club (OYC) for a conditional use permit to allow members who own boats at the OYC to park a motor home or camper on the property during the boating season pursuant to City of Oconto Municipal Code SEC 13-1-52. Request states that the OY C will not allow any more than three campers or motor homes parked on the property during the boating season. Mayor stated concern that request is for three campers or motor homes, but also to allow family members and guests to park a camper or motor home at the OYC for not more than four days;

Ed Whealon member of the OYC stated they are not interested in becoming a campground; have some members that their lifestyle is living in a motor home; aware of zoning for this property, recreational, OYC doesn’t want to compete with Holtwood Campground, just here to address needs of members;

Ken Altergott questioned who gave permission for the one motor home that is parked there now?

Mayor stated that was allowed until today’s public hearing and action by the Plan Commission;

Chris Augustine stated he owns the home adjacent to the OYC, has it rented out; uncomfortable, troubled by the request, has reservations…having campers there might be a detriment to reselling his house; troubled by vagueness of request; should have a timeline defining boating season; stated he is a boater and he is not aware other clubs allow this; this is a membership club, membership can change, someone else can interpret rules differently, done the road…city setting precedent; what about the old Stock property, can be the same thing…would be in favor of one with a sunset clause;

Ken Altergott stated he had concerns on request, as a tax payer how will they collect for sewer dumping; as a resident has to pay, shouldn’t have to pay for OYC;

Bob Mommaerts stated these are questions for the utility commission; the request before us is for a conditional use permit;

Altergott stated based on unknown questions he and Chris Augustine have…he is definitely against request;

Bob Bake questioned who will enforce if a camper is staying anymore than four days?

Mayor asked that Bake’s question be saved for discussion by the plan commission;

Hearing nothing further, Mayor closed the public hearing at 4:13 p.m.

1. Mayor Fulton called to order the Plan Commission meeting at 4:13 p.m.
2. Roll call: Mayor Fulton, Bob Mommaerts, Kale Proksch, John Matravers and Bob Bake. Mike Werner was excused. Also present: Ron Banach and Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Moved by Bake seconded by Matravers to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes
4. No correspondence or public input.

5. Moved by Proksch seconded by Baketo approve and place on file as typed the minutes from the 5/11/2010 meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

6. Discussion on request from the OYC for a conditional use permit to allow members who own boats at the OYC to park a motor home or camper on the property during the boating season pursuant to City of Oconto Municipal Code SEC 13-1-52. Request states that the OYC will not allow any more than three campers or motor homes parked on the property during the boating season.

Bake questioned who will enforce the four days and also how do we define the boating season?

Mayor referenced the application request, originally was for three campers or motor homes…now also asking for family and guests;

Whealon stated family would be coming over the weekends;

Bake stated request is asking for three permanent camping sites and many potential others;

Whealon stated this happens all along the river;

Mayor referenced that our current ordinance does allow for a special permit to allow for a camper or motor home to be parked within a residential property for up to three days;

Proksch stated no motor homes are parked at Hi-Seas Marina;

Whealon stated for some of their members, the motor home is their home;

Mayor asked that the commission stick to the original request;

Mommaerts questioned Proksch on the harbor season for rentals at Breakwater Park;

Proksch stated May through November;

Mayor stated if we do allow, should be on a 3-5 year renewal basis; limit campers and motor homes to three only;

Bake stated we have Holtwood Campground and County Park #2 already set up for camping;

Whealon stated the area the OYC is looking at for the camping sites could be set up with electricity, water and sewer;

Jim Modl stated he is a property owner in this area and he doesn’t have any objection to the OYC’s request…this is waterfront property, zoned as recreational property;

Mommaerts stated the Stock property is zoned Residential 1 and does not allow for a camping;

Mayor stated he has certain reservations on the request; will need certain guidelines; appreciates what the OYC is trying to do;

Matravers asked that we define the boating season…suggested April 1st to October 31st;

Mayor stated if request was granted some contingencies could be: boating seasons defined as April 1st through October 31st; conditional use permit will be reviewed on an annual basis; no more than three motor homes or campers; no storage of motor homes or campers after the boating season;

Augustine questioned who will police this?

Mayor stated only three campers will be allowed if permit is granted;

Augustine stated there is an error in Exhibit B, showing his property;

Whealon stated that map came from city records;

Mayor questioned commission do they want to designate a camping site for the OYC property?

Mommaerts stated the OYC property is in a recreational zoned district so the request is allowable;

Whealon stated the OYC would prefer using the North end site for camping;

Mayor agreed that would be tucked back into the woods;

Designated area would be between the woods and GL 2 on the North end as shown on map along Spies Road;

Moved by Mommaerts seconded by Matravers to grant the Oconto Yacht Club a conditional permit to allow for not more than three campers or motor homes by members of the club with the following contingency: Boating season for camping purposes defined as April 1st to October 31st; this permit will be reviewed on an annual basis; no more than three campers or motor homes of club members will be allowed at one time; no storage or motor homes or campers after the boating season; and the camping site will be on the North end between the woods and GL 2 along Spies Road as shown on the map that was submitted with the request.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

7. Dennis Reim, Registered Land Surveyor with Robert E. Lee presented a CSM for Lot 1, Bay Shore Woods Subdivision, Town of Oconto; city needs to review and take action per our ordinance SEC 14-1-37, Extra Territorial Jurisdiction; Reim stated this CSM is needed to help settle a dispute on the lot line; issue was heard before Judge Judge and result is that the area designated a OUTLOT 1 to John Ebeling; and the southerly property shown as Lot 1 will be retained by Bay Shore Woods LLC; Reim stated the Town of Oconto has already approved of this; County is asking for additional documentation which is being done;

Mommaerts stated he is o.k. with CSM as presented as is Banach.
Moved by Matravers seconded by Bake to recommend to Council approval of the CSM for all of Lot 1, Bay Shore Woods Subdivision, located in GOV Lot 4; SEC29, T28N, R22E, Town of Oconto, Oconto County, Wisconsin.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 6 ayes

8. Future meeting date will be set as needed.

9. No agenda items at this time.

10. Moved by Bake seconded by Proksch to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.


Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator