Minutes
Town of Vermont Plan Commission Meeting
January 30, 2017 – 7:00 p.m. 4017 County Road JJ
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Doug Meier. The meeting was properly noticed, posted
at the front door of Town Hall, on the town website and emailed to the online subscribers. The meeting
notice was also published in the News Sickle Arrow and Mt. Horeb Mail.
Present: Doug Meier, Jim Elleson, Dean Bossenbroek, John Hallick, Scott Moe, Mary George, Katie
MacDonald, Karen Carlock (secretary)
Absent: N/A
Approval of Agenda
Scott Moe moved approval of the agenda, Dean Bossenbroek seconded. Motion approved 6-0.
Approval of Minutes
Jim Elleson moved and John Hallick seconded approval of the meeting minutes. Minutes approved 6-0.
Home Site Adjustment Request from Chuck Langfeldt at County J/78
The home site change is an insignificant change in order to have a more flat location. Doug moved
approval of the home site adjustment, John seconded and motion approved 6-0.
Home Site Request from Andy Anderson at 3757 Ryan Road
The site visit took place on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Review of DNR website confirmed that the parcel does
not contain any navigable waterways. Existence of a PDR has been confirmed by Town of Vermont
records and with Dane County. One outstanding question is whether the zoning change should be from
A1-EX to A-2 or RH-3. Andy shared that he has a preference for A-2 due to the flexibility which allows for
the potential of an orchard, for example. Scott moved to approve the zoning change from A1-EX to
A2(8), Katie seconded and motion approved 7-0. Jim moved to approve the proposed driveway, Dean
seconded and motion approved 7-0. Dean moved to approve the proposed home site, Mary seconded
and motion approved 7-0.
Committee Reports
John provided update regarding broadband committee progress. Survey mailing has been sent to all
residents to request survey response in order to collect data. TDS provided all prior submission requests
for broadband funding. John is hopeful that Town of Vermont will be able to continue working
successfully with TDS on improvements. MHTC does have the expansion interest but does not have the
funds and also does not have access to government funds due to not being the incumbent carrier. Orin
Johnson has been looking into point-to-point and reached out to John to potentially explore community
internet service and discuss a business plan.
Mary shared that John Erpenbach responded to the Town of Vermont resolution and in turn, submitted
a letter to the PSC members requesting that the PSC evaluate non-transmission line alternatives. They
are justifying infrastructure on the basis of rising demand and there may not be rising demand here.
Doug attended the most recent DCTA meeting where a large portion of the agenda addressed DaneCom.
There was an issue with false paging that was corrected. There are several municipalities within
DaneCom that have not been paying fees to be part of the DaneCom system but have radios that are on
the DaneCom system. CARPC presented an update as well and while they may not truly be regional, they
do have useful tools and resources that could be leveraged. Doug values DCTA and feels that while they
have been distracted by Dane County Zoning Opt Out proceedings but that the work they did prompted
a number of improvements. Jim expressed that there are people within DCTA that are focused on an
adversarial relationship with Dane County. Scott said that we have received value from them pushing
the zoning opt out issue. If their focus does not shift to something else, then we may no longer be
receiving the value.
Jim provided an update that there are new rules and regulations regarding the Dane County ZLR that
have been proposed to address the potentially arbitrary nature of the ZLR.
Discussion Regarding Dane County Zoning Chapter 10 Ordinance Amendment
Jim moved to recommend approval of the amendment, John seconded and motion approved 7-0.
Discussion regarding use of tannerite within the township
Scott was able to get a hold of the individual who has been using tannerite within the township and at
this point does not plan to continue purchasing tannerite. Tannerite is quite pricey and the use is
unlikely to continue use. In a rural township, it is difficult to enforce a noise ordinance due to locating
the source of the sound. There are states that have put forth bills to classify the product differently.
Discussion regarding Road Abandonment Criteria
The plan commission reviewed the most recent iteration of road abandonment criteria:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Abandonment may not result in land-locking of parcels
Abandonment must not prevent development of existing PDRs
Abandonment must not force construction of a new driveway
A town road that serves multiple owners will be abandoned and converted to a shared driveway
only if all property owners agree to abandonment and, if the town requires them, to
easement(s) and a shared driveway agreement.
Jim moved and Scott seconded postponing this discussion until after the next agenda item.
John moved to recommend the above abandonment criteria to the board for review, Scott seconded
and motion approved 7-0.
Discussion Regarding Broderick Road
The current next step is to await guidance from Kay Millonzi regarding the last section of Broderick road.
Doug moved to recommend to the Town Board posting the road with No Parking Entire Drive sign at the
bottom of road and John seconded. Motion approved 7-0. Jim moved to recommend to the Town Board
that a surveyor be determine who owns what portion of the road and land at the end of Bohn road. Jim
moved to recommend to the board that we determine where Broderick Road formerly ends. Doug
seconded. Katie clarified that we want the legal description of the road in order to determine whether
the turn-around is on private property or Town Road. Karen to research when the turn-around was built
and if any formal agreement was filed. Motion approved 7-0.
Comprehensive Plan Review and Revision
Plan commission reviewed comprehensive plan. Updated maps must now be obtained and a final review
completed.
Land Use Intent Form Revision
Topic not discussed.
Reconciliation of Outstanding Items from Past PC Agendas, Driveway Permits & Building Permits
Topic not discussed.
Schedule Next Meeting and Discuss Possible Agenda Items
The next meeting will be Monday February 27th beginning at 7:00 p.m. Topics for next meeting include:,
Committee Reports, Land Use Intent Form Revision, Comprehensive plan revision and Reconciliation of
outstanding items from past PC agendas.
Adjournment
John moved and Dean seconded adjournment and motion approved 7-0. Meeting was adjourned at 9:35
p.m.