Plan Commission Meeting — Minutes

Town of Merton Plan Commission Meeting Minutes of January 15th, 2025 • Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Klink at 5:30 p.m. • Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairman Klink • Minutes of December 18th, 2024, Public Hearing and Plan Commission Meeting. A motion to approve both sets of minutes as printed was made by Commissioners Morris/Queoff. Motion carried. Present: Chairman Klink, Commissioners Griffin, Jensen, Morris, Siepmann, Queoff and Good, Planner Haroldson, and Deputy Clerk Claas Also Present: Willi Hampel Old Business: None New Business: Request for an Exception to the Height Regulations as an Exception per 17.21(2)(d), to the Height Regulation – Subject to the Approval of the Plan Commission – To Build an Ornamental Tower/Spire – Requested by Groskopf Construction on Behalf of Garvin Lake Holdings – Tax Key MRTT0407-998-003 – Planner Haroldson stated they are allowed to have it, but they have to come to the Plan Commission to approve it. With the cupola, it is still under 25’. Commissioner Good stated the cupola matches with the architecture. Planner Haroldson stated the cupola will be on their accessory building. They meet the offset, but they haven’t increased the offset for this purpose, but they don’t have to because the Town allows it with Plan Commission approval. A motion to approve the cupola height extension for Garvin Lake properties was made by Commissioners Good/Jensen. Motion carried. Referral from the Building Inspector – To Add/Extend Solar Panels to an Existing Panel – Requested by Willi Hampel – Tax Key MRTT0375-071 – Planner Haroldson stated the Building Inspector would like the support of the Plan Commission to add the two extra panels on. Each of them is 9’. Previously when Mr. Hampel came before the Plan Commission, the Town had to have a public hearing in November of 2012. A special permit was provided to him for the installation of the solar panels. He needed a landscaping plan which was approved by the Plan Commission. Since then, the State Statute voids all restrictions on platted land that would prevent or restrict the construction of solar energy systems. The situation with the new panels meets the offsets and meets the setbacks. He has trees along the perimeter of his property. Chairman Klink stated that he has never heard a problem over there that he’s aware of. Planner Haroldson said he’s not getting any complaints, and he set it up so it’s not blocking any sunlight from any neighbors. Commissioner Morris asked who will actually be doing the project. Hampel responded that he will. He’s an engineer and designs cat scanner and MRI machines. Hampel explained that wintertime is kind of the worst time for sun here in Wisconsin, so he made these so they are tiltable. As the sun goes down, he can tilt them up so the sun is more perpendicular to the panels. Because of that he gets about 5% more power annually. The next day after a big snowstorm when it’s sunny the snow completely melts off and slides down, so they’re uncovered within an hour usually. The tilting is super critical in wintertime. The tilting is manual and takes about three minutes a set to do. A motion to approve Mr. Hampel’s solar panel extension was made by Commissioners Jensen//Siepmann. Motion carried. Planner’s Report Marily Haroldson – said she had a meeting with Tall Pines because they have a new director. They are going to spell out the role of the Town and what Tall Pines is going to be doing in the Oconomowoc River Conservancy Park on Laskin Road. Eric from the Oconomowoc Water Protection Plan was at the meeting. He has an agreement with the Town through the North Lake Management District. They are going to be working in the Koester Park lands the Town owns, and they will be removing buckthorn this year. They will not be doing anything with Mason Creek at this time, just strictly invasive species. Planner Haroldson stated she’s hoping to schedule a cargo meeting with a group maybe in February sometime, depending on the weather, so the DPW can be there, and the landscapers are not out plowing snow. Planner Haroldson said she’s been doing some research on accessory dwelling units. The Town allows them as in-law suites, but some communities are allowing them to be made in garages or an extra building. This may come back for discussion. County Board Supervisor Report Richard Morris – stated he has a North Lake Management District Meeting at 6:00 p.m. today. DPW Report Paul Griffin – had nothing to report. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioners Morris/Siepmann. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Holly R Claas, Deputy Clerk