Chapter 500

ZONING

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Bayfield 4-1-1992 (§§ 13-1-1 through 13-1-200 and 7-5-1 of the 1992 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals -- See Ch. 21.

Animals -- See Ch. 126.

Blasting and rock crushing -- See Ch. 140.

Building construction -- See Ch. 152.

Construction site erosion control -- See Ch. 190.

Fair housing -- See Ch. 217.

Exterior lighting -- See Ch. 273.

Nonmetallic mining -- See Ch. 278.

Noise -- See Ch. 284.

Property maintenance -- See Ch. 314.

Abandoned vehicles -- See Ch. 366.

Comprehensive Plan -- See Ch. 388.

Floodplain Zoning -- See Ch. 407.

Historic preservation -- See Ch. 423.

Subdivision of land -- See Ch. 474.

Wellhead Protection Overlay District -- See Ch. 489.

ARTICLE I

Authority; Purpose; Interpretation

§ 500-1. Authority.

This chapter is adopted under the authority granted by §§ 62.23(7) and 87.30, Wis. Stats., and amendments thereto.

§ 500-2. Title.

This chapter shall be known as, referred to and cited as the "Zoning Code, City of Bayfield, Wisconsin" and is hereinafter referred to as the "code" or "chapter."

§ 500-3. General purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the comfort, health, safety, morals, prosperity, aesthetics and general welfare of the people of the City of Bayfield, Wisconsin.

§ 500-4. Intent and purposes in view.

The general intent and purposes in view of this chapter are to regulate and restrict the use of all structures, lands and waters and to:

§ 500-5. Abrogation and greater restrictions.

It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul, impair or interfere with any existing easements, covenants, deed restrictions, agreements, rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued pursuant to law. However, whenever this chapter imposes greater restrictions, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.

§ 500-6. Interpretation.

In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the City and shall not be construed to be a limitation or repeal of any other power now possessed by the City of Bayfield.

§ 500-7. Severability and nonliability.

§ 500-8. Repealer.

All other ordinances or parts of ordinances of the City inconsistent or conflicting with this chapter, to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict only, are hereby repealed.

ARTICLE II

General Provisions

§ 500-9. Jurisdiction; compliance required; yard and lot use; other laws.

§ 500-10. Use regulations.

Only the following uses and their essential services may be allowed in any district:

§ 500-11. Site regulations.

§ 500-12. Modifications.

§ 500-13. Reduction or joint use. [Amended 10-18-2006 by Ord. No. 335]

The provisions of § 500-9D(1) of this chapter shall apply to yard reduction and joint use of yards.

§ 500-14. Screening and fencing requirements.

Screening or fencing as required by this chapter shall be subject to the following provisions:

ARTICLE III

Zoning Districts

§ 500-15. Establishment of districts. [Amended 10-18-2006 by Ord. No. 335; 12-18-2007 by Ord. No. 339]

§ 500-16. Zoning Map and district boundaries.

§ 500-17. R-1 Residential District.

§ 500-18. R-2 Multifamily Residential District.

§ 500-19. C-1 Commercial District.

* In the blocks in the Commercial District which are already developed, setbacks and minimum lot widths for new or renovated buildings may correspond with the existing setbacks, provided that the Plan Commission determines such action will be in keeping with the purposes of this chapter.

§ 500-20. (Reserved) 5

§ 500-21. W-1 Conservancy District.

§ 500-22. FP-1 Floodplain District.

Regulations regarding development in the FP-1 Floodplain District are contained in Chapter 407, Floodplain Zoning, of the Code of the City of Bayfield.

§ 500-23. Waterfront District.

* In blocks in the Waterfront District which are already developed, setbacks and minimum lot widths for new or renovated buildings may correspond with the existing setbacks, provided that the Plan Commission determines such action will be in keeping with the purposes of this chapter.6

§ 500-24. Deemed dimensions for lots on original plat.

If a lot subject to the area and dimensional requirements of §§ 500-17, 500-18, and/or 500-19 (hereafter "the subject lot") consists of one or more platted lots established by the original plat of the City of Bayfield and purporting thereon to have dimensions of 40 feet by 120 feet, whose actual dimensions have been shown by a subsequent survey to be less than 40 feet by 120 feet but more than 35 feet by 115 feet, then the dimensions of platted lots shall be deemed to be 40 feet by 120 feet for purposes of determining whether the subject lot meets the applicable dimensional and area requirements.

ARTICLE IV

Planned Development Districts

[Amended 12-18-2007 by Ord. No. 339]

§ 500-25. Purpose; general description.

§ 500-26. Criteria for approval.

As a basis for determining the acceptability of a planned development district, the following criteria shall be applied to the general implementation plan, with specific consideration as to whether or not it is consistent with the general purpose and intent of the City's Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan, whether it has been prepared with competent professional expertise and guidance, and whether it produces significant community benefits of an environmental design nature or otherwise that compensate for modifications in normal zoning requirements.

§ 500-27. Procedure: general implementation plan.

§ 500-28. Procedure: specific implementation plan.

ARTICLE V

Conditional Uses

§ 500-29. Statement of purpose.

The development and execution of this article is based upon the division of the City into districts, within which districts the use of land and buildings, and bulk and location of buildings and structures in relation to the land are mutually compatible and substantially uniform. However, there are certain uses which, because of their unique characteristics, cannot be properly classified as unrestricted permitted uses in any particular district or districts, without consideration, in each case, of the impact of those uses upon neighboring land or public facilities, and of the public need for the particular use of a particular location. Such uses, nevertheless, may be necessary or desirable to be allowed in a particular district, provided that due consideration is given to location, development and operation of such uses. Such uses are classified as conditional uses.

§ 500-30. Authority of Plan Commission; requirements.

§ 500-31. Initiation of conditional use.

Any person, firm, corporation or organization having a freehold interest or a possessory interest entitled to exclusive possession, or a contractual interest which may become a freehold interest, or an exclusive possessory interest, and which is specifically enforceable in the land for which a conditional use is sought may file an application to use such land for one or more of the conditional uses in the zoning district in which such land is located.

§ 500-32. Application for conditional use.

§ 500-33. Hearing on application.

All requests for conditional uses shall be to the Plan Commission or the Plan Commission can, on its own motion, apply conditional uses when applications for rezoning come before it. Upon receipt of the application and statement referred to in § 500-32 above, the Plan Commission shall hold a public hearing on each application for a conditional use at such time and place as shall be established by such Commission. The hearing shall be conducted and a record of the proceedings shall be preserved in such a manner and according to such procedures as the Plan Commission shall, by rule, prescribe from time to time.

§ 500-34. Notice of hearing on application.

Notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing shall be given by publication of a Class 2 notice under the Wisconsin Statutes in the official City newspaper. Notice of the time, place and purpose of such public hearing shall also be sent to the applicant, the Zoning Administrator, members of the Common Council and Plan Commission, and the owners of record as listed in the office of the City Assessor who are owners of property in whole or in part situated within 100 feet of the boundaries of the properties affected, said notice to be sent at least 14 days prior to the date of such public hearing. Failure to comply with this provision shall not, however, invalidate any previous or subsequent action on the application.

§ 500-35. Conditions for granting application.

No application for a conditional use shall be granted by the Plan Commission or granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals on appeal unless the following conditions are present:

§ 500-36. Denial of application for conditional use permit.

When a decision of denial of a conditional use application is made, the Plan Commission shall furnish the applicant, in writing when so requested, those standards that are not met and enumerate reasons the Commission has used in determining that each standard was not met.

§ 500-37. Appeals.

Any action of the Plan Commission in granting or denying a conditional use permit may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, if a written request for an appeal is filed within 10 days after the date of the Plan Commission's action in granting or denying the permit. Such request for appeal shall be signed by the applicant or by the owners of at least 20% of the land area immediately adjacent extending 100 feet therefrom or by the owners of 20% or more of the land directly opposite thereto extending 100 feet from the street frontage of such opposite land. The request shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator who shall submit it to the Zoning Board of Appeals at its next meeting, together with any documents and other data used by the Plan Commission in reaching its decision. The Zoning Board of Appeals may consider the matter forthwith, refer the matter to a subsequent meeting or set a date for a public hearing thereon. In the event the Zoning Board of Appeals elects to hold a public hearing, notice thereof shall be given by mail to the known owners of the lands immediately adjacent thereto and directly opposite any street frontage of the lot or parcel in question and by publication of a Class 1 notice in the official newspaper at least 10 days before the date of the hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals may either affirm or reverse by a two-thirds vote, in whole or in part, the action of the Plan Commission and may finally grant or deny the application for a conditional use permit.

§ 500-38. Conditions and guaranties.

The following provisions shall apply to all conditional uses:

§ 500-39. Validity of conditional use permit.

Where the Plan Commission has approved or conditionally approved an application for a conditional use, such approval shall become null and void within 12 months of the date of the Commission's action unless the use is commenced, construction is underway or the current owner possesses a valid building permit under which construction is commenced within six months of the date of issuance and which shall not be renewed unless construction has commenced and is being diligently prosecuted. Approximately 45 days prior to the automatic revocation of such permit, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the holder by certified mail of such revocation. The Plan Commission may extend such permit for a period of 90 days for justifiable cause, if application is made to the City at least 30 days before the expiration of said permit.

§ 500-40. Complaints regarding conditional uses.

The Plan Commission shall retain continuing jurisdiction over all conditional uses for the purpose of resolving complaints against all previously approved conditional uses. Such authority shall be in addition to the enforcement authority of the Zoning Administrator to order the removal or discontinuance of any unauthorized alterations of an approved conditional use, and the elimination, removal or discontinuance of any violation of a condition imposed prior to or after approval or violation of any other provision of this code. Upon written complaint by any citizen or official, the Plan Commission shall initially determine whether said complaint indicates a reasonable probability that the subject conditional use is in violation of either one or more of the standards set forth in § 500-35 above, a condition of approval or other requirement imposed hereunder. Upon reaching a positive initial determination, a hearing shall be held upon notice as provided in § 500-34 above. Any person may appear at such hearing and testify in person or represented by an agent or attorney. The Plan Commission may, in order to bring the subject conditional use into compliance with the standards set forth in § 500-35 or conditions previously imposed by the Plan Commission, modify existing conditions upon such use and impose additional reasonable conditions upon the subject conditional use as provided in § 500-38. Additionally, the offending party may be subjected to a forfeiture as set forth in this chapter and § 1-3. In the event that no reasonable modification of such conditional use can be made in order to assure that standards in Subsections A and B of § 500-35 will be met, the Plan Commission may revoke the subject conditional approval and direct the Zoning Administrator and the City Attorney to seek elimination of the subject use. Following any such hearing, the decision of the Plan Commission shall be furnished to the current owner of the conditional use in writing stating the reasons therefor. An appeal from a decision of the Plan Commission under this section may be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ 500-41. Bed-and-breakfast establishments.

BED-AND-BREAKFAST ESTABLISHMENT -- As defined in the definition of "bed-and-breakfast establishment building" in § 500-108 of this chapter.

§ 500-42. Garbage and refuse disposal sites.

§ 500-43. Signal receiving antennas.

OWNER -- The holder of record of an estate in possession in fee simple, or for life, in land or real property, or a vendee of record under a land contract for the sale of an estate in possession in fee simple or for life but does not include the vendor under a land contract. A tenant in common or joint tenant shall be considered such owner to the extent of his interest. The personal representative of at least one owner shall be considered an owner.

SIGNAL RECEIVING ANTENNA -- Any apparatus capable of receiving communications from a transmitter or a transmitter relay located in a planetary orbit. This definition includes all types of signal receiving antennas, including, without limitation, parabolic antennas, home earth stations, satellite television disks, UHF and VHF television antennas, and AM, FM, ham and short-wave radio antennas, regardless of the method of mounting.