Commission backs zoning change for bed-and-breakfast inn

The Town of Saukville Plan Commission on Tuesday recommended that a retreat property on Highway 33 be rezoned from agricultural land to a business district, a move that would allow the retreat to operate as a bed and breakfast inn.

The two-step process would resolve a dispute between the town and the owner of the 17-acre Abloom Farm Resort that’s been brewing since last fall when Abloom owner Dale Stenbroten asked for a permit to expand his operations.

At that time, Stenbroten was operating the retreat without licenses or permits. While bed-and-breakfast inns are a permitted conditional use in agriculture areas, town officials delayed granting a permit until they could more clearly define what a bed-and-breakfast inn is.

On Tuesday, Town Attorney Sara MacCarthy told the commission that the town had a definition but it limits inns to two bedrooms, which Stenbroten said is insufficient for his business.

Saying the ordinance that MacCarthy found was intended to preserve the residential and agricultural nature of the town while allowing some “limited activities,” commission member Mike Denzien, who is also a town supervisor, proposed rezoning Stenbroten’s property to business and specifying inns as a permitted use within that designation.

Only properties along Highway 33 can be zoned for business under town ordinance.

Secondly, Denzien proposed that a bed-and-breakfast inn in a business area have a different definition than the one used for agricultural properties and suggested the town base that definition on state statutes.

The state definition of a bed-and-breakfast inn requires there be no more than eight rooms, the owner lives on the premises, no more than 20 people stay at the site at any one time and only one meal is served per day, among other restrictions.

The commission directed that the ordinance be drafted and recommended that the Town Board schedule public hearings on the draft ordinance and rezoning. Both measures require Town Board approval.

In a separate but related matter, the commission discussed a “rural event facility” ordinance that would allow wedding barns to operate in the town.

There currently is one wedding barn on Highway Y. Another is proposed on Highway Y, and Stenbroten would like to operate one on his land.

Commissioners generally agreed that the number of large events, such as weddings, be limited to perhaps 10 per year and held only on weekends but said smaller “corporate” events of up to 30 to 40 people could occur more frequently.

They also said parking issues could be considered on a case-by-case basis.

They directed a draft ordinance be prepared for their next meeting.