Town suspends permit procedures

The Belgium Town Board this month agreed to suspend conditional use permit procedures for two months until supervisors approve amended zoning ordinances that the Plan Commission has been working on for months.

A CUP moratorium was put in place months ago, but the town switched attorneys in spring. New attorney Paul Alexy recommended a suspension instead of a moratorium, which essentially accomplishes the same thing but is legally different.

“It’s not breaking news, but attorneys don’t always agree with each other so we’re following the lead of this attorney,” Zoning Administrator Charlie Parks said.

“This is the simpler and more defensible position for the town to take.”

After the state passed Act 67, which limited local control over CUPs, the town’s former attorney recommended a moratorium while new zoning ordinances were determined.

“We need to rely on legal guidance more now than before,” Parks said.

The Plan Commission, he said, has completed its work, including reviewing recommendations from the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The updated zoning ordinances are being reviewed by an attorney, after which they may be sent back to the Plan Commission for more work or to the Town Board for approval.

Parks said he expects two more months is enough time for the attorney review.

 The Plan Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12.

The Town Board is slated to meet Jan. 6 and Feb. 3.