Town of Lawrence, WI AG-FP Agricultural-Farmland Preservation District

Transportation, utility, communication, or other uses that are required under state or federal law to be located in a specific place, or that are authorized to be located in a specific place under a state or federal law that preempts the requirement of a conditional use permit for that use.

Other uses identified by DATCP by rule.

§ 300-91 Permitted accessory uses.

The following land uses shall be permitted accessory uses in the Farmland Preservation Zoning District:

A building, structure, or improvement that is an integral part of, or is incidental to, an agricultural use, including:

(1)

A facility to store or process raw agricultural commodities, all of which are produced on the farm.

(2)

A facility used to keep livestock on the farm.

(3)

A facility used to store or process inputs primarily for agricultural uses on the farm.

(4)

A facility used to keep or service vehicles or equipment primarily employed in agricultural uses on the farm.

An activity or business operation that is an integral part of, or incidental to, an agricultural use.

(1)

Roadside stands for the sale of agricultural products only, provided the structure does not cover more than 300 square feet in ground area and does not exceed 10 feet in height.

A farm residence, including normal residential appurtenances such as a pool, deck, or patio.

A home business, activity, or enterprise, whether or not associated with an agricultural use, which meets all of the following requirements:

(1)

It is conducted on a farm by an owner or operator of that farm.

(2)

It requires no buildings, structures, or improvements other than those described in Subsection A or B of this section.

(3)

It employs no more than four employees annually.

(4)

It does not impair or limit the current or future agricultural use of the farm or other protected farmland.

Any other use that DATCP, by rule, identifies as an accessory use.

§ 300-92 Conditional uses.

Finding. The Town may issue a condition use permit for certain agricultural and agricultural-related uses for the farmstead under § 300-205, if all of the following findings of fact apply:

(1)

The use and its location in the Farmland Preservation Zoning District are consistent with the purposes of the Farmland Preservation Zoning District.

(2)

The use and its location in the Farmland Preservation Zoning District are reasonable and appropriate, considering alternative locations, or are specifically approved under state or federal law.

(3)

The use is reasonably designed to minimize conversion of land, at and around the use site, from agricultural use or open space use.

(4)

The use does not substantially impair or limit the current or future agricultural use of other protected farmland.

(5)

Construction damage to land remaining in agricultural use is minimized and repaired to the extent feasible.

The Town may issue a conditional use permit for any of the following uses if that use meets applicable provisions under Subsection A:

(1)

Additional (second) farm residence.

(2)

Riding stables and/or equine boarding facilities in accordance with § 91.01(1), Wis. Stats.

(3)

Farmstead food processing facilities in accordance with § 91.01(1)d, Wis. Stats.

(4)

Farmstead retail outlets in accordance with § 91.01(1)e, Wis. Stats.

(5)

Farmstead fuel or agrichemical storage facilities in accordance with § 91.01(1), Wis. Stats., farmstead manure digester, pelletizing plant, or other facilities that process raw agricultural commodities, agricultural by-products or agricultural wastes to produce bulk fuel or other bulk products for use on the farmstead.

(6)

A wind turbine or solar energy facility that collects wind or solar energy on the farm and uses or transforms it to provide energy for use only on the farmstead.

(7)

A manure digester, bio-fuel facility, or other facility that produces energy primarily from materials grown or produced on the farm for use only on the farmstead.

(8)

A waste storage or processing facility used to store or process animal waste produced solely from livestock kept on the farmstead.

(9)

Agronomic or veterinary services to agricultural operations.

(10)

Transportation uses, including rail facilities, and agricultural aeronautical facilities.

(11)

Communication uses, including cell towers, antennas and broadcast towers in accordance with § 300-18.

(12)

Man-made bodies of water.

(13)

Public utility installations on Town property or right-of-way.

(14)

Government and nonprofit community conditional uses to include:

(a)

Fire stations, police stations, post offices, and other government administration buildings.

(b)

Schools, colleges, and universities.

(c)

Religious institutions, including cemeteries and mausoleums.

(d)

Public parks and recreation areas.

(15)

Distribution lines, telephone and cable television lines and public utility installations, public streets, street rights-of-way and street improvements to the service areas unless otherwise regulated by § 91.44(1)(f), Wis. Stats.

§ 300-93 Rezoning land out of AG-FP District.

Except as provided in Subsection B below, the Town may not rezone land out of a Farmland Preservation Zoning District unless the Town finds all of the following in writing, after public hearing, as part of the official record of the rezoning, before granting the rezone:

(1)

The rezoned land is better suited for a use not allowed in the Farmland Preservation Zoning District.

(2)

The rezoning is consistent with any comprehensive plan, adopted by the Town, which is in effect at the time of the rezoning.

(3)

The rezoning is substantially consistent with the Brown County Farmland Preservation Plan, certified under Ch. 91, Wis. Stats., which is in effect at the time of rezoning.

(4)

The rezoning will not substantially impair or limit current or future agricultural use of other protected farmland.

Subsection A does not apply to any of the following:

(1)

A rezoning that is affirmatively certified by DATCP under Ch. 91, Wis. Stats.

(2)

A rezoning that makes the Farmland Preservation Zoning Ordinance Map more consistent with the Brown County Farmland Preservation Plan Map, certified under Ch. 91, Wis. Stats., which is in effect at the time of the rezoning.

§ 300-94 Lot requirement without public sewer service.

Minimum area: ten-acre minimum lot area controlled by the property owner, family, or trust.

Zoning lot frontage: 200 feet minimum.

§ 300-95 Height regulations and building setbacks.

Height regulations.

(1)

Farm structures: 60 feet maximum, except as provided by Article III, § 300-9, Buildings and uses, and § 300-12, Height regulations.

(2)

Residential dwellings: 35 feet maximum, except as provided by Article III, § 300-9, Buildings and uses, and § 300-12, Height regulations.

Building setbacks.

	Principal Structure	Accessory Buildings and Structures
Front yard	At least 35 feet from right-of-way	35 feet from right-of-way
Side yard	25 feet minimum from property line	10 feet minimum from property line
Rear yard	25 feet minimum from property line	10 feet minimum from property line
Corner side	35 feet minimum from right-of-way	35 feet minimum from right-of-way

§ 300-96 Building size.

Minimum ground floor area per dwelling shall be not less than 1,200 square feet for a one-story dwelling and not less than 1,500 square feet for dwelling having more than one story.

§ 300-97 Accessory uses.

Accessory uses shall conform to district requirements and those set forth in Article III, § 300-9, Buildings and uses, and § 300-12, Height regulations.

§ 300-98 Parking.

Parking shall conform to the requirements as set forth in Article XX, Off-Street Parking Requirements.

§ 300-99 Signs.

Signs shall be regulated as set forth in Article XVII, Sign Regulations.

§ 300-100 Reporting requirements and other requirements.

Reporting requirements.

(1)

The Town shall, by March 1 of each year, provide a report to DATCP of the number of acres that have been rezoned out of the Farmland Preservation Zoning District under § 300-93 during the previous year and a map that clearly shows the location of those acres.

(2)

The Town shall, by March 1 of each year, submit a copy of the information that it reports to DATCP under Subsection A(1) to Brown County.

Other requirements.

(1)

All additional residential dwellings connected with the farming operation shall be located on a separate lot containing a minimum 1.5 acres and 200 feet of lot frontage.

(2)

Farm dwellings and related structures which remain after farm consolidation may be separated from the farm parcel on a lot containing a minimum of 1.5 acres and 200 feet of lot frontage, except as provided by Article III, § 300-9, Buildings and uses, and § 300-12, Height regulations. Parcels must comply with this section or be rezoned to comply with parcel requirements of a non-AG-FP Zoning District.

(3)

Other structures or buildings allowed within the AG-FP Farmland Preservation District shall meet the requirements of the district and remaining sections of this chapter as determined by the Town Zoning Administrator.