This district includes all lands within the jurisdiction of this chapter which are designated as Conservancy District on the Official Shoreland, Wetland and Habitat Protection Zoning Maps for Adams County which have been adopted under §
396-42 of this chapter. Conservancy districts are often comprised of areas of intermittent wetlands dispersed within an area characterized largely and generally by wetlands and may or may not be wetlands in their entirety.
The purpose of the Conservancy District is to maintain safe and healthful conditions; to prevent water pollution; to protect fish spawning grounds and wildlife habitat; to preserve shore cover and natural beauty of shorelands; to protect and preserve wetlands both within the boundary of designated areas of special natural resource interest and those wetlands which are in proximity to or have a direct hydrologic connection to such designated areas as defined in § NR 103.04, Wis. Adm. Code; and to control building and development in in these areas whenever possible (also see §
396-4C). When development is permitted in a Conservancy District, the development should occur in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts upon the land and overall environment.
The following uses shall be allowed, subject to the general zoning regulations in this chapter, the provisions of Chs.
30 and 31, Wis. Stats., and the provisions of other state and federal laws, if applicable:
A. Any use permitted under §
396-45 of this chapter.
B. Nonresidential buildings used exclusively for farm operations, provided
that no filling is necessary for the construction of such building.
Excavation is allowed for placement of gravel base and/or concrete;
however, final grade shall not exceed original elevation.
Any use prohibited under §
396-46 of this chapter.
NOTE: Only the minimum area of the lot required for the proposed
use shall be considered for rezoning.
A. For all proposed text and map amendments to the Conservancy District,
the appropriate district and area offices of the Department of Natural
Resources shall be provided with the following:
(1) A copy of every petition for a text or map amendment to the Conservancy
District, within five days of filling such petition with the Planning
and Zoning Department;
(2) Written notice of the public hearing to be held on a proposed amendment,
at least 10 days prior to such hearing;
(3) A copy of the Planning and Zoning Committee's findings and recommendations
on each proposed amendment, within 10 days after the submission of
those findings and recommendations to the County Board; and
(4) Written notice of the County Board's decision on the proposed
amendment, within 10 days after it is issued.
B. A conservancy district or portion thereof shall not be rezoned unless
in the best interest of Adams County citizens. The petitioner shall
have the burden to demonstrate the proposed rezone of a previously
established district is in the best interest of Adams County citizens.
(1) A conservancy district or portion thereof shall not be rezoned if
the proposed rezoning may result in a significant adverse impact upon
any of the following:
(a)
Stormwater and floodwater storage capacity;
(b)
Maintenance of dry stream flow, the discharge of groundwater
to a wetland, the recharge of groundwater from a wetland to another
area, or the flow of groundwater through a wetland;
(c)
Filtering or storage of sediments, nutrients, heavy metals or
organic compounds that would otherwise drain into navigable waters;
(d)
Shoreline protection against soil erosion;
(e)
Fish spawning, breeding, nursery or feeding grounds;
(g)
Areas of special recreational, scenic or scientific interest,
including scarce wetland types.
(2) The burden of proof that the proposed rezone will not have "significant
adverse impact" shall fall upon the petitioner. Petitioner shall supply
the information requested on the appropriate inventory checklist and
present the information to the Planning and Zoning Committee at the
time of rezoning request.
Any special exception allowed under §
396-49 of this chapter.