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Village of Waterford, WI
Racine County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Zoning Administrator appointed pursuant to Chapter 245 of this Municipal Code is appointed Zoning Administrator for the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter. The Zoning Administrator shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
Advise applicants as to the provisions of this chapter and assist them in preparing permit applications and appeal forms.
B. 
Issue permits and certificates of compliance and inspect properties for compliance with this chapter.
C. 
Keep records of all permits issued, inspections made, work approved and other official actions.
D. 
Have access to any structure or premises between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of performing these duties.
E. 
Submit copies of decisions on variances, conditional use permits, appeals for a map or text interpretation and map or text amendments within 10 days after they are granted or denied to the appropriate district office of the Department.
F. 
Investigate and report violations of this chapter to the appropriate Village planning agency and the District Attorney, Corporation Counsel or Village Attorney.
A. 
When required. Unless another section of this chapter specifically exempts certain types of development from this requirement, a zoning permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator before any new development, as defined in § 255-3B, or any change in the use of an existing building or structure is initiated.
B. 
Application. An application for a zoning permit shall be made to the Zoning Administrator upon forms furnished by the Village and shall include, for the purpose of proper enforcement of these regulations, the following information:
(1) 
General information.
(a) 
Name, address and telephone number of applicant, property owner and contractor, where applicable.
(b) 
Legal description of the property and a general description of the proposed use or development.
(c) 
Whether or not a private water supply is to be installed.
(2) 
Site development plan. The site development plan shall be submitted as a part of the permit application and shall contain the following information drawn to scale:
(a) 
Dimensions and area of the lot.
(b) 
Location of any structures, with distances measured from the lot lines and center line of all abutting streets or highways.
(c) 
Description of any existing on-site sewage systems or any existing or proposed private water supply systems.
(d) 
Location of the ordinary high watermark of any abutting navigable waterways.
(e) 
Boundaries of all wetlands.
(f) 
Existing and proposed topographic and drainage features and vegetative cover.
(g) 
Location of floodplain and floodway limits on the property as determined from floodplain zoning maps.
(h) 
Location of existing or future access roads.
(i) 
Specifications and dimensions for areas of proposed wetland alteration.
C. 
Expiration. All permits issued under the authority of this chapter shall expire six months from the date of issuance.
A. 
Except where no zoning permit or conditional use permit is required, no land shall be occupied or used and no building which is hereafter constructed, altered, added to, modified, rebuilt or replaced shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued by the Zoning Administrator, subject to the following provisions:
(1) 
The certificate of compliance shall show that the building or premises or part thereof and the proposed use thereof conform to the provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
Application for such certificate shall be concurrent with the application for a zoning or conditional use permit.
(3) 
The certificate of compliance shall be issued within 10 days after notification of the completion of the work specified in the zoning or conditional use permit, providing the building or premises and proposed use thereof conforms with all the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The Zoning Administrator may issue a temporary certificate of compliance for a building, premises or part thereof, pursuant to rules and regulations established by the Village Board.
C. 
Upon written request from the owner, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a certificate of compliance for any building or premises existing at the time of ordinance adoption, certifying after inspection the extent and type of use made of the building or premises and whether or not such use conforms to the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Application. Any use listed as a conditional use in this chapter shall be permitted only after an application has been submitted to the Zoning Administrator and a conditional use permit has been granted by the Board of Appeals following the procedures in § 255-10 of this chapter.
B. 
Conditions. Upon consideration of the permit application and the standards applicable to the conditional uses designated in § 255-6 of this chapter, the Board of Appeals shall attach such conditions to a conditional use permit, in addition to those required elsewhere in this chapter, as are necessary to further the purposes of this chapter as listed in § 255-1. Such conditions may include specifications for, without limitation because of specific enumeration: type of shore cover; erosion controls; increased setbacks; specific water supply facilities; landscaping and planting screens; period of operation; operational control; sureties; deed restrictions; location of piers, docks, parking areas and signs; and type of construction. To secure information upon which to base its determination, the Board of Appeals may require the applicant to furnish, in addition to the information required for a zoning permit, other pertinent information which is necessary to determine if the proposed use is consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
A. 
The fees for proceedings held pursuant to this chapter are as found in the Fee Schedule established by the Village and as amended from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee schedule is on file in the Village offices.
B. 
In addition to the above fees, the applicant shall pay the cost of legal publication.
Where a zoning permit or conditional use permit is approved, an appropriate record shall be made by the Zoning Administrator of the land use and structures permitted.
Where the conditions of a zoning permit or conditional use permit are violated, the permit shall be revoked by the Board of Appeals.
The Board of Appeals established under Chapter 245 of this Municipal Code shall hear appeals under Wis. Stat. § 62.23.
A. 
Powers and duties. The Board of Appeals:
(1) 
Shall hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement or administration of this chapter.
(2) 
Shall hear and decide applications for conditional use permits.
(3) 
May authorize, upon appeal, a variance from the dimensional standards of this chapter where an applicant convincingly demonstrates that:
(a) 
Literal enforcement of the terms of this chapter will result in unnecessary hardship for the applicant.
(b) 
The hardship is due to special conditions unique to the property and is not self-created or based solely on economic gain or loss.
(c) 
Such variance is not contrary to the public interest as expressed by the purpose of this chapter.
(d) 
Such variance will not grant or increase any use of property which is prohibited in the zoning district.
B. 
Appeals to the Board. Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by any person aggrieved or by an officer, department, board or bureau of the community affected by any order, requirement, decision or determination of the Zoning Administrator or other administrative official. Such appeals shall be taken within a reasonable time as provided by the rules of the Board by filing with the official whose decision is in question and with the Board of Appeals a notice of appeal specifying the reasons for the appeal. The Zoning Administrator or other official whose decision is in question shall transmit to the Board all the papers constituting the record on the matter appealed.
C. 
Public hearings.
(1) 
Before making a decision on an appeal or application, the Board of Appeals shall, within a reasonable period of time, hold a public hearing. The Board shall give public notice of the hearing by publishing a Class 2 notice under Wis. Stat. ch. 985, specifying the date, time and place of the hearing and the matters to come before the Board. At the public hearing, any party may present testimony in person, by agent or attorney.
(2) 
A copy of such notice shall be mailed to the parties in interest and the appropriate district office of the Department at least 10 days prior to all public hearings on issues involving shoreland-wetland zoning.
D. 
Decisions.
(1) 
The final disposition of an appeal or application for a conditional use permit before the Board of Appeals shall be in the form of a written decision, made within a reasonable time after the public hearing and signed by the Board Chairperson. Such decision shall state the specific facts which are the basis of the Board's determination and shall either affirm, reverse or modify the order, requirement, decision or determination appealed in whole or in part, dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction or prosecution or grant the application for a conditional use.
(2) 
A copy of such decision shall be mailed to the parties in interest and the appropriate district office of the Department within 10 days after the decision is issued.
The Village Board may alter, supplement or change the district boundaries and the regulations contained in this chapter in accordance with the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 62.23(7)(d)2, Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 117, and the following:
A. 
A copy of each proposed text or map amendment shall be submitted to the appropriate district office of the Department within five days of the submission of the proposed amendment to the Village Plan Commission.
B. 
All proposed text and map amendments to the shoreland-wetland zoning regulations shall be referred to the Village Plan Commission, and a public hearing shall be held after Class 2 notice as required by Wis. Stat. § 62.23(7)(d)2. The appropriate district office of the Department shall be provided with written notice of the public hearing at least 10 days prior to such hearing.
C. 
In order to ensure that this chapter will remain consistent with the shoreland protection objectives of Wis. Stat. § 281.31, the Village Board may not rezone a wetland in a Shoreland-Wetland Zoning District or any portion thereof where the proposed rezoning may result in a significant adverse impact upon any of the following wetland functions:
(1) 
Storm- and floodwater storage capacity.
(2) 
Maintenance of dry season stream flow or 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.
(3) 
Filtering or storage of sediments, nutrients, heavy metals or organic compounds that would otherwise drain into navigable waters.
(4) 
Shoreline protection against erosion.
(5) 
Fish spawning, breeding, nursery or feeding grounds.
(6) 
Wildlife habitat.
(7) 
Areas of special recreational, scenic or scientific interest, including scarce wetland types and habitat of endangered species.
D. 
Where the district office of the Department determines that a proposed rezoning may have a significant adverse impact upon any of the criteria listed in Subsection C, the Department shall so notify the Village of its determination either prior to or during the public hearing held on the proposed amendment.
E. 
The appropriate district office of the Department shall be provided with:
(1) 
A copy of the recommendation and report, if any, of the Plan Commission on a proposed text or map amendment within 10 days after the submission of those recommendations to the Village Board.
(2) 
Written notice of the action on the proposed text or map amendment within 10 days after the action is taken.
F. 
If the Department notifies the Plan Commission in writing that a proposed amendment may have a significant adverse impact upon any of the criteria listed in Subsection C, that proposed amendment, if approved by the Village Board, shall not become effective until more than 30 days have elapsed since written notice of Village approval was mailed to the Department as required by § 255-9E. If, within the thirty-day period, the Department notifies the Village that the Department intends to adopt a superseding shoreland-wetland zoning ordinance for the Village as provided by Wis. Stat. §§ 62.231(6) and 61.351(6), the proposed amendment shall not become effective until the ordinance adoption procedure under Wis. Stat. § 62.231(6) or 61.351(6) is completed or otherwise terminated.
Any development, building or structure or accessory building or structure constructed, altered, added to, modified, rebuilt or replaced or any use or accessory use established after the effective date of this chapter in violation of the provisions of this chapter by any person, including building contractors or their agents, shall be deemed a violation. The Zoning Administrator shall refer violations to the Plan Commission and Village Attorney, who shall prosecute such violations. Any person who violates or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, of this Municipal Code.