Walworth County updates farmland preservation rules to allow agritainment, nonmetallic mining and commercial stables

The Walworth County Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2025, approved a set of amendments to the county zoning code and shoreland zoning tied to updates of the county farmland preservation plan. The changes add certain allowable uses in agricultural districts, including agritainment, nonmetallic mineral extraction (with reclamation standards), commercial stables in A‑1 and A‑1NC districts, and hobby farms in A‑1NC.

County staff and committee reports said the amendments are part of a routine update to the farmland preservation plan and were recommended unanimously (7–0) by the County Zoning Agency. The board adopted the ordinance language as presented.

Supervisors moved the ordinance as a group of code changes across multiple sections of the county code of ordinances and associated shoreland provisions. The agenda listed the specific ordinance sections amended (including 74‑51, 74‑61, 74‑67, 74‑129 and 74‑131 for zoning and several shoreland sections). The board approved the motion without extended debate.

The board also approved related rezone requests on the meeting agenda: a rezone in Delavan Township (approximately 0.63 acres for Stanley Tomala) and a larger rezone in LaGrange Township (approximately 23.5 acres for Romel Cook). Both rezones were approved by the County Zoning Agency 7–0 at its June public hearing and were approved by the County Board during the July 8 meeting.

Board members characterized the ordinance package as aligning local code with the updated farmland preservation plan and clarifying allowable uses in agricultural districts; there were no recorded public objections during the meeting on these ordinance amendments.

The amendments include reclamation requirements for nonmetallic mineral extraction and specific allowances for commercial stables and agritainment uses; the text adopted references both zoning and shoreland code sections listed on the agenda.