Zoning staff outlines 2024 accomplishments and proposes camping-cabin definition update amid town–county coordination concerns

Zoning staff told the Sawyer County Zoning Committee that 2024 saw multiple administrative updates, rising permit volume and work ahead on ordinance changes — including a proposed change to the county’s camping-cabin definition that would allow larger, plumbed units in licensed campgrounds.

Jay, the county zoning administrator, said staff upgraded permit software to improve public access to parcel files, completed a state audit for sanitary permits, exceeded revenue estimates, and hired and trained three new staff. He told the committee land-use permits have climbed over the last five years and the department plans an online form-fillable submittal for some permits and additional ordinance updates (shoreland, floodplain, citation ordinance) in 2025.

On camping cabins, staff proposed replacing the county’s current restrictive language (300 square feet, no plumbing, 12-foot height limit) with a definition aligned to ATCP 79 (a camping cabin is 400 square feet or less and may include plumbing and utilities in licensed campgrounds). Industry speakers and some resort owners urged the change; others asked the committee to route the proposal through the ad hoc committee that is reviewing broader town–county coordination and multi-dwelling questions. Several public commenters said towns had sometimes posted notices or held plan commission meetings at inconvenient times and asked the county to improve coordination with towns.