Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Board of Adjustment  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Thursday, January 26, 2023  
6:30 PM  
City County Building Room 354  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Long called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and introduced the Board.  
Also present: Staff: Hans Hilbert, Assistant Zoning Administrator  
Studz and Lesser attended virtually.  
5 -  
Present  
Chair AL LONG, Vice Chair TRAVIS LEESER, ARLAN KAY, Secretary SUE  
STUDZ, and GEORGE CORRIGAN  
B. Public Comment for any Item not listed on the Agenda  
No public comments were made.  
C. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the December 29, 2022 Public Hearing  
Board of Adjustment  
Sponsors:  
STUDZ/LEESER to approve the minutes. Motion carried.  
5 - LONG, LEESER, KAY, STUDZ and CORRIGAN  
Minutes of the January 12, 2023 Site Inspection  
Ayes:  
Board of Adjustment  
Sponsors:  
STUDZ/KAY to approve the minutes. Motion carried.  
3 - LONG, KAY and STUDZ  
2 - LEESER and CORRIGAN  
Ayes:  
Abstain:  
D. Public Hearing for Appeals  
Appeal 3723. Appeal by Dane County Parks for variance to allow alternate  
access and viewing corridor in the shoreland vegetative buffer zone provided  
by 11.04, Dane County Code of Ordinances, to permit redevelopment of Fish  
Camp County Park public access to the Yahara River at 3359 Fish Camp Rd in  
the NE ¼ of the SW ¼, Section 13, Town of Dunn.  
Board of Adjustment  
Sponsors:  
Chair Long opened the public hearing.  
Corrigan recused himself from the appeal and stated he would not be participating in the  
discussion or action.  
Assistant Zoning Administrator (AZA) Hilbert presented a Staff Report reporting facts of  
the case.  
IN FAVOR: Alex DeSmidt, Dane County Parks Planner, spoke in favor of the variance  
request.  
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR’S DESIGNEE'S COMMENTS: Hilbert stated that the  
shoreland ordinance as written does not easily address public property and sites  
designed to provide public access to resources and that State law does not allow the  
county to be more lax or strict than the State model ordinance, but does allow to address  
unique situations through variances.  
OPPOSED: [None. The appellant waived his rebuttal/closing statement.]  
Finding of Fact:  
Existing:  
•Previous site of a 1930’s WPA work program to house a year-round carp stocking and  
harvesting operation for the area.  
•99-acre County Park located on the northwest shore of Lake Kegonsa at the inlet of the  
Yahara River.  
•Offers a boat launch with a protected launching area, launch piers, restrooms, fish  
cleaning facility, accessible fishing pier, and a parking area.  
•Picnic area along the lakeshore provides an area for outings and shoreline fishing with  
fully accessible fishing piers.  
•Canoe launch is also available on the Yahara River.  
Proposed  
•Installation of an accessible kayak launch to replace one of the existing fishing piers on  
the Yahara River.  
•New walk-in water access ramp.  
•Replacement of existing floating fishing pier.  
•New lake management ramp to support aquatic plant management operations.  
•Multi-use trail improvements.  
•Expanded parking.  
Zoning Notes:  
•Property is located within the shoreland zoning district.  
History:  
•No zoning or violation history was found on the property.  
•The property is considered to be of historical & cultural importance to the Dane County  
landscape.  
COMMUNICATIONS:  
Town of Dunn: 09/21/2022; Acknowledgement; 01/23/23 Town Board recommending  
approval.  
Conclusions:  
1)Unnecessary Hardship: The regulations for the shoreland zoning district do not  
anticipate the wide berth required to provide public access to various users  
accommodated by a county parks system. Amending the ordinance is not a feasible  
alternative as standards are specifically designated by State law.  
2)Unique Limitations of the Property: The property has been developed over the last 100  
years and is located in a unique location at the confluance of the Yahara River and Lake  
Kegonsa. The resource is both what is being provided access to and being protected by  
the shoreland regulations.  
3)No Harm to Public Interests: Granting a variance allows for public access in the  
interest of the safety and welfare of the community. The request is supported by the  
Town of Dunn Town Board.  
STUDZ/LEESER to approve the variances as requested:  
Purpose: Allow multiple access and viewing corridors  
Maximum width to provide access: 5 ft  
Proposed maximum width: 8-12 ft.  
VARIANCE NEEDED: 7 ft  
Accept design as an alternative access and viewing corridor plan consistent with  
the purposes of shoreland zoning:  
Minimum setback for non-exempt structures: 35 feet  
Proposed minimum setback: 0 ft  
VARIANCE NEEDED: 35 ft  
Motion carried.  
4 - LONG, LEESER, KAY and STUDZ  
Ayes:  
1 - CORRIGAN  
Recused:  
E. Appeals from Previous Meetings  
F. Reports to Commitee  
Hilbert stated that CLUE would host a Board of Adjustment training in Dodgeville on  
March 14 from noon-3. Several Board members showed interest in attending.  
Hilbert stated that no meetings would be necessary in February.  
G. Other Business Authorized by Law  
H. Adjournment  
LEESER/CORRIGAN to adjourn. The Board adjourned by voice vote at 7:19 PM.