#3 Public hearing & action to rezone property near airport & Glen Erin Golf Course (File Ord. #2009-434)
Community Development Department Memorandum
May 26, 2009
TO: Janesville City Council
FROM: Duane Cherek, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Second reading, public hearing, and action on a proposed ordinance
rezoning a small portion of Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport Property
from Agriculture to M1, Light Industrial; and the area encompassing the
Glen Erin Golf Course located west of USH 51 from M1, Light Industrial,
and Agriculture to Conservancy (File Ordinance No. 2009-434).
Recommendation
The Plan Commission and Community Development Department recommend that
following a public hearing, the City Council support a motion to adopt Ordinance No.
2009-434 rezoning a portion of the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport property from
Agricultural to M1, Light Industrial; and the area encompassing the Glen Erin Golf
Course located west of USH 51 from M1, Light Industrial, and Agriculture to
Conservancy.
City Manager Recommendation
The City Manager defers to the Plan Commission.
Suggested Motion
Move to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-434.
Request
Scott Heinig, Rock County Planning Director, has requested the rezoning of a portion of
property located at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport. Rock County owns the
Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, which was annexed to the City of Janesville in
June 2007. Approximately 171 acres of airport property located south of existing
runways and other operational facilities is developed with the Glen Erin Golf Course.
The golf course is currently zoned M1, Light Industrial and A, Agriculture. Rock County
is requesting to rezone the golf course to Conservancy to distinguish this land area from
the aviation facilities adjoining to the north and recently included in Tax Increment
Finance (TIF) District 34. The TIF was created to retain existing and stimulate future
development of businesses at the Airport. A small portion of airport property located
west of the golf course, zoned Agriculture, is included in the TIF 34 boundary. This area
is proposed for M1 zoning consistent with the balance of land at the Airport that is
included in TIF 34.
Analysis
A. In May of 1993, the City of Janesville and Rock County entered into an agreement to
provide sewer and water utilities to the Rock County Airport. One of the conditions
of that agreement was that the County Board petition to annex the airport lands to
the City, and in 1994, the City Council adopted an ordinance to annex the airport
property with an effective date of June 30, 2007. The zoning designation of Light
Industrial and Agriculture that were applied to the Airport property upon annexation
reflect the nature of existing use at the Airport at that time (1994). The area
generally south of the Airport access road and north of Happy Hollow Road was
undeveloped and considered inappropriate for Airport-related development. As
such it was zoned Agriculture; however the County considered a golf course as a
potential future use of this area. The balance of the Airport property was zoned M1,
Light Industrial.
B. Considering that the southernmost portion of the Airport has been developed as a
golf course but remains zoned Agriculture, it would be appropriate to apply a zoning
designation that corresponds with the property’s current land use. The Conservancy
District identifies golf courses as a permitted use for those areas which are designed
for long term open space preservation. That portion of the Southern Wisconsin
Regional Airport containing approximately 171 acres currently occupied by Glen Erin
Golf Course is consistent with the intent of the Conservancy District, as requested by
Rock County. The effect of this rezoning will serve to clarify the distinction in land
use and zoning at the Airport between this outdoor recreational area and the
aviation/operational facilities. Additionally, a small portion of a runway extension
area located west of the golf course is currently zoned Agricultural. The County is
requesting that this portion of land be zoned M1, Light Industrial to be consistent
with the balance of land at the Airport as included within the TIF 34 Boundary. Map
2 identifies both areas proposed for rezoning at the Airport.
C. This rezoning is consistent with the future land use map and recently adopted
Comprehensive Plan which designates the entire Southern Wisconsin Regional
Airport property as appropriate for Community Facilities. Airport and golf course
facilities are both compatible activities in this land use designation.
PLAN COMMISSION ACTION – MAY
Al Hulick, Development Specialist, presented the written staff report.
Commissioner Voskuil questioned the property area along Happy Hollow that was left out of this
rezoning request. Cantrell stated that this property was under separate ownership and not part
of the golf course property.
The public hearing was opened and no one appeared to speak on this item. The public hearing
was closed.
There was a motion by Commissioner Perrotto with a second by Commissioner Voskuil to
forward the proposed rezoning to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.
The motion carried on a 7-0-0 vote.
FISCAL IMPACT
The effect of this rezoning will serve to clarify the distinction in land use and zoning
classification at the Airport between this outdoor recreational use and the
aviation/operational facilities.Considering that the southernmost portion of the Airport
has been developed as a golf course for several years, but remains zoned Agriculture, it
is appropriate to apply a zoning designation that corresponds with the property’s current
land use. This rezoning will have no fiscal impact on the City of Janesville.
cc: Brad Cantrell