Town opens door for inns, wedding barns

    The Saukville Town Board on Tuesday adopted two ordinances that pave the way for a retreat on Highway 33 to operate as a bed-and-breakfast inn and a wedding barn.

    A new ordinance allowing a bed-and -breakfast inn makes it a permitted use within a B-1 business district and closely follows the state administrative definition for such a place.

    Such a property can have no more than eight rooms and must be owner-occupied, have no more than 20 people staying at the site at any one time and serve only breakfast.

    Bed-and-breakfast inns are already allowed in agricultural districts as a conditional use and are limited to two rooms and other restrictions. That use remains on the books.

    Another new ordinance for “rural event venues” allows weddings, receptions and other events such as corporate  meetings as a conditional use in areas zoned for agricultural uses. It replaces a more restrictive ordinance.

    The ordinance limits the number of weddings and receptions to one every seven days and no more than 15 per year, and one corporate event per day with no more than 50 people in attendance.

    Alcohol sales are not permitted, though alcohol can be served. An approved parking plan is required before each event, and amplified music must be limited to the barn and is not allowed after 11 p.m.

    A variance is required to increase the number of attendees at a corporate event.

    The new ordinances stem from a dispute  between the town and Dale Stenbroten, the owner of the 17-acre Abloom Farm Resort on Highway 33. Last fall, Stenbroten asked for a permit to expand his bed-and-breakfast operation, which he was running without licenses or permits. His property is currently zoned for agricultural uses.

    Stenbroten will have to apply to rezone his property to business to operate a bed-and-breakfast inn.

    When he does, a public hearing will be held, likely next month, officials said. Neighbors are required to be notified of the hearing.

    Stenbroten also wants to use the barn on his property for weddings and business meetings. 

    There currently is one wedding barn on Highway Y operating under the original, more restrictive, ordinance.  Another wedding barn is proposed on the same road.

    The owners of those properties also will have to apply under the new ordinance to operate their barns.