Village approves zoning change

A week after Clearwater’s planning and zoning commission recommended changing three tracts of land, owned by Deborah and Dwaine Trease, from residential to mixed-used development, Clearwater Village Board of Trustees approved the change during its Aug. 8 meeting.

Chairman Steve Hankla reviewed five conditions recommended by the commission, including hiring a surveyor to determine lot pins, with the cost split between the Treases and bordering property-line owners.

The other four conditions include a six-foot privace fence installed prior to construction of a storage unit; a drainage and sewer survey, downward lighting and no outside storage.

Clearwater resident Shirley Clinton expressed concerns about conditions, including the height of the privacy fence and type of lighting installed.

Nick Hoffman thanked the board for listening to concerns of the neighbors.

“Good fences make good neighbors, so we’ll work together on figuring that (survey) out,” he said.

According to Trease, he found the two survey markers in question.

“I don’t feel I should have to put any expense out to find something a surveyor is going to walk up and say, ‘This one’s here and this one’s there,’” Trease said.

Clinton said, in her opinion, the line is not straight.

Trease presented photos of the markers in question.

“It looks deceiving from an aerial view,” Trease said.

Hoffman said he is willing to work with the Treases to verify the line, without involving a surveyor. Clinton agreed.

Joe Thiele, who owns land adjacent to the property, said he is “ok with Ramussen (surveyor) coming to refresh the marks.”

“If we want to put a fence in there, do we know that’s where it belongs?” Thiele asked.

Hankla said for the purpose of the hearing, the photos of markers between property owned by the Treases, adjacent to property owned by Clinton and the Hoffmans “is sufficient.”

“Whatever you come up with between you and him is probably two different things. That’s not part of this,” Hankla told Thiele.

Thiele asked if potential for a permanent road along the west property line, was included in the zoning discussions.

Hankla said that would need to be addressed again.

Trustee Kelly Kerkman said pulling out of the area, on the curve, is a concern.

Following a motion by Kevin Filsinger, trustees approved Ordinance 2022-13, which changed zoning regulations.

A conditional use permit and building permit were unanimously approved by the trustees, as was a motion to approve a building permit for the fence. Hankla reminded the Treases the fence must be installed prior to construction on the storage unit.