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} <br /> FROM : LITTMAN PHONE NO. : 6087673826 Aug. 20 1998 11:34AM P1 <br /> • <br /> Date: August 20, 1998 <br /> To: Helen Johnson, Chairwoman, <br /> Zoning and Natural Resources Committee <br /> (608) 73-7521 <br /> Prom. tx <br /> Pa icia Littman on alf of and Philip Littman, property owners <br /> 4752 Old Indian Trail, town of Vermont <br /> (608) 767-3825 phone; FAX (608) 767-3826 <br /> RE; Public Hearing 08125198, Item #31 <br /> Marlin Barsness Zoning Petition #7323 <br /> 4924 CTH F, Section 33, town of Black Earth <br /> About 1,300 wooded, hilltop feet of our 40-acre parcel are contiguous with Marlin <br /> Barsness' property. We have no objections to his intention-- and his right -- to rezone his land. <br /> We do, however, have concerns about the town's land-use policy guidelines that permitted his <br /> specific proposal. <br /> Mr. Barsness wishes to change 17.50 acres from A-1 Exclusive Agricultural zoning to <br /> RH-I and RH-2 Rural Homes status, His stated purpose is to sell land which is not suitable for <br /> fanning. <br /> I spoke extensively with Mr. Barsness and Vern Wendt, chairman of the town of Black <br /> Earth as well as our County Board representative. We understand from these friendly, positive <br /> conversations that the Barsness property represents two contiguous parcels, one about 6 acres <br /> and the other roughly 12 acres, both acquired prior to 1981 when Black Earth adopted its land <br /> use plan (revised in 1996). Those are the facts as we understand them; the rest is interpretation. <br /> Mr. Barsness believes each of these two grandparented "substandard" parcels can be <br /> subdivided. His proposed certified survey map, therefore, shows four proposed parcels: three <br /> RH-2 sites of 4. 4 and 6.5 acres each plus one three-acre RH-1 site, <br /> Mr. Wendt explained to me that, at their meetings earlier this month, the town land-use <br /> planning commission and the board of supervisors "interpreted" the land-use policy as permitting <br /> subdivision of legally existing substandard size parcels. Mr. Wendt added that I might have a <br /> different reading. <br /> We believe subdivision of substandard parcels should not be a matter of interpretation. <br /> The people and officers of Black Earth should first fully and publicly debate then clarify the <br /> guidelines in writing, to be applied equally and fairly in all such situations, without the dangers <br /> inherent in discretionary powers. We apologize to Mr. Barsness for any delays to his plan. <br /> CC: Vern Wendt; Marlin Barsness: Jim and Cathy Schultz <br />