Opinion ID: 2009711
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Town of Rhine's B-2 District and conditional use ordinance

Text: ¶ 31 The Town of Rhine's Municipal Code § 4.08(2)(a) governs the permitted uses of the property at issue and provides: (2) B-2 COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING OR PROCESSING. (a) Permitted Uses. There are no permitted uses in the B-2 District, except that those uses permitted in the Agricultural Land Districts A-1, A-2 and A-3 may be authorized in conjunction with any conditional uses by express reference in the issued conditional use permit and upon such terms as the Plan Commission may recommend and the Town Board shall determine. All uses are conditional and shall comply with the provisions of Section 4.09 of this ordinance. (b) Conditional Uses. The following conditional uses may be authorized in the B-2 District pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 of this ordinance: 1. Fabrication of consumer or industrial commodities. 2. Garbage, rubbish, offal, industrial waste and dead animal reduction or disposal. 3. Quarrying: Gravel, sand, rock, and soil removal and processing. (Rev. 11/04/03) 4. Mining and ore processing. 5. Salvage yards for wood, metals, papers and clothing. 6. Stockyards. ¶ 32 Section 4.09 of the Town of Rhine's Municipal Code governs conditional uses, and it outlines the process to obtain a conditional use permit. Determination of Plan Commission, § 4.09(4) provides: The Plan Commission shall make such written findings and determinations as it deems appropriate based upon the information submitted to it and presented at the public hearing, and shall make a written recommendation to the Town Board with regard to such conditional use application. . . . In making its determinations and recommendations, the Commission shall be guided by the purposes, goals and intent set forth in or necessarily implied from Section 4.01 [Interpretation and Purpose] and any other applicable sections of this ordinance. (Emphasis added.) ¶ 33 Section 4.01(1), Purpose, in relevant part outlines that [t]he purpose of this ordinance is to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the Town of Rhine by regulating and restricting the use of land. Section 4.01(2), Intent, states: It is the general intent of this ordinance to: (a) Stabilize and protect property values and the tax base. (b) Recognize the needs of agriculture, forestry, industry and business in future growth. (c) Further the appropriate use of land and conservation of natural resources. (d) Encourage the wise use, conservation, development and protection of the Town's water, soil, wetland, woodland and wildlife resources. (e) Preserve natural growth and cover and promote the natural beauty of the township. (f) Prevent overcrowding and avoid undue population concentration and urban sprawls. (g) Facilitate the adequate provision of public facilities and utilities. (h) Lessen congestion and promote the safety and efficiency of streets, highways and other transportation systems. (i) Provide adequate light, air, sanitation, drainage and open space. (j) Regulate the use of structures, lands and waters outside of shoreland areas. (k) Regulate lot coverage, population density and distribution and the location and size of structures. (L) Prohibit uses or structures incompatible with the natural characteristics, existing development or intended development within or adjacent to a zoning district. (m) Implement those municipal, county, watershed or regional plans or their components adopted by the township.