Appeals Court Rules In Favor Of Proposed Wood County Dairy Farm

A Wisconsin state appeals court has ruled in favor of proposed large scale dairy farm in Wood County.

The 4th District Appeals Court upheld a decision by Circuit Judge Thomas Eagon, who said the town of Saratoga’s building inspector had to issue permits for seven buildings requested by the Wysocki Family of Companies, owners of the proposed Golden Sands Dairy.

The Combined Animal Feeding Operation would house 5,300 animals on 7,000 acres that had been designated for rural preservation, according to the town’s comprehensive plan.

The court ruled that the land use goals in the plan were not enforceable because Sarasota had not yet put them into a comprehensive zoning ordinance when Golden Sands applied for the permits.

The court ruled that the property was instead governed by Wood County’s zoning for “unrestricted” districts, which “could be used for any purpose whatsoever, not in conflict with the law.”

Golden Sands has been opposed by a group of Saratoga residents, who have expressed concern about the size of the operation and its impact on the environment. There is no word on whether the town board plans to appeal the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.