Zoning board approves variance to treat parcel as lot of record in Town of Alma despite road‑frontage concerns

On July 10 the Buffalo County Zoning Board of Adjustment approved Variance 2026-1, allowing applicants to treat a parcel as a lot of record and permit residential construction despite the parcel lacking the county’s required road frontage. The motion passed unanimously and was recorded as subject to zoning staff conditions.

The application is listed in the minutes as filed by Eric Parks and co‑applicants Jeff Pank and a Pank co‑applicant whose given name appears inconsistently in the record (listed as "Dawn Pank" in one place and "Don Pank" in another). Correspondence in opposition was received from Marty Wenger and Anthony Wisneski and was read or noted in the record.

Board deliberations focused on whether a legal access easement provides adequate ingress and egress, whether the parcel is effectively landlocked, re‑monumentation (property corner) questions, and how the county’s hardship standard applies. The minutes do not include the board’s detailed reasoning beyond noting those subjects were discussed; the board approved the variance with the conditions recommended by zoning staff.

The motion to approve Variance 2026-1 was made by Ron Kazmierczak and seconded by Chairperson Dale Klopp; the minutes record the vote as "all in favor." The approval is conditioned on zoning staff requirements; the minutes do not specify any appeal or implementation deadlines. Zoning staff will be responsible for documenting conditions and advising applicants on permitting steps.