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Dunn and Pepin counties are working with a conservation organization to acquire a 6.5-mile section of the Chippewa River State Trail currently owned by Xcel Energy.

 

“This is an exceptional stretch of this popular trail, and we have a unique opportunity to acquire it for a reasonable price,” said Chase Cummings, Dunn County Conservationist.

 

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors in June approved a memorandum of understanding, allowing the county to work with Pepin County and Landmark Conservancy to secure a grant that would enable the purchase of the 6.5 miles of the Chippewa River State Trail owned by Xcel Energy in both counties. Pepin County also has approved the MOU.

 

According to Sarah Schwartz, Siting and Land Rights Manager for Xcel Energy, the land, about 100 total acres, is part of a former rail corridor that runs from Trevino, through the city of Durand, and along the former Tyrone property in Dunn County.

 

The property “has been under lease by Pepin County since 1999 for the recreational trail,” Schwartz said, and the utility has determined “that these lands are not needed for Company operations,” so the Board of Directors approved the sale.

 

“We have a strong history in protecting lands and providing recreational opportunities for the public,” Schwartz added.

 

“The trail is important for Pepin County because it brings bike riders and hikers to our county,” said Maria Nelson, Pepin County Zoning Administrator. The portion of the trail in Pepin County is paved and “provides high quality recreation for local residents,” she added.

 

According to Xcel Energy, there is about 62 acres for sale in Pepin County and about 38 in Dunn County. Nelson said the county long wanted the land but couldn’t afford it. That’s where the non-profit Menomonie-based group Landmark Conservancy comes in.

 

Rick Remington, the group’s Executive Director, said it has submitted an application to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, administered by the state Department of Natural Resources, to assist in obtaining the property.

 

“Should we be successful in acquiring the bike trail from the seller,” he said, “we plan to convey each part of the trail corridor to Dunn and Pepin Counties respectively.”

 

“Pepin County has been interested in acquiring the trail within the county limits but has never had the funding to be able to do so,” Schwartz said. “Having Landmark step in is a win-win for all.”

 

According to the resolution the Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved, the Knowles-Nelson grant would pay for about 50 percent of the appraised value of the land, which is thought to be worth about $4,000 an acre. In addition, Xcel Energy would be willing to sell the property for half of the appraised value, the resolution said.

 

Cummings said Xcel Energy has been working cooperatively with the two counties “to keep this trail publicly accessible’’ by being "willing to entertain a reduced purchase price based on an expected appraisal. So far, there has been consistent support for this effort.”

Schwartz said that in the past, Xcel Energy “has divested itself of thousands of acres in Dunn and Buffalo counties to groups like Landmark Conservancy and the Wisconsin DNR, ensuring these lands will be protected in perpetuity.”

 

“Going forward, we’ll continue to conduct the legal, title and financial due diligence in cooperation with DNR grant administrators, Pepin and Dunn Counties, and Xcel Energy,” Remington added.

 

If the effort succeeds to obtain the trail, Cummings said, the two counties would have to work out an agreement to maintain it. Pepin has been maintaining the trail, and it makes sense for Dunn County to contract with Pepin County for future maintenance, he added.

Cummings concluded: “It is important to recognize the value partnerships bring to projects like this. Without these positive partnerships, projects like this would be much more difficult or potentially impossible.”

Property owners in Dunn County now can add a second dwelling unit on their property, an action aimed at creating more housing in the county.

 

“We have heard loud and clear that our citizens want more and varied housing options,” said Kristin Korpela, Dunn County Manager. “The County Board of Supervisors has taken decisive action on an innovative plan to allow more types of alternative housing units in the county.”

 

The board at the end of July amended its Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to allow so-called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on the same property as single-family homes.

 

“These ADUs can take a number of forms,” said Anne Wodarczyk, county Zoning Administrator, who gave a presentation to the County Board before its July 31 vote. “These can include converted garages, basement apartments, tiny home, cottages, or other dwellings.”

County officials said a 2023 housing study showed respondents favored ADUs, along with a strong desire for more housing overall. In particular, the housing study showed the need for transitional housing and ways to support “aging in place.”

 

Wodarczyk said allowing ADUs in Dunn County gives homeowners the flexibility they need “to create additional smaller, independent living spaces to support various family structures and needs.”

 

ADUs allow homeowners to use land they already have and that already is designated for housing, which “prevents sprawl of housing developments into agricultural areas,” she said.

 

The County Board adopted conditions that ADUs will have to meet:

- No more than one ADU per lot or parcel.

- ADUs must be smaller than the main home, can’t exceed 1,200 square feet and must be within 300 feet of the main home.

- Wastewater must be handled through a public sanitation system or a private on-site wastewater system.

- The property owner must sign a deed restriction that the property can’t be converted to a condominium, and ADUs can’t be sold separately.

- ADUs must comply with the uniform dwelling code and meet setback requirements.

- ADUs can take many forms, officials said, including detached units placed in a backyard, those that share a wall with the main house or those that are a converted garage or basement.

 

Korpela said the county tried to strike a balance between increasing the variety of housing available to residents while maintaining the character of single-family homes.

 

“The board and staff have worked on this change for a long time,” she said. “We take the need to increase our housing options very seriously.”