Public hearings set on changes to statewide shoreland zoning standards MADISON – Proposed changes to minimum statewide shoreland zoning standards aimed at providing more flexibility for property owners and making the standards easier for counties to implement are the topic of public hearings in August. People also may file comments electronically or by U.S. mail through Sept. 5. Since Wisconsin revised the minimum statewide shoreland zoning standards in 2009, some counties expressed concerns that the revisions would be administratively difficult to implement and enforce, according to Russ Rasmussen, deputy administrator for the Department of Natural Resources Water Division. To respond to those concerns, DNR convened a stakeholder group and developed proposed changes that answered the concerns while attempting to meet the standards’ original intent of preserving and restoring natural shoreline plants and limiting hard surfaces near the water to help protect water quality, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and provide natural scenic beauty. “We think the stakeholder group has helped us achieve a balance between answering the concerns of some counties and providing more flexibility for property owners while continuing to protect clean water and habitat,” Rasmussen said. Specifically, the changes propose greater flexibility for properties along developed shorelines. Under the current rules, properties within 300 feet of any lake, river or stream face limits on the amount of roofs, pavement, and other hard or “impervious” surfaces. Under DNR’s proposed changes, base limits on impervious services would remain at 15 percent in most places statewide, but could be up to 40 percent for residences, and up to 60 percent for commercial, industrial or business land, within those urbanized areas where the shoreline is highly developed. Property owners can seek a permit for projects that would add impervious surfaces to their land, or seek a variance. The proposed changes would raise the levels at which such permits or variances are required in urbanized areas and allow more flexibility for properties where the impervious surfaces are draining away from the lake or to a storm-water system designed to treat the runoff. The proposed changes also allow for more expansion of homes built before the late 1960s, when the statewide minimum shoreland standards were originally set and established that structures needed to be set back 75 feet from the water’s edge. Under the proposed changes, property owners of existing structures closer to the water than the longtime state standards would be allowed to expand their structures beyond the 75 foot setback in any direction. The current rule limits people to expanding vertically in the same footprint. There are three ways for people to weigh in on the proposed changes – testify at public hearings, file comments electronically, or provide them by U.S. mail. Public hearings are set in five communities in August, with all hearings starting at 2 p.m. with a brief presentation and lasting until 6 p.m. • Aug. 7, Greenville – Town of Greenville, W6860 Parkview Dr., Greenville. • Aug. 8, Delafield - 500 Genesee Street, Delafield WI 53018Aug. 14, Tomah – Best Western Tomah Hotel, 1017 E McCoy Blvd. • Aug. 15, – Spooner – Spooner High School – 801 County Road A. • Aug. 22 – Tomahawk – Rodeway Inn & Suites, 1738 Comfort Dr. People may also send comments on proposed permanent natural resources rules over the internet at through the DNR website or through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules website (exit DNR). Written comments can be sent by U.S. mail to Liesa Lehmann, Bureau of Watershed Management P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 or by email to [email protected]. For more information on the shoreland zoning program search the DNR website for "shoreland." FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Russ Rasmussen – 608-267-7651
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:20:15 +0000
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