New rule would limit building along water

By Tony Walter • [email protected] • September 23,
2009

A Wisconsin Assembly committee has asked the Department of Natural
Resources to consider modifying its proposed shoreline rezoning rule
changes that would limit construction on shore lots outside cities and
villages.

The Assembly Committee on the Environment has given the DNR until
Thursday to say if it will consider changes.

If it does, legislators will send suggestions to the department, said
Chairman Spencer Black, D-Madison. If the DNR declines to consider
changes, the issue will go to the Joint Committee on Administrative
Rules for further debate.

Gregg Breese, the DNR’s shoreline program manager, said Tuesday that
he doesn’t know how the department will respond, but added that the
decision would come from Secretary Matt Frank.

Frank was out of the state and unavailable for comment Tuesday. The
DNR’s proposed changes include a provision that would prohibit owners
of shoreline land from having more than 30 percent of their property
covered by structures or pavements, also called impervious surfaces.
The DNR said the change is aimed at protecting the environment;
current rules provide no limitations.

Zoning officials have said the proposed rule would impact property
owners who have purchased shoreland lots with plans to build a home or
cottage at a later date.

“There were a lot of concerns from the committee, but that was one of
them,” Black said.

State Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Conover, is the chairman of the joint
committee and testified last week against the 30 percent limit.