From Wisconsin Lakes – Wisconsin Lakes is the only statewide organization working exclusively to protect and enhance the quality of Wisconsin’s 15,000 inland lakes.
Counties would lose right to enact shoreland zoning ordinances stronger than the state minimums; other changes.
BUDGET COULD WEAKEN SHORELAND ZONING RULES. In a surprise move with no opportunity for public comment, the Joint Finance Committee added to the state budget bill a proposal to, among other things, prohibit county governments from enacting shoreland zoning ordinances with standards stronger than the state’s minimum standards, and prohibit the enforcement of existing ordinances that go beyond the state minimums.
WI Lakes is adamantly opposed to these restrictions of a county’s ability to determine its own structure for managing its lakes, within statewide minimums. Numerous counties statewide have enacted ordinances stronger than the state minimum standards, or use a system of “lake classification” that allows for some lakes to be provided more protection than others. A one-size all approach simply doesn’t make sense when one considers the variety of lakes across the state.
You can help by telling your legislator, and the members of the Joint Finance Committee to remove this proposal from the state budget.