The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

The Oneida County Planning and Zoning Committee will ask the Oneida County Board of Supervisors to go on record opposing the rewrite of NR115, the state's minimum shoreland development standard.

Following a heated discussion, in which the committee took comments from the public on the proposed revisions, the committee voted to ask staff to prepare a late resolution to be forwarded to the board for further consideration.

The committee authorized the resolution because it's concerned about the impact the new NR115 could have on Oneida County.

Zoning Administrator Karl Jennrich said the rewrite would impact so many portions of the Oneida County zoning ordinance that it could trigger a comprehensive rewrite.

"We would probably have to reevaluate all of chapter nine" (of the county zoning code) which includes such concepts as shoreland setbacks, mitigation, and wetlands, he said.

Jennrich also said the new language is so cumbersome and confusing, his staff isn't sure if it is correctly interpreting it. Jennrich added that if the county is forced to go through another rewrite every town in the county would again have the opportunity to opt out of county's general zoning guidelines.

All towns would have to continue to follow shoreland zoning rules.

Other speakers were concerned the rewrite is a way to circumvent planning on the county level.

"Counties should set zoning not some overarching government bureaucracy," said Tom Tiffany. "We trust these people because they're elected officials. If we don't agree with them we can vote them out."

DNR representative Tom Bashaw urged caution and asked the committee to look at the "big picture."

"The goal was to give greater clarity and flexibility so people can make use of their property. My overall sense is that was done," he said, adding that some of the concepts included in the rewrite originated in Oneida County.

In particular, Bashaw touted revisions that will allow for unlimited maintenance and repair and more liberal rules for reconstruction.

Bashaw urged everyone to attend the upcoming DNR public hearing on NR 115 to be held July 28 at the Holiday Inn Express Pelican/Shepard Rooms. A presentation outlining the changes will be held from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. followed by public comment from 6-9 p.m.

Written comments can also be submitted to the DNR through August 26.

For more information on NR115 visit the DNR website at www.dnr.state.wi.us and click on the shoreland management tab.

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.