"Door County Real Estate" by: Kevin Nordahl, REALTOR®
WANTED: Public Opinion on DNR Shoreland Regulation Changes!
Statewide public listening sessions begin on July 12th in Eau Claire , Wisconsin for a proposed Department of Natural Resources (DNR) bill (NR 115). If adopted into law, the proposed legislation will affect every waterfront and wetland parcel in the state.
For the first time since this bill’s inception in 2003, Door County residents will have the opportunity to learn about and express their opinions on July 14th at the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor . This meeting will include a presentation by the proposal’s sponsors and state shoreland management committee from 4:30-5:45 p.m. Following the presentation, public comment will be sought from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Stakeholders attending these meetings who will be affected the most by the proposed legislation include shorefront property owners, environmental organizations, developers, county and municipal zoning officials and parties interested in long range, land use planning. ALL are welcome. ALL should attend!
DNR proposal NR 115 introduces a major restructuring of current state shorefront and wetland regulations that involve nonconforming structures; regulation on the improvement of existing structures; minimum lot dimensions; shoreland setbacks; impervious surface standards and vegetation removal. Currently, enforcement of regulations is the responsibility of local municipal zoning supervisors. That is not expected to change with the new regulations, thereby creating additional workload on a backlogged, under funded section of local government.
Adding to the controversy, according to some of the proposed regulations, some existing shorefront parcels will be rendered completely unusable, or significantly encumbered, for current property owners to build upon. For example, according to one of the proposed changes involving nonconforming structures, no new additions would be allowable under the new regulations even if a home already exists beyond the 75 ft. setback currently imposed. This would mean that current owners of shorefront homes would be unable to add-on to their house, even in a direction away from shore under the proposed changes.
I urge all residents and stakeholders to read the proposed legislation and attend the public hearing at the Landmark on July 14th. Participation in this public process is one of the most patriotic rights we enjoy as Americans and is essential when changes as profound as those proposed by NR 115 are open for discussion.
Kevin Nordahl is a life-long resident of Door County, a REALTORŪ and a member of the Door County MLS. He is a Past President of the Door County Board of REALTORS® and a Senior Sales Consultant at Coldwell Banker Door County Horizons in Fish Creek. He may be reached online at knordahl@doorcountyrealestate.com or by phone at (920) 493-4004.
Kevin Nordahl is a life-long resident of Door County, a REALTORŪ and a member of the Door County MLS. He is a Past President of the Door County Board of REALTORS® and a Senior Sales Consultant at Coldwell Banker Door County Horizons in Fish Creek. He may be reached online at