"Door County Real Estate" by: Kevin Nordahl, REALTOR®
DNR Shorland Regulation Changes Still Pending YOUR Opinion
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, DNR is still conducing public listening sessions throughout the state on the topic of Natural Resource Bill 115 (NR115).
NR115 has been in effect in Wisconsin since 1968 when the state DNR enacted shorefront zoning standards. Prior to that “anything goes” was the order of the day. Many shorefront structures predating the 1968 legislation still stand and have been grandfathered by the legislation. Proposed revisions are not as liberal for shorefront property owners.
The controversy is not in establishing shorefront standards but in amending the current legislation to: some environmentalists would say “protect the environment,” while shorefront property owners would say, “further govern and restrict my affairs.” Who wins this debate depends on what happens in Madison during this autumn’s legislative sessions.
The DNR is currently seeking public input on the proposed amendments to the shorefront legislation by conducing several statewide listening sessions. Door County had one on July 14 th at the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor . What many in the room that night chose to do is to return to the comfort of their home and write directly to the DNR and the State of Wisconsin about this matter by using a state approved form available on the DNR’s website.
Written statements of opinion and suggestion submitted to the State Department of Natural Resources counts equally as standing before the DNR’s pubic advisory committee at these public hearings, only if submissions are received at the department by August 26, 2005 !
A few interesting points from the July 14 th meeting at the Landmark Resort include:
The DNR claims that the NR115 amendment is “ Wisconsin ’s proposal” because it was drafted by a “diverse” 25+ member advisory committee inclusive of all of the state’s shareholders. According to a Wisconsin REALTOR Association attorney present at the event, only five of the members of the advisory committee were designated as shorefront property owners. Of those five, all had direct leadership roles in environmental organizations in their respective locales.
According to DNR shorefront research used by the advisory committee, algae plumes at the shorefront are attributed to lawns near the shore and phosphates entering the water through storm drains. Their solution is to reduce lawns and prohibit clearing at the shore. Somehow fertilizer control and suspension of all fertilizing activities affecting water quality is not mentioned in the proposal. Also, research on algae plumes submitted to the advisory committee does not date back past widespread use of phosphate fertilizers.
According to the proposal, enforcement of new restrictions would be the work of local, county planning departments and county environmental service departments. County planning department officials from two counties spoke at the July 14 th meeting. Both stated insufficient funding and personnel available for enforcement with no additional funding coming from the state or local municipalities.
The changes proposed by NR115 will have a dramatic effect on property ownership of shorefront parcels. Once passed into law the changes will be permanent. Please share the information available online with your communities and write to the DNR by August 26, 2005 .
Benjamin Franklin once penned, “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
If you or anyone you know is interested in receiving a list of talking points and recommendations prepared by the Wisconsin REALTORS Association in favor of protecting individual property owners rights as well as adherence to many of the natural preservation elements of the amendment please email your request to knordahl@dcbr.org.
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