Planning committee forwards shoreline protection amendments after DNR clarifications
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Summary
The committee approved sending amendments to Marquette County Code chapter 63 (shoreline protection) — revised to address DNR requests on buffers, agricultural exemptions, and mitigation language — to the county board for final action.
The Marquette County Planning and Zoning Committee voted to forward proposed amendments to chapter 63 of the county code (shoreline protection) to the county board after staff revised ordinance language to address Department of Natural Resources (DNR) clarifications.
Jean, the county zoning administrator, told the committee staff had previously adopted DNR model language but, during final review, the DNR asked for several clarifications. Staff prepared a crosswalk document comparing the draft ordinance to DNR form language and made targeted edits so the submission would meet DNR preferences.
Key edits identified by staff include clearer wording on vegetative buffer zones and which land-disturbing activities are exempt within 35 feet of the ordinary high-water mark; separating standards that apply to a 35-foot wetland boundary; clarifying agricultural-practice definitions and exemptions; restoring impervious-surface standards only where highly developed shorelines exist (which Jean said Marquette County does not have); and changing mitigation language to reference nonconforming structures rather than violations.
Committee members asked whether ditching, tiling, or drainage now require county permits. Jean said those activities would generally fall under DNR permitting and that county zoning does not issue permits for ditching, tiling or drainage; highway/access issues are handled by the highway department.
Motion and next steps: After a clarification about an earlier procedural vote, committee member Judy made a clarifying point and the committee then approved a motion (Nick Burr moved; John Bennett seconded) to send the chapter 63 shoreline-protection amendments to the Marquette County Board for approval. Jean said the DNR confirmed receipt of the amended draft and provided a checklist of items staff must supply after county board approval.
The committee’s vote forwards the revised ordinance language for county-board consideration; the DNR will receive the documentation staff compiles if the board approves the amendments.
