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Public commenter and staff press for stronger shoreland protections ahead of P&D review
Summary
A public commenter and county staff told Oneida County’s Conservation/UW‑EX Education Committee that the Planning & Development Committee did not give CUW Committee shoreland protection language adequate consideration; staff plan to present revised language at an upcoming P&D meeting and the Feb. 24 public hearing.
Eric Rempala of Oneida County Clean Waters Action told the Conservation/UW‑EX Education Committee that the county’s Planning & Development (P&D) Committee did not adequately consider language the committee had recommended to strengthen shoreland protections and prevent clear‑cutting in access and viewing corridors. "Clear‑cutting within the access/viewing corridors should not be permitted," Rempala said, adding that Oneida County Clean Waters Action and the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association had drafted revised, more flexible language and would email it to committee staff for review before the P&D meeting on Feb. 18 or the public hearing on Feb. 24.
Michele Sadauskas, who will represent staff at the hearings, said she did not get an opportunity to read the committee’s shoreland protection letter at the recent P&D meeting and intends to seek time to speak at the Feb. 18 P&D meeting and during the Feb. 24 public hearing. Sadauskas said the committee needs clarity about the definition of "landscaping" in the ordinance text and flagged that additional technical comments from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources arrived the morning of Feb. 9 and had not yet been reviewed.
Vice Chair Linnaea Newman said the CUW Committee has photographic evidence supporting its concerns and expressed disappointment that staff were not given time at P&D to present that material. Karl Jennrich confirmed receipt of DNR feedback and said staff would review the technical questions about how the general zoning ordinance interacts with shoreland zoning.
The committee did not take formal action on the shoreland ordinance at this meeting; staff and partners plan to submit revised language and pursue time on the P&D agenda ahead of the Feb. 24 public hearing. The P&D meeting and public hearing will determine whether proposed shoreland changes move forward for further county consideration.
