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Town chairman urges local control of shoreland zoning, warns against politicized county mapping
Summary
Jim Urban, town chairman of Oshkosh, told the Winnebago County planning body that one-size-fits-all shoreland rules are inappropriate for all communities, criticized use of county GIS mapping as potentially political and urged towns to tailor regulations to local conditions.
Jim Urban, town chairman of the Town of Oshkosh, used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the Winnebago County planning body to preserve local control over shoreland zoning and to be cautious about how county mapping affects land-use decisions.
"One size doesn't fit all," Urban said, urging committee members to allow towns to tailor shoreland rules "to what's more relevant on the land." He praised prior local rewrites, highlighted differences between cities and unincorporated areas and said the county remains responsible for certain regulatory elements such as site and road setbacks.
Urban also raised concerns about the county’s GIS system, telling the committee that "there was millions of dollars spent for the hardware and software for that GIS department" and warning that mapping "shouldn't be a political tool." He urged clarity about where shoreland regulation applies and encouraged the group to work collaboratively with towns as the county updates its comprehensive plan.
Why it matters: Urban’s comments address the tension between statewide or countywide standards and town-level control over shoreline properties — a policy question that affects property owners, local governments and how shoreland protections are implemented.
The committee did not record a formal response to Urban’s remarks in the transcript; Chair thanked him and the meeting proceeded to other business. Urban's public comment concluded without an immediate policy action at this meeting.
