Introduced to both the Assembly and the Senate and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage in the Assembly and the Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government in the Senate. Public hearing held on 08/10/2017 in Senate, and referred to Committee on Rules in the Assembly on 08/28/2017.
This bill provides that neither the Department of Natural Resources nor a county may enforce a guideline or standard for local zoning ordinances applicable to the Lower St. Croix riverway, a general zoning standard, or a stipulation made between a county and a property owner to prohibit the operation of an event facility and lodging establishment in existing buildings on a property located in theriverway that was historically used as a recreational campground.
Under current law, DNR is required to promulgate rules establishing guidelines and standards for local zoning ordinances that apply to the banks, bluffs, and bluff tops of the Lower St. Croix River, and counties and municipalities located in the riverway are required to adopt zoning ordinances complying with the guidelines and standards. Current law also prohibits a county or municipality from modifying or providing a variance from the ordinances without DNR consent. The bill eliminates this prohibition.