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Senate Committee Approves Pier Regulation Compromise

Posted on: Thursday, 9 March 2006, 18:00 CST

By Lee Bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mar. 9--Regulations that would govern the size of Wisconsin piers were approved Wednesday a Senate committee and headed to the Senate floor for a vote.

Negotiators of the rules said they had substantial support for the way the Department of Natural Resources would treat docks on lakes and rivers.

But calling the measure "confusing" and "anti-property owner," Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) threw cold water on the rules package, saying that "it takes power from regular people and gives it to the DNR."

The DNR said 90% of owners of all existing piers would not have to do anything if the rules were approved. The typical pier that is 4 feet wide and can accommodate the depth necessary to moor a boat would be unaffected, the DNR said.

Gard's comments again underscore the controversy that has swelled around Wisconsin's efforts to regulate docks for more than two years.

At issue is concern that growing development along waterways has the potential to harm fish and wildlife habitat.

The rules approved 5-0 the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee grew from a compromise crafted groups including the DNR, the chairmen of the Legislature's environment committees, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the Wisconsin Association of Lakes and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

The rules aim to tackle large "party platforms" at the end of docks, which the DNR says turn water beneath them into "dead zones." The rules also make changes for multi-family units on waterfront property.

Key changes are:

-- The owners of docks with party platforms of 300 square feet or less would be grandfathered, if the width of the platform is 10 feet or less. For example, a platform that is 15 feet 10 feet would be too wide and would require the owner to seek a DNR permit and review.

-- The owners of condominiums or apartments would have the ability to double the number of slips that the owner of single-family dwelling could have on the same-sized waterfront.

-- Landowners who would need an individual permit from the DNR would not have to pay for the permit. The DNR earlier had sought a $300 payment.

"We think that less than 1,000 structures are going to be affected this," said Todd Ambs, administrator of the DNR's water division.

The Assembly would have to adopt the pier package before the rules could take effect.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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