What's Next?

Committees Decide to Not Make a Decision

October 18, 2006

With over 3 hours of public comment regarding Ordinance Amendment 10 to Chapter 11 of the Dane County Zoning Ordinance the joint committees of Zoning and Land Regulation and Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources chose not to take action on OA 10.

Per my records, the turnout of concerned Dane County residents was tremendous. Tremendous and one sided. 19 residents spoke against the Ordinance Amendment, 7 spoke in favor. There were 52 residents in attendance who registered opposition to the Ordinance Amendment and 9 who registered in favor. This places the attendance tally at 71 (82%) against Ordinance Amendment 10 and 16 (18%) in favor.

I believe our concerns were heard. I believe heard loud and clear.

In fact, much to the credit of some of the Dane County Supervisors who serve on these committees they are rethinking their positions regarding OA 10. Supervisor Patrick Miles, who represents residents with property on Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa (District 34) spoke about the need for more time to have all questions posed by many of those who spoke, answered. He suggested ways of addressing the issue of water quality and environmental protection in the shoreland areas with ideas such as creating incentives for those property owners in shore land regions for improved storm water management as well as creating opportunities to address the concerns of impervious surfaces during design and construction in these regions vs. restricting any construction. He also stated that he felt "this wasn't the right time for this amendment" and that we should work with the State of Wisconsin as they work toward the passage of revisions to NR115 (NR 115).

Supervisor Rich Pertzborn, chair of the Zoning and Land Regulation committee, who represents District 36 (District Map) commented about the need to protect land rights vs. concerns about the environment and how we strike that balance.

What amazed me most was the lack of leadership, understanding and direction from Ordinance Amendment lead sponsor and Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources committee chair,Kyle Richmond. He represents District 27 (District Map) which is part of the town and city of Madison. Supervisor Richmond drafted this Ordinance Amendment without garnering input from the staff of Dane County Planning and Zoning. A department in county government, which in my opinion, is one of the best in the entire state of Wisconsin. Why a county board supervisor, whom I believe has very little if any formal education in land use and planning, (resume )felt QUALIFIED to draft such an amendment is beyond me. The fact that he chose not to utilize staff on this tells me he doesn't make good decisions when it comes to altering county ordinance. The fact that he hooked other County Supervisors into his game is disappointing. The fact that those others now realize what happened is encouraging.

Bottom line, this Ordinance Amendment ALMOST PASSED into county law at the Dane County Board of Supervisor's Meeting on September 21, 2006. If it wasn't for the efforts of many great people, this would have been the case.

WE CAN'T LET THIS ALMOST HAPPEN AGAIN!

We need to be vigilant on all workings of the Dane County Board of Supervisors. We need to continue to watch their agendas (County Board Home Page) and be certain what is being walked through the committees is good for Dane County, it's citizen and especially property owners.

A huge thank you needs to go out to the many who rallied around this issue. The Wisconsin REALTORS Association, Vicki McKenna and Brian Schimming of WIBA-AM, the following Dane County Board Supervisors who didn't let the county get taken for this ride:

Supervisor Duane Gau
Supervisor Vern Wendt
Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz
Supervisor Dale Suslick
Supervisor Gerald Jensen

Also, the concerned members of the Yahara Lakes Association who, as stewards of our lakes and rivers truly have concern about the health of our waterways but understand that happens in many other ways than simply limited the rights of property owners on or near our lakes and waterways.

What's Next?

Zoning and Land Regulation Committee
Meeting Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:30 p.m. Room 201 City County Building

Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Meeting Tuesday, November 7, 2006 Time and Location: To Be Determined

What Can You Do?

1) Contact your Dane County Board Supervisor Supervisors List and let he or she know that you want this amendment stopped! You might be impressed how impactful a phone call, letter or e-mail from a constituent can go a long way in a Supervisor making good decisions.
2) Write a letter to the Editor of the regional papers Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times and your local weekly publications.
3) Speak with anyone you know about this whether or not they are shore land property owners. This isn't simply a shore land issue, it's really a property rights issue.