Public comments on changes in the Vilas County shoreland zoning ordinance as a result of Act 55 which reduced minimum lake frontage, expanded viewing corridors, and allowed both expansion and upgrading non-conforming structures had both supporters and opponents Monday before the county zoning committee.
Mary Platner of St. Germain said Act 55 was a step backward in protecting the lakes in Vilas County. She wants a return of local control to the county and to show the rest of the state how to be a leader in protecting lakes.
But developer Glen Schiffmann had a different view . . .he supported the uniformity that Act 55 created across all government jurisdictions saying less regulation is good for growth and good for the economy. It was pointed out the county lake classification system, adopted in 1999, probably needed to be revisited given the lakeshore development over the last 17 years.
The Vilas County zoning committee will prepare a final draft to be presented to the January county board for adoption.
