BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee spent much of Wednesday’s meeting discussing possible revisions to the county’s shoreland protection ordinance as it relates to boathouses.

The committee deliberations are in response to the 2015-17 biennial state budget, which changed the authority counties have in the development of a shoreland ordinance. Counties that currently have shoreland zoning ordinance standards that are more restrictive than established in the applicable state law and regulations can no longer enforce the stricter standards. Counties have until Oct. 1 to adopt an ordinance that is compliant with the updated state standards.

County planning and zoning assistant director Peter Wegner discussed with the committee members some possible wording revisions in the shoreland protection ordinance related to boathouses, which are exempt from shoreland setback standards.

Committee members discussed possible provisions for boathouses, such as the type of roofs allowed, being able to use boathouse roofs for decks, how large a boathouse could be constructed, etc.

The committee has scheduled a meeting for May 25 to further discuss the shoreland protection ordinance and finalize the wording as it relates to boathouses, for which the committee is planning a public hearing June 15 to then be able to forward that wording to the full county board for possible final approval at the board’s June 21 meeting.

“The only reason to push it for June is you’re still capturing a building season – a possibility,” said committee member Billy Fried of Minocqua. “But, I don’t want anyone, including (planning and zoning) staff, to feel it was rushed through.”

In other action, the committee approved a conditional use permit for Chad Bierbrauer to operate a pontoon boat cruise/rental business on Lake Minocqua in the summer months and also to offer snowmobile rentals with guided tours in the winter months.

Bierbrauer will be leasing space in an existing building along Hwy. 51. The permit limits this property to three legal boat berthing spaces with no customer parking allowed on the town road right-of-way.  Customers would be able to use the property’s parking lot.