By Anna Erickson
aerickson@parkrapidsenterprise.com
A public hearing for Shoreland Ordinance Amendment 17 was held Tuesday at the Hubbard County Board meeting.
Environmental Services Officer Eric Buitenwerf explained that the bulk of the amendments were housekeeping items such as language updates.
However, two main areas being proposed are removing a section on guest cottages and a section on controlled access on recreational lots, which the DNR is objecting to.
Buitenwerf received a letter Tuesday from Darrin Hoverson, with the Department of Natural Resources, outlining the department’s objections to the changes.
“It looks like we have some work to do,” Buitenwerf said.
The state gives ultimate approval to the Shoreland Ordinance so the DNR will need to be on board with the county’s plan, he said.
The DNR’s primary issue has to do with potential additional use if the guest cottage provisions are removed. The concern is that people could rent out their guest house and there would be increased recreational use on the lakes.
The Planning Commission spent a significant amount of time reviewing the ordinance before proposing the amendments to the board.
The section on guest cottages was proposed to be removed.
The original ordinance said, “one guest cottage will be allowed on lots meeting or exceeding the duplex lot area and width dimension requirements prescribed in Section 501 of this ordinance, provided standards are met.”
Some of the standards included cottage location, size and sanitary facilities.
The other section regarding controlled access or recreational lots was also proposed to be removed.
“A riparian lot, which is intended to be used as a private access to public waters for non-riparian or riparian lots and/or dwelling units in any existing or proposed subdivision, outlot development or planned unit development shall require a conditional use permit and comply with provisions,” the current ordinance reads.
TJ Simon, with Wolff and Simon Realty, said that removing those restrictions will make it much easier to explain to homebuyers and sellers. He is willing to work with whatever the DNR and county decide, though.
“As long as we know how to explain it,” he said.
Hoverson and Buitenwerf are willing to work together on wording the ordinance to appease both the county and the DNR. Buitenwerf explained he is proposing a tradeoff to the DNR. The county would be more restrictive in some areas and then be able to remove other areas.
If the wording of the ordinance changes, the county will need to hold another public hearing.
“Ultimately, the goal is to make sure the lake isn’t harmed,” Board chairwoman Kathy Grell said.
The county board tabled the ordinance for two weeks to allow Hoverson and Buitenwerf to work on the language of the ordinance.
