City of Oconomowoc - The Oconomowoc Plan Commission unanimously approved a shoreline setback ordiance change for the downtown area last night that would allow buildings and other uses to be closer to the shores of Lac La Belle and Fowler Lake.
Hours of testimony from concerned citizens both in favor and against the decreased setback change led to the commissioners decision to recommend the ordinance change to the Common Council, but with the understanding that environmental mitigation standards must first be made before the council could approve the ordinance.
The change to the 12-year-old ordinance decreases the current 75-foot shoreline high-water mark setback to 45 feet in the downtown area, otherwise known as tax incremental district (TID) #4. The area affected by this is the shoreline that extends from City Beach to St. Paul's Church.
The isthmus on North Main Street currently has a 45-foot setback and would remain the same with this change.
In ammending this ordinance, specific downtown buildings that sit within the existing 75-foot setback would be able to make improvements, or expand their homes or businesses if the setback changes to 45 feet, something they cannot do under the ordinance in place.
The city will hold a another public hearing on the matter next Tuesday, May 20, before its Common Council meeting. No action by the council that night is anticipated, however.