DNR says more revisions made to NR 115 draft

By Kurt KruegerNews-Review Editor

After a year’s time without a word, state officials claim they’ve made significant changes to the draft revision of NR 115 — the state’s shoreland zoning code.

Todd Ambs, water division administrator for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the last eight months have been spent addressing the concerns of county zoning administrators and other critics who said the draft rules were too complex.

“The proposed regulations are much more streamlined and straight forward than past versions that went to public hearings,” said Ambs.

But the public — not even county zoning administrators — have seen the final draft because the DNR still doesn’t have the rules, a summary of the changes or on-the-ground application scenarios completed.

“It was on the May agenda for the Natural Resources Board but we took it off because it wasn’t finalized in time,” said Ambs.

“There would have been ridiculously little notice to the board or the public.”He said the final draft and summaries of the changes should be available late this week or early next week, well before the rules go to the board at the June 24 meeting in New Richmond.

It has been a seven-year struggle as the department attempts to strengthen the 40-year-old minimum standards for protecting shorelands and water quality.