Staff proposes consolidating environmental rules into Article 200 overlay districts

Plan Commission members reviewed a proposal to reorganize the village's environmentally related zoning regulations under a single Article 200 overlay-district framework.

Speaker 2 said the intent is organizational: consolidating conservancy districts (wetlands/woodlands), bluff and ravine setbacks, FEMA- and WDNR-mandated flood protections, and shoreland protections into a single overlay makes it easier for staff, developers and residents to see constraints on a parcel. "So that's kind of how the rest of these things would function," Speaker 2 said, noting the move primarily re-queries existing text rather than changing standards that are state- or federally mandated.

Speaker 8 noted one local, non-state-mandated item — bluff and ravine setbacks adopted in 2020 — and said staff should consider adjusting overly large setbacks that were drafted for undeveloped bluffs. Commissioners asked for a consolidated GIS map so residents could view all applicable overlays in one place; staff confirmed a GIS update will show consolidated overlays and make triggers more visible when pulling up a parcel.

Staff said the consolidation is intended to clarify where environmental rules apply and to reduce confusion when multiple environmental features overlap a property. No substantive regulatory relaxations were adopted at the meeting; staff will bring consolidated draft ordinance language and GIS updates for further review.