Land Use Management / Zoning

The Goal: “Protect designated Sensitive Areas of the Lake Miltona lake-shed through the development and use of better tools for land use and districting."

Committee Members

Skipp Timmins, chair – miltonaskipp@yahoo.com

Gary Fuchs - fuchslaw@mindspring.com

Land Use Objectives

1. Develop Land Use Districts based on scientific data to manage areas according to their development capacity.

o Discussions included boundaries and preservation of sensitive areas, understanding zoning, reviewing proposed subdivisions, and conservation with less density. Most lakes have numerous properties that are “grand fathered”, or developed prior to the establishment of these restrictions.( see attached setback provisions.) In general, these pre-existing conditions are allowed to remain unless they are defined as a threat to human health or environment , or are destroyed either naturally or accidentally or in association with significant renovation.

o The Douglas County web-site provides a link to the Planning and Zoning ordinances for the county, www.co.douglas.mn.us. On any shore land the permissible density and setbacks for virtually all new use are determined by the lake or river classification standards established by the DNR and state government. This web-site also spells out all zoning ordinances along with variance applications, also included is monthly building and regulatory decisions that may be pending. This site should be checked every month.

2. Manage the surface waters of Lake Miltona for the preservation of existing emergent and submerged plants and the stabilization of sediments.

o Discourse of this objective centered on education, aquatic vegetation and water clarity, and regulations. Water clarity tests have already been checked on a yearly basis and reported to the DNR. The public has a responsibility to help protect our lake. Douglas County restricts certain types of landscaping and building within the sensitive area known as the Shore Impact Zone or the Upland Buffer Zone. Here again you should access the web-site for restrictions. Clearing of vegetation must be minimized in the Shore Impact Zone in order to maintain a buffer for storm water runoff from the lawn and other potential sources of pollution. The buffer also provides natural wildlife habitat from shoreline erosion. The Shore Impact Zone is the area from the ordinary high water mark upland to half the distance of the building setback for the zoning district. (again see setback provisions)

o Existing statewide minimum shore land standards affect nearly all Minnesota lakes and rivers. These standards address issues of shore land development and use like sewage treatment, storm water management, minimum lot size and water frontage, building and septic system setbacks, building heights, subdivisions and alterations of land and vegetation close to shore. By statute and rule, local governments with priority shore lands are required to adopt and manage the state wide minimum shore land standards through their local land use control and zoning ordinances. Douglas County has, in some cases, adopted stricter standards to deal with their emerging land and development issues.
Any specific questions or to report irregularities contact Douglas County Land Management and Development.

o For additional information check ; http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt for shore land rules.

Status and Accomplishments

July ’09 - Although most everything is controlled by the county, including exceptions by variance, it was suggested that some of these rules and regulations might be condensed.

July 2008 – A Visioning Session was held in Miltona. It was attended by concerned citizens and local government. A consensus of priority concerns were reached at this meeting.

Fall 2007 – Surveys were mailed in the Fall Newsletter to approximately 700 full or part time residents within the lake shed of Lake Miltona.

August 2007 – Surveys were handed out at fund raiser.