Panel gives blessing to curb DNR authority in Lower St. Croix riverway

Listen to this article

A dispute between a wedding-event company and zoning officials in St. Croix County has resulted in legislation that would greatly curtail the restrictions that can be placed on development along the Lower St. Croix riverway.

The legislation – formally named Assembly Bill 399 – received a favorable recommendation on Wednesday from the state Assembly’s Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.

The riverway is now designated for special environmental protection and comes under state rules restricting just how land along it can be used. What’s more, counties and local governments now cannot grant zoning variances for sites along the Lower St. Croix River without first getting approval from the DNR.

Assembly Bill 399 would change those rules as they pertain to venues for weddings and other events. If eventually approved by the full Legislature and signed by the governor, the bill would both prevent the DNR from enforcing the rules in a way that might stop an event venue from being built or operated in the area and eliminate the requirement that local officials first obtain the DNR’s approval for zoning variances for those sort of venues.

The bill, put forward by Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Rice Lake, and state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, stems from a zoning dispute between St. Croix County and a Minnesota company that had bought an old campground overlooking the St. Croix River in 2011.

The company, Family First Farms LLC, renovated various buildings at the 284-acre site, known as Lodge on Croix, and began hosting weddings there in preparation for operating a full-time wedding-event venue.

The business was pulled up short, though, in 2015, when Family First was charged with zoning violations. The company eventually reached a stipulation with the county agreeing to cease operations as a wedding-reception venue and take down a patio and observation deck.

AB 399 would give the business a chance to get back up and running. The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage gave the legislation a push on Wednesday down the path toward adoption, voting for it 8-3 along party lines.

Before the vote, State. Rep. Mark Spreitzer, a Democrat from Beloit and member of the committee, said he is opposed to the bill because it would favor a single business over the will of the residents of a particular community.

“I think this is not a good bill,” said Spreitzer. “It will not be good for natural resources, and we should not be singling out one business to change the law.”

AB 399 was among the bills the committee on natural resources and sporting heritage had listened to testimony on at a public hearing held in July. Proponents praised it for opening the Lower St. Croix River area to economic development and giving local governments more control over zoning matters. Opponents, on the other hand, warned that opening the riverway to event venues could detract from the river’s scenic beauty.

AB 399 is just one of several proposals that are likely to go before the state Legislature this year or next as part of a general push to ease zoning regulations and boost property owners’ rights. Follow @erikastrebel