As part of the WRA / CARW 2015-16 legislative victories, changes were made to the public notification requirements to help property owners better monitor proposed zoning changes affecting their property. Under current law, local governments are required to provide direct notice to property owners of any proposed change to zoning regulations that would change the allowable use or density of a property. However, to receive this notice, property owners must first notify the community that they want to receive notice and agree to pay for any costs associated with sending that notice.
To better inform property owners about their right to receive direct notice of proposed zoning regulations, the WRA lobbied state lawmakers to modify the law to require local governments to publish information annually in a class 1 notice, community website, community newsletter, or general mailing to all property owners about a property owner’s ability to receive direct upon request to a local community. (See 2015 Wis. Act 391) This new law will help ensure property owners are able to raise concerns about proposed zoning changes to their property before it is too late.
For a detailed discussion on the new law and the related responsibilities of property owners and local governments, please see link below to the article prepared by the law firm of Davis & Kuelthau, one of CARW’s corporate sponsors.