Otter Tail County Commissioners are planning to make changes to the Shoreland Management Ordinance.
Possible changes discussed at recent meetings include guidelines for shoreline alterations, criteria for conditional use permits, grade/fill permits, retaining walls and other related issues.
A public hearing on the matter will be held in late April, followed by a public comment period in May.
The ordinance is being revised as part of an ongoing effort to keep policies up to date. The document has been in place since 1971, and there have been 11 revisions over the years.
The purpose of the ordinance is to regulate the use and development of shorelands in Otter Tail County, to prevent and eliminate pollution of public waters and to maintain historic values of significant historic sites.
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“Under the proposed guidelines, we in the County Land and Resource Department may require a professional drawing as part of an application,” said County Land and Resource Director Bill Kalar, “when the decision maker needs clarification for such issues as lot lines, impervious surface, ordinary high water level, drainage or topography.”
A final ordinance, with changes, requires approval by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
