[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of
the Village of Waterford as Chapter 20 of the 1998 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The definitions contained in Wis. Stat. § 30.01,
as the same may be amended from time to time, shall apply to all terms
contained in this chapter, unless otherwise specifically set forth
in this section. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms
are defined as follows:
The three-foot depth or a greater depth contour, if required,
for boats in use or appropriate for the use on the waterway, based
on the normal summertime low levels on the waterway or summer minimum
levels where established by the DNR.
The point on the bank or shore up to which the presence and
action of the water is so continuous as to leave a distinct mark,
either by erosion, destruction or prevention of terrestrial vegetation
or predomination of aquatic vegetation or other easily recognized
characteristics.
Any structure extending into navigable waters from the shore
of such navigable waters, built or maintained for the purpose of providing
a berth for watercraft or for loading or unloading cargo or passengers
onto or from the watercraft and may include a temporary boat hoist
without roof or walls.
An owner of land abutting a stream or lake.
Includes seasonal or permanent boat shelters or boat hoists.
An area where water is at, near or above the land surfaces
long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation
and which has soils indicative of wet conditions.
Any structure in navigable waters, extending along the shore
and generally connected with uplands throughout its length, built
or maintained for the purpose of providing a berth for watercraft
or for loading or unloading cargo or passengers onto or from the watercraft.
A.
Until such time that the Village establishes and the
DNR approves a pierhead line on the Fox River within the Village which
meets the requirements of Wis. Stat. §§ 30.11 and 30.13,
and this chapter can be amended accordingly, no pier, wharf or similar
or related structure or facility may exist beyond the greater of:
B.
Piers, wharves and similar or related structures or
facilities may not in any case interfere with public rights on the
waterways and the rights of other riparian owners.
Any person desiring to construct any pier, wharf
or similar or related structures or facilities on the Fox River within
the Village shall follow the procedures as follows.
A.
No person may hereinafter construct, place or extend, enlarge or replace a pier, wharf or similar or related structure or facility or multi-pier development on the Fox River within the Village without first applying for and obtaining a permit from the Village for that portion of the river within the Village. Piers, wharves and similar or related structures or facilities which are legally placed as of October 14, 1991 (the date of the adoption of this chapter), which are removed and replaced seasonally, are not subject to permits or permit fees so long as any nonconformity with the requirements of this chapter are not expanded pursuant to § 260-5R.
B.
Any person, developer, firm or corporation desiring
to erect, construct, place, extend, replace or repair any pier, wharf
or similar or related structure or facility or multi-pier development
below the ordinary high watermark of the Fox River within the Village
shall make and file in the office of the Village Clerk a written application
for permit. Developments with conceptual approval shall not be exempt
from this requirement. The application shall describe the real estate,
pier, wharf or similar or related structure or facility or multi-pier
development or extension thereof in detail, together with its location
in regard to the shoreline, pierhead line and bulkhead line if established,
ordinary high watermark location, water depth contours, extent of
wetland vegetation and with the distance to all property lines of
the abutting neighboring riparian lands, giving the details of the
dimensions and kinds of materials, details of fueling and any sewage
disposal facilities or other accessory construction, if applicable,
together with drawings and any additional details and specifications
that the Village Plan Commission may require. The application shall
contain the name, residence, post office address, telephone number
and the signature of the riparian owner of the shoreline on whose
behalf the application is made and shall also state the name, residence,
post office address and telephone number of the applicant, if different.
The riparian owner and/or applicant shall also provide the Village
Clerk with the names and addresses of the abutting neighboring riparian
owners with this application for permit.
C.
Upon filing of such application for permit, the Village
Clerk shall refer it immediately to the Village Plan Commission for
investigation and report at its next regular meeting, which Commission,
after considering the application and all evidence presented and hearing
all parties desiring to be heard, may recommend approval of or deny
such application. The Village Clerk shall notify abutting neighboring
riparian owners by mail no less than seven days prior to the Plan
Commission meeting during which this permit application will be presented.
D.
No permit shall be granted by the Village Board unless
it determines that such construction will comply with the requirements
of this chapter and will be consistent with the following Village
interests. The fee for such permit shall be as described in the Village
permit fee schedule.[1]
(1)
To preserve and protect the property and property
values within the Village.
(2)
To preserve and protect the Fox River.
(3)
To protect and clarify public interests and riparian
rights on the Fox River within the Village by:
(a)
Prohibiting piers and similar structures in
environmentally sensitive aquatic habitats.
(b)
Limiting the number and location of piers and
similar structures so as to avoid conflicting uses of adjacent properties.
(c)
Preventing safety hazards and controlling pier
construction so as to promote uniformity and preserve natural shoreline
aesthetics.
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee schedule is
on file in the Village offices.
E.
In the event the pier, wharf or similar or related
structure or facility or multi-pier development for which a permit
has been granted shall not be erected, constructed, placed, extended
or maintained in accordance with the plans, specifications, details
and drawings submitted or in accordance with any conditions imposed
on the permit or in the event such pier, wharf or similar or related
structure or facility or multi-pier development shall not be used,
it is used in a manner detrimental to the general public or interferes
with the rights of the neighboring riparian owners, or adversely affects
a critical or significant fish or wildlife habitat area, the Village
Board may cancel and revoke the permit, provided it shall first hold
a hearing after fixing a time and place of hearing and shall cause
a written notice thereof to be issued and delivered or mailed to the
holder of such permit and also to the abutting neighboring riparian
owners not less than seven days before the time fixed for such hearing.
A.
Riparian owners may construct, place, extend, enlarge
or replace piers, wharves or similar or related structures or facilities
or multi-pier developments in the waters of the Fox River within the
Village in aid of navigation, provided that such piers, wharves, similar
or related structures and facilities or multi-pier developments do
not interfere with public rights and safety in the waters or with
the rights of neighboring riparian owners or occupants and do not
adversely affect a critical or significant fish or wildlife habitat
area, are subject to any established pierhead line and other requirements
of this chapter and must be consistent with the permit and objectives
as specified above.
B.
Piers and wharves shall not exceed six feet in width.
C.
Extensions or appurtenances to piers must comply with
all of the requirements of this chapter, including all permit requirements.
D.
Construction shall be of materials of white, natural
or earthtone colors, aluminum or shall be visually inconspicuous as
viewed against the shoreline. Aluminum piers are permissible.
E.
Lighting on a pier, wharf or similar or related structure
or facility or multi-pier development shall be down-focused white
or yellow lights for safety and to facilitate docking. Intermittent
lighting, strobe or similar lighting is prohibited.
F.
New and existing piers, wharves or similar or related
structures or facilities or multi-pier developments shall include
reflective white or amber safety markers no more than five inches
square placed on the farthest corners of the structures.
G.
Any pier, wharf or similar or related structure or
facility or multi-pier development extending beyond the natural shore
or established bulkhead line shall be so constructed as to allow the
free movement of water underneath and in such manner as will not cause
the formation of land on the bed of the Fox River within the Village.
H.
Mooring structures and watercraft moored shall be
set back a minimum of 10 feet from common riparian rights lines and
any additional distance required to confine approach and docking of
watercraft to the owner's riparian zone.
I.
There shall be a maximum of four permanently moored,
registered watercraft per pier, including lifts. For purposes of this
subsection, "permanently moored" is defined as being moored longer
than seven consecutive days.
J.
Subdivisions, multi-unit developments and planned
unit developments which share a common waterfront lot, parcel or common
area may not place more than one pier or wharf per 100 feet of shoreline.
All multi-pier developments and similar or related structures and
facilities serving subdivisions, multi-unit developments, planned
unit developments, condominiums and homeowners' associations shall
be constructed no less than 100 feet from any abutting neighboring
lot line.
K.
No easements of access shall be granted over existing
lots, and no such easement shall be shown on a subdivision plat, multi-unit
development plat, planned unit development plat, condominium plat
or in a condominium agreement or homeowners' association agreement,
which provides greater access than provided above.
L.
Pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 236.16, subdivisions
with water frontage are required to dedicate a public access to waterways
which, under this chapter, shall meet with Village, county and DNR
approval or be waived by the same.
M.
Piers, wharves and similar or related structures and
facilities may be placed and maintained only by riparian owners.
N.
Electrical, fueling and waste disposal facilities
for business or commercial facilities shall comply with all applicable
state laws, Wisconsin Administrative Codes, DNR and Village codes
and any other applicable safety and environmental protection laws.
In addition, fuel and waste holding tanks shall be set back from the
ordinary high watermark per applicable DNR regulations.
O.
Such pier, wharf and similar or related structure
or facility or multi-pier development shall be subject to the pierhead
line which may be established pursuant to the provisions of Wis. Stats.
§ 30.13(3).
P.
All piers, wharves and similar or related structures
and facilities or multi-pier developments extending beyond the natural
shore or established bulkhead line shall be so maintained as to prevent
any part or parts thereof from floating free into the waters of the
Fox River and as to prevent the structures from becoming unsafe, unserviceable
or unsightly.
Q.
The respective rights of neighboring riparian owners
shall be determined so as to give each riparian owner his due proportion
of the line of navigation by the extension of lot lines from the shoreline
to the line of navigation, by drawing a chord between each pair of
property lines at the point where each line meets the shoreline and
bisecting the resulting angle (coterminous riparian rights line extension)
or by other DNR-approved methods of determining riparian zones. All
structures shall be confined within each riparian owner's respective
zone.
R.
Every pier, wharf and similar or related structure,
facility or multi-pier development constructed, placed, extended or
replaced on the Fox River within the Village in violation of this
chapter is declared to be a public nuisance, and the construction
thereof may be enjoined and the maintenance may be abated by action
initiated by the Village.
S.
Any pier, wharf, similar or related structure, facility
or multi-pier development existing in place as of October 14, 1991
(the date of adoption of this chapter), and registered with the Village
Clerk on or before June 30, 1992, shall be considered to meet the
requirements of this chapter. Such structure may be repaired or replaced
as long as any nonconformity with the requirements of this chapter
is not expanded.
T.
Any person or developer who owns real estate abutting
the shoreline of the Fox River within the Village shall register the
length, width, construction and side yard setbacks of any of his or
her or its piers, wharves or similar or related structures or facilities
or multi-pier developments with the Village Clerk on or before June
30, 1992, along with a color photograph of the structure. Any such
structure in place as of October 14, 1991, and registered before June
30, 1992, shall be considered to meet the requirements of this chapter.
Any pier, wharf or similar or related structure or facility or multi-pier
development not registered by June 30, 1992, shall be required to
comply with the terms of this chapter.
U.
Any pier, wharf or similar or related structure or
facility or multi-pier development which is legally placed as of October
14, 1991, and which does not conform to this chapter shall be considered
permissible and preexisting and shall not constitute an unlawful obstruction
of navigable waters so long as the structures are registered as provided
herein before June 30, 1992, and are otherwise consistent with applicable
Village and DNR regulations and laws.
[Amended 1-24-2011 by Ord. No. 567]
A.
Any pier,
wharf and similar or related structure or facility or multi-pier development
extending into navigable waters beyond the limits set forth herein
constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters.
B.
Beyond
the requirements within this chapter, riparian owners shall further
comply with any requirements of Wis. Stats. Ch. 30 and Wis. Admin.
Code Ch. NR 326, administered by the DNR.
C.
Notwithstanding noncompliance with any requirement or limitation set forth in § 260-5, the Plan Commission may recommend, and the Village Board may approve, a pier permit for an applicant who obtains a pier permit from the DNR pursuant to Wis. Stats. ch. 30 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 326 if the applicant grants a permanent easement to the Village that provides public access to and allows public use of the pier(s) permitted by the DNR. Under this subsection, the applicant may reserve the number of permanent slips for the applicant’s private use approved by the DNR and the Village Board.
[Amended 6-27-2011 by Ord. No. 576]
