Sturgeon Bay West Waterfront Hearing Sept. 6

A major step toward determining the future of Sturgeon Bay’s west waterfront will be held Sept. 6.

That’s when the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will hold a declaratory hearing to determine the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) for parcel 92 next to the Door County Maritime Museum. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 3 pm in the Jane Greene Room of the Sturgeon Bay Library.

The Friends of Sturgeon Bay Public Waterfront petitioned the DNR for a declaratory hearing and ruling March 8, 2017, to determine the OHWM.   Judge Raymond Huber ruled in February that the city can’t sell the property in question for private development until the impasse over the OHWM is settled. An effort to do so through negotiation failed in July when the Waterfront Redevelopment Authority refused to accept a settlement reached between the Friends group and the city.

Written comments and evidence on the OHWM determination may be submitted through Sept. 15 to Dan Helsel, at 910 Hwy 54E, Black River Falls, Wisconsin 54615, or via email at [email protected].