Republican State Lawmakers Introduce Bills Loosening Property Regulation

Republican lawmakers have introduced a package of bills in the state Capitol they’re calling the “Homeowners Bill of Rights.”

Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Balsam Lake, said Thursday government does too much to regulate private land.

“I think where we’re regulating today is just too far, too much over the line,” he said. “So we’re going to, with these proposals, ratchet that back a little bit.”

Jarchow’s proposals would give landowners more power to sell or develop what are called “substandard lots.” Those are pieces of land that met zoning requirements when they were first parceled off, but don’t any more. Right now, that can make them impossible to sell or build on.

Donna Murr’s family joined Jarchow at a state Capitol news conference to introduce the plan. She said her family has been wanting to sell some of their land off the St. Croix River, south of Hudson, for years, but can’t because it’s a substandard lot.

“We would like to be able to sell it, we would like to be able to develop it separately,” Murr said. “It’s our choice, it’s our right as property owners to be able to do that.”

The Murr family took their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. They lost in a 5-3 decision earlier this year.

The “Homeowners Bill of Rights” proposal would also make it easier for people to use land for things it isn’t zoned for. Right now, that requires permits that Jarchow and state Senate sponsor Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, argue can be hard to get.

“That can really lead to great uncertainty for property owners,” Tiffany said of the permitting process.

The bills have yet to be scheduled for public hearings.