William Johnson

The protected shoreland is one of the most critical areas for lake and river health. This natural buffer is the last line of defense, filtering pollution, stabilizing soils, and reducing runoff water before it reaches lakes and rivers. Studies have shown that~90% of the phosphorus that is washed into our lake is from runoff so controlling this source is fundamentally important in the fight against cyanobacteria. Automatically allowing ADUs in the protected shoreland could lead to more impervious surfaces, soil compaction, land clearing, and polluted runoff, increasing the risk of water quality impacts. HB 1540 is a targeted fix that applies only to the protected shoreland. It restores a municipality’s ability to decide whether detached ADUs are appropriate near the water, helping communities balance housing flexibility with the shoreline protections our lakes depend on.