Nancy Heckel

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. 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.