CONTENT

The bill would amend the Wetland Protection Act to specify that if a municipality that adopted an ordinance regulating wetlands did not approve or disapprove a wetlands use permit application within the 90-day review period specified in the Act, the permit application would be considered approved. Further, the municipality would be considered to have made the determinations required by the Act, i.e., that the permit was in the public interest and was necessary to realize the benefits derived from the permitted activity, and that the activity was otherwise lawful. The bill also would require a permit denial to be accompanied by a statement of all reasons for the denial. Currently, the Act requires a permit denial to be accompanied by a written reason for denial.

MCL 281.708 Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local units of government, depending on the number of municipalities unable to review wetland permit applications within 90 days and the resources that they have available. The bill would not change State regulations on wetlands permits.

Date Completed: 2-24-95 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler

floor\sb195

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.