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Please see http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov for the production version.
February 7, 2024 - Offered by Senator Tomczyk.
SB413-SSA1,1,1 1An Act to create 86.074 of the statutes; relating to: highway setback areas.
This substitute amendment makes the following changes to the bill:
1. Modifies the definition of “highway setback area” and “structure” and adds
a definition of “improvement.”
2. Modifies the definition of “substantial evidence” to include facts and
information related to “the preservation of public interest or investment in state
trunk or connecting highways.”
3. Applies the limitation on the size of highway setbacks to only those setback
areas established after the bill's effective date.
4. Specifies that the Department of Transportation may record a renewal of a
special exception waiver.
5. Requires DOT to record a special exception waiver.
6. Limits the special exception process to property owners.
7. Allows a property owner to appeal a denial of a special exception to the
Division of Hearings and Appeals.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB413-SSA1,1 2Section 1. 86.074 of the statutes is created to read:
SB413-SSA1,2,1
186.074 Highway setback areas. (1) In this section:
SB413-SSA1,2,52 (a) “Highway setback area” means an area abutting a highway in which the
3construction or placement of structures and improvements is prohibited without a
4special exception permit issued by the department consistent with the terms of sub.
5(2).
SB413-SSA1,2,126 (b) “Improvement” means any permanent addition to or betterment of real
7property that involves the expenditure of labor or money to make the property more
8useful or valuable. “Improvement” includes parking lots, parallel driveways, surface
9or sub-surface utility structures, storm water facilities, loading docks, in-ground
10swimming pools, wells, septic systems, retaining walls, signs, buildings, building
11appendages such as porches, and drainage facilities. “Improvement" does not
12include terraces, patios, landscaping, or open fences.
SB413-SSA1,2,1513 (c) “Special exception” means a special exception permit or waiver of
14requirement relating to placement of a structure or improvement in a highway
15setback area.
SB413-SSA1,2,2316 (d) “Structure” includes a temporary or permanent addition to or betterment
17of real property that is not portable in nature, but that adversely affects the safety
18of entrance upon or departure from state trunk or connecting highways or the
19preservation of public interest and investment in those highways, as determined by
20the department in its reasonable discretion. “Structure” does not include items such
21as portable swing sets, movable lawn sheds without pads or footings, above ground
22swimming pools without decks, sidewalks, bike paths, or natural features, including
23landscaping or berms.
SB413-SSA1,3,424 (e) “Substantial evidence” means facts and information, other than merely
25personal preferences or speculation, directly pertaining to public safety or the

1preservation of public interest and investment in state trunk or connecting
2highways, and directly pertaining to or the requirements and conditions an owner
3must meet to obtain a special exception and that reasonable persons would accept
4in support of a conclusion.
SB413-SSA1,3,6 5(2) All of the following apply to any highway setback area maintained by the
6department:
SB413-SSA1,3,97 (a) A highway setback area established after the effective date of this
8paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], shall extend not more than 50 feet from the
9right-of-way line of the highway.
SB413-SSA1,3,1410 (b) Any setback requirement imposed by the department under this section
11may regulate only structures and improvements that adversely affect the safety of
12entrance upon or departure from state trunk or connecting highways or the
13preservation of public interest and investment in those highways, as determined by
14the department in its reasonable discretion.
SB413-SSA1,3,2415 (c) Notwithstanding par. (b), the department may prohibit the placement of any
16structure or improvement in the highway setback area only if the structure or
17improvement adversely affects the safety of the entrance upon or departure from the
18state trunk or connecting highways, or the preservation of the public interest and
19investment in those highways, as determined by the department in its reasonable
20discretion. The department may order the removal, at owner's expense, of any
21structure or improvement located in a highway setback area unless the owner
22demonstrates that the structure or improvement was placed prior to establishing the
23highway setback area or a special exception is granted for the structure or
24improvement.
SB413-SSA1,4,2
1(d) The department shall establish a special exception process to allow an
2owner to obtain a special exception to the requirements of par. (b) or (c).
SB413-SSA1,4,93 (e) The requirements imposed by the department under this section relating
4to the placement of a structure or improvement in a highway setback area shall
5include a procedure by which an owner of the property subject to a highway setback
6area may request a special exception to a requirement. The special exception
7procedure under this paragraph applies to a person affected by a highway setback
8area, whenever the highway setback area requirement was established by the
9department. The procedure shall adhere to and include all of the following:
SB413-SSA1,4,1310 1. The department may not deny a special exception request due to a risk to
11public safety or to the preservation of the public interest and investment in the
12highway unless the department finds that substantial evidence demonstrates the
13risk.
SB413-SSA1,5,1314 2. The department may impose on an owner only the requirements and
15conditions consistent with par. (b) or (c). Any requirement or condition imposed
16under this subdivision shall be related to the purpose of the highway setback area,
17based on substantial evidence, reasonable, and, to the extent practicable,
18measurable. The department shall require as a condition of a special exception that
19the owner waive any claim or right to compensation related to any structure or
20improvement constructed or placed in the highway setback area if any portion of the
21highway setback area is used for highway purposes within 20 years of the date of
22issuance of the special exception. If the department has any projects planned within
23the improvement program or has documented future plans for corridor or spot
24location improvement, the department may record a renewal of a waiver under this
25subdivision one time for up to another 20 years from the date of expiration of the

1original special exception. The department shall record a document notarized with
2the owner and department representative's signature in the property subject to the
3special exception's chain of title setting forth the owner's waiver under this
4subdivision for the period set forth in this subdivision. The recorded document shall
5state that the waiver under this subdivision waives any right to compensation,
6relocation assistance, or damages associated with the department's acquisition of the
7structure or improvement for a transportation improvement, including any damage
8to property outside the setback caused by removal of the structure or improvement
9in the setback that was allowed by special exception and that the waiver is binding
10upon future owners of the property and runs with the land. All costs of recording
11shall be paid by the owner. The department may not pay damages for any structure
12or improvement that is subject to a valid special exception and waiver under this
13subdivision.
SB413-SSA1,5,1614 3. If an owner demonstrates by substantial evidence that the application and
15all requirements and conditions imposed under subd. 2. are or shall be satisfied, the
16department shall grant the special exception.
SB413-SSA1,6,317 4. An owner shall file an application for a special exception in the regional office
18of the department in which the property is located. If a regional office of the
19department denies a request for a special exception or revokes a special exception,
20the department shall, upon written request by the owner within 30 days after the
21denial, review the decision of the regional office. After review, the department may
22reverse, confirm, or modify the decision of the regional office. If the department
23confirms or modifies the decision of the regional office, the department shall notify
24the owner of the action and the grounds for the action and shall also notify the owner
25of a right to a hearing before the division of hearings and appeals. Upon written

1request by the owner within 30 days after the notice is mailed to the owner, the
2division of hearings and appeals shall schedule a hearing to be held within 60 days
3after receipt of the request.
SB413-SSA1,6,54 (f) The department shall provide accurate and current information about the
5special exception process on the department's website.
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