I have blogged in defense of Club Porticello, a restaurant owned by Tony Pepito that is right next to Silver Lake in Oconomowoc.
For a long time, the local bureaucrats fought like hell to keep the restaurant from opening, threatening heavy fines because it was too close to the shoreline. It was a perfect example of how Wisconsin hates business.
But then the locals came to their senses and allowed the restaurant to open legally.
End of story? End of business harassment?
No.
Who would enter the picture at this point? Who always throws tacks in the road? Who lives for finding ways to throw up obstacles to business opening up shop?
Did someone say the DNR (Department of Natural Resources)?
DING DING DING DING!
That’s no surprise. I blogged yesterday about the DNR standing in the way of one of Wisconsin’s most successful industries.
What is surprising is that Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has joined forces with the DNR to resurrect the attack against Club Porticello. I am very disappointed to hear the news. Let the locals handle this. They already have. And get off Club Porticello’s back.
From jsonline.com:
State sues to overturn restaurant opening
Waukesha — The state has filed suit to overturn Oconomowoc’s decision allowing a restaurant to open on the shore of Silver Lake.
In the civil suit, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen contends that Oconomowoc zoning commissioners improperly granted variances for Club Porticello, which opened for business in May.
On behalf of the state Department of Natural Resources, the suit alleges that Oconomowoc officials violated the law, partly by failing to address “extensive testimony” that the restaurant would hurt water quality and fish habitats at Silver Lake.
The restaurant is just 17 feet from the shoreline, which normally would not be permitted except for Oconomowoc’s approved variances.
The state’s suit, filed last week in Waukesha County Circuit Court, seeks a judge’s ruling overturning the variances and granting a restraining order on the matter.
God love our businesspeople who put up with this heavy-handed regulation that has ruined our business climate in this state.
