STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Lawyers for opponents of a proposed Sturgeon Bay hotel are claiming the project violates Wisconsin law.
Green Bay attorneys Frank Kowalkowski and James Kalny sent a letter to the city of Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday. They cite the Wisconsin Public Trust Doctrine, which requires state waterways to be maintained for public purpose.
The citizens say the hotel project would be built on what was once a lake bed on Sturgeon Bay's west side.
This letter includes maps and documents explaining the law and how the land was once part of Sturgeon Bay, the body of water.
However, attorney Randy Nesbitt said in a statement Thursday that, "The issues raised in the April 2015 letter are not new issues. They were issues identified and dealt with by the City of Sturgeon Bay over the last 2 years.” Nesbitt has worked with the city on the issue.
Back in February, the city council unanimously approved rezoning the property in question to allow developers to build a four-story, 76-unit hotel near the Oregon Street Bridge.
(Additional reporting from FOX 11).