MEQUON, Wis. — A change to Mequon's zoning codes could allow neighbors who live on the bluffs above Lake Michigan easier access to the beach.
The Mequon Common Council is currently working on a change to its zoning codes to allow for the so-called 'floating' staircases to be built in residents yards.
Andrzej Sitarski helped pioneer this technology through his Grafton-based company About Nature, LLC. He says several neighbors have been trying to build these for years.
"It stabilizes the bluff," Sitarski said. "With a permanent structure, the force is directed down. With our system, it's directed against the bluff."
Rather than being dug into the side of the bluff, these staircases are held up by a network of suspension cables. According to Sitarski, it helps avoid damaging the structure of the bluff while also providing support and increased flexibility for the stairs.
The idea is to insulate the stairwell from damage from decades of small shifts and erosion.
WATCH: Mequon neighbors may soon be able to install 'floating' staircases on Lake Michigan bluff
One of these staircases already exists in Ozaukee County's nearby Virmond Park. After it was constructed in 2023 under County authority, neighbors expressed a desire to do the same in their yards.
Cynthia Marsh walks through Virmond Park with her dog Dexter every morning. She used to live on the bluff nearby, and she would have loved the opportunity to build one for her own home.
"It's a wonderful outlet to get down to the beach," Marsh said. "Back in the day, if I had the money, I would definitely do it."
The ordinance allowing for the staircases had its first reading at Tuesday evening's Common Council meeting and could be passed as early as June.
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