Land Use Planning
(Comprehensive Planning)
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Where do you see your community in 20 years? |
| On October 27, 1999, former Governor Thompson signed into law "Wisconsin’s Smart Growth Legislation". This law states that every local unit of government (cities, villages, and townships) must develop and adopt a comprehensive land use plan if they engage in programs or actions that impact land use by January 1, 2010 in accordance with State Statutes. A comprehensive land use plan would be used to guide future growth and development for local units of government; where they would like to see the community in 20 years from now. |
| I. Where did this legislation originate? |
| This legislation is the work of a unique coalition of groups including the Wisconsin Realtors Association, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Builders Association, the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Wisconsin Council of Regional Planning Organizations, the local government associations and the State. Facilitated by the faculty from UW-Madison, the groups developed the definition of the comprehensive plan that Gov. Thompson included in the state budget bill along with money for planning grants. Senator Brian Burke, D-Milwaukee added local comprehensive planning goals, a "smart growth dividend", and requirements for traditional neighborhood development ordinances. |
| II. How does the legislation impact local planning in Wisconsin? |
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A. |
Provides a definition of a "comprehensive plan". |
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Prior to this legislation, Wisconsin only had the 1920’s limited definition of a "master plan" (for cities, villages, and towns with village powers) and a limited definition of a "county development plan" added in 1967. |
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This definition applies to all cities, villages, towns, counties, and regional planning commissions in Wisconsin. It begins to provide the framework for a unified land use planning and regulation enabling law for Wisconsin. |
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Requires that all local governments must have a comprehensive plan by January 1, 2010, if they engage in programs or actions that affect land use. |
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Provides state funding to support local planning efforts. |
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After Jan. 1, 2010, local programs and actions impacting land use must be consistent with that local government’s comprehensive plan. |
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Requires that the local governing body adopt written procedures designed to foster public participation and other significant new plan adoption requirements. |
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Requires that a comprehensive plan must be adopted in its entirety. |
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Requires that the governing body adopt the comprehensive plan. |
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Changes the composition of city, village, and town plan commissions to allow greater local discretion. |
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Requires that cities and villages, and towns with a population of at least 12,500, adopt traditional neighborhood development and conservation subdivision ordinances that are similar to ordinances developed by the University of Wisconsin Extension. The ordinances are not required to be mapped. |
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Establishes a "smart growth dividend aid program". Specifics to be developed by the Departments of Administration and Revenue. The first grants are to be distributed in fiscal year 2005-06. |
| III. 9 Required Elements |
| The following nine elements must be included in a comprehensive Plan: |
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Issues and Opportunities |
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Housing |
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Intergovernmental Cooperation |
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Transportation |
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5. |
Utilities and Community Facilities |
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6. |
Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources |
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7. |
Economic Development |
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8. |
Land Use |
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9. |
Implementation |
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IV. Grants |
| Grant money may continue to be available for local municipalities from the state to develop these comprehensive plans. Nearly $3.5 million was available in 2001 through the Department of Administration administered through the Office of Land Information System. For more information on the availability of grants, check this link (Using this link will take you out of this web site). |
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