“This parcel is
currently zoned agriculture 35 acres and is being used at that.”
“Our GOAL is to create 15 home sites with panoramic views of the natural surrounding that it will be in HARMONY with this beautiful setting.”
From the letter to Oconomowoc town Clerk by Dale Kolbeck of Anders Inc. to request the land use plan change from agricultural 35 acres to residential. Sent September 1, 2004
TOWN OF OCONOMOWOCS LAND USE
PLAN 2020
Quotes, Goals, Policies, Objectives and Guidelines.
General Land Use Plan Goals.
…
2. The protection of the remaining agricultural lands which lie beyond the orderly development and reasonable needs of the Town.
3. A balanced allocation of space to the various land use categories which meet the social physical and economic needs of the Town.
4. The protection of the environment and natural resource base of the Town.
5. The preservation and careful management of open space to enhance the overall quality of life.
6. The attainment of good soil and water conservation practices to reduce water runoff, control agricultural land construction erosion and prevent surface and ground water contamination.
…
“The plan should
promote the public’s interest rather than interest of individuals…”
Chapter 1 – Page 1, Paragraph 2
“The Technical
coordination of the plan seeks to assure logical relationships between private
land use development and public works improvement so that planning and
scheduling of such improvements is effective thereby ELIMINATING CONFLICTS
BETWEEN LAND USES, duplication of services and a waste of land. The plan presented is long range to
coordinate development and INSURE THAT TODAY’S LAND USE DECISIONS WORK TOWARDS
TOMORROW’S GOALS. The initial
phase of the Land Use Plan is designed for a planning period extending to the
Year 2020.
The plan should not be considered a rigid
unchangeable document to which all development proposals must conform but
rather as a FLEXIBLE GUIDE to assure the local decision maker specific
development proposals. As
conditions change within the Town it may become necessary for the plan to be
revised. It is appropriate that the Town
review the plan on a regular basis to DETRMINE IF OBJECTIVES ARE BEING
REALIZED THROUGH THE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
The plan assists the Town of
Chapter
1 – Page 2, Paragraph 1
Wetlands Objective…
and Policy…
“To the extent
practical, areas immediately adjacent to and surrounding wetlands should be
kept in open space uses or very low intensity urban uses SUCH AS AGRICULTURE or
limited recreation” Chapter 1 – Page 10, Paragraph 2
“To preserve sufficient high–qualify open spaces for protection of the underlying natural resources base and enhancement of the social and economic well being and environmental quality of an area.”
“Objective Ecological balance land natural beauty are important determinants of a community’s ability to provide a pleasant and habitable environment for all forms of life and to maintain social and economics well-being. Preservation of environmental corridors contribute to the maintenance of ecological alliance and natural beauty and the economic well being of the Town planning area…”
Prime Agricultural
Lands OBJECTIVE –Preservation of
prime agricultural lands ensures that the most productive existing farmlands
will remain available for providing food and fiber; contribute to the
agricultural and agricultural-related economy of the area; maximize the return
on capital invested in agricultural irrigation and drainage systems and soil
and water conservation practices; minimize conflicts between the farming
operations and activities associated with developed land uses; and contribute
to energy conservation since prime agricultural soils require less energy to
farm than do other soils.
Policy --- all prime agricultural lands in the
planning area outside of the planned urban services area shall be preserved for
agricultural use or related uses through the application of zoning and land
division regulations. Chapter 1 –
Page 12, Paragraph 2, 3
“Dairying interest
became very important in the Town, as there were creameries and three cheese
factories within its borders.” Chapter
2 – Page 1, Paragraph 2
The challenge of the planning process will be to accommodate the forecast levels of population increase while not affecting the environmentally sensitive areas and those lands which are deemed good agricultural lands.
Chapter 1 – Page 12, Paragraph 2, 3
Chapter 2 - Page 11
Three large wetland areas exist in the Town of
Chapter 3 – Page 4
Based on the SEWRPC’s Land Use Statistics, farmland has decreased in the Township by 2,802 acres between 1963 and 1995
Chapter 5 – Page 1
…the area north of C.T.H. K shall remain in prime agricultural uses.
The plan also recommends that all primary environmental
corridors, floodplains, and wetlands be preserved in their natural state. There are areas scattered throughout the
prime agricultural designations, which are projected to be other agricultural
and rural land uses. This typically
occurs in the northern two-thirds of the Town and near
Chapter 6 – Page 1
The Land Use Plan adopted by the Town should not be considered as a rigid, unchangeable mold to which all development must conform. The Plan is intended to be a guide to be used by the community in their review of development proposals, and to help the Town Plan Commission and Town Board in making informed decisions concerning land use. The Plan should be reviewed and possibly modified on a yearly basis, based on individual requests.
Chapter 6 – Page 8
It should be noted that
the areas designated for agricultural preservation consist of:
1. Farm units where 50% of the soils are rated either as national prime or state wide significant.
2. At least 50 percent of that farm unit must be covered by soils meeting the U.S. Soil Conservation Service criteria for National Prime Farm, and
3. The farm unit must be located in a contiguous block of similar farmland of at least five (5) square miles in size.
However, the Land Use Plan recognizes the fact that certain
uses or situations will arise in the Town of
Chapter 6 – Page 16
The plan identifies
significant natural and social characteristics of the Town and recommends the
preservation of existing environmentally sensitive areas and prime agricultural
lands, …
Chapter 7 – Page 1
Using the plan as a guide in reviewing specific development
proposals, the Town Plan Commission and Town Board may be required to make
subtle changes to Town policy. The Town
should preserve the existing character of the Town by preserving and protecting
the natural resource base including prime agricultural lands, floodplains,
primary environmental corridors, wetlands, and by regulating new residential,
commercial, and industrial land uses.
Development requiring the use of the best remaining agricultural lands,
the draining, and filling of wetlands, the grading of hilly wooded sections
should be avoided.
If the town ignores these basic recommendations, they will greatly
compromise the intent of the adopted plan. The Town should develop
policies and practices, which protect the natural environment in the long
term and prevent the need to provide costly urban facilities and services to
those developments, which encroach upon environmentally sensitive areas.