Community Change

Vision Statement:

By the year 2020, responsible local governments will form cooperative agreements between neighboring governmental bodies, which will inform and involve the public in planning decisions. This will be done in order to promote orderly development, provide efficient service provision, maintain the county's unique and attractive communities and acknowledge the importance of agriculture in the county. This effort will be prompted by the adoption of local development plans that will balance local needs with countywide concerns. All local Sauk County governments will base land use decisions on teh policies within the local development plans, amending them by resolution or ordinance as necessary.

GOAL 1

GOAL 1Sauk County should protect individual landowner property rights by providing more options for land use management.

POLICY 1.1

Sauk County should create a wider variety of zoning categories in order to give residents more flexibility by investigating programs such as purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights, conservation easements and clustering. When considering the use of these programs, local units of government should identify areas within their jurisdiction where development should be encouraged and discouraged through local development plans.

POLICY 1.2

Sauk County should allow towns, in towns that have adopted Exclusive Agricultural or Resource Conservancy 35 zoning, to exceed 35 acre minimum lot sizes if they feel that the current Exclusive Agricultural and Resource Conservancy 35 zoning districts do not sufficiently deter development from occurring in areas that are deemed as significant agricultural and/or natural resource areas. In those areas that have a larger minimum lot size, a lot credit program, that allows 1 lot per 40 developable acres, should be allowed. Associated with the use of a lot credit, will be a deed restriction for the remainder of the 40 acres. The placement/format of lots resulting from the lot credits will be approved by the local units of government and the Sauk County Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee.

GOAL 2

All levels of Sauk County government should administer all regulations uniformly among all groups.

POLICY 2.1

Sauk County should provide materials to landowners, including a clear development checklist when they wish to make improvements to their property.

POLICY 2.2

The Sauk County Office of Planning and Zoning should serve as a clearinghouse, providing residents with information on a variety of issues. These include government programs, educational opportunities, conferences and seminars.

GOAL 3

All levels of Sauk County government should work to encourage greater cooperation between municipalities and neighboring counties.

POLICY 3.1

All local Sauk County governmental units should create and utilize development plans. These development plans should be reviewed and amended as necessary.

GOAL 4

Sauk County should work to create a balance between various land uses.

POLICY 4.1

POLICY 4.2

POLICY 4.3 A

ll local Sauk County governmental units should create and utilize development plans. These development plans should be reviewed and amended as necessary.

GOAL 5

Sauk County should work harder to inform and involve the general public in land use issues.

POLICY 5.1

All Sauk County governmental units should create and utilize development plans. These development plans should be reviewed and amended as necessary.

GOAL 6

Sauk County should develop specific standards regarding the siting of towers, including but not limited to: communication or utility towers.

POLICY 6.1

Sauk County should develop specific standards regarding the siting of towers. When creating its tower regulations, in the interest of promoting public safety, the county should establish setbacks and height restrictions from public rights of way.

POLICY 6.2

Sauk County should create tower regulations that consider how the placement of towers impacts the county’s visual beauty and natural areas.

POLICY 6.3

Sauk County should require that all towers be available to more than one vendor.

GOAL 7

Sauk County should amend its sign ordinance.

POLICY 7.1

Sauk County should amend its current sign ordinance with strong enforcement standards. In this ordinance, clear rules regarding size, materials, location, number of advertisements per sign and setbacks from adjoining uses should be established and enforced.

GOAL 8

Sauk County should place a high priority on preserving prime farmland from development.

POLICY 8.1

Sauk County should stress to farmers the importance of farm conservation plans.

POLICY 8.2

Sauk County must establish fair setbacks between farm and non-farm uses that are meant to minimize conflicts between these land uses.

POLICY 8.3

In order to preserve prime farmland in areas with Resource Conservancy 35 or Exclusive Agricultural zoning, Sauk County should investigate eliminating the allowance of lot splits caused by roadway and navigable water bisections.

POLICY 8.4

Sauk County should allow towns, in towns that have adopted Exclusive Agricultural or Resource Conservancy 35 zoning, to exceed 35 acre minimum lot sizes if they feel that the current zoning districts do not sufficiently deter development from occurring in areas that are deemed as significant agricultural and/or natural resource areas.

GOAL 9

Sauk County government should encourage and/or facilitate cooperation between incorporated and unincorporated communities within the county.

POLICY 9.1

Sauk County should actively facilitate boundary agreements and establishment of urban service areas.

POLICY 9.2