AB75: Bill Text

AB75,1100,20 (L) Key issues related to program performance and key recommendations, if any, for enhancing the program.

AB75,1100,22 Subchapter II Farmland preservation planning

AB75,1100,24 91.10 County plan required; planning grants. (1) By January 1, 2015, a county shall adopt a farmland preservation plan that does all of the following:

AB75,1101,2 (a) States the county's policy related to farmland preservation and agricultural development, including the development of enterprises related to agriculture.

AB75,1101,8 (b) Identifies, describes, and documents other development trends, plans, or needs, that may affect farmland preservation and agricultural development in the county, including trends, plans, or needs related to population and economic growth, housing, transportation, utilities, communications, business development, community facilities and services, energy, waste management, municipal expansion, and environmental preservation.

AB75,1101,9 (c) Identifies, describes, and documents all of the following:

AB75,1101,11 1. Agricultural uses of land in the county at the time that the farmland preservation plan is adopted, including key agricultural specialities, if any.

AB75,1101,13 2. Key agricultural resources, including available land, soil, and water resources.

AB75,1101,15 3. Key infrastructure for agriculture, including key processing, storage, transportation, and supply facilities.

AB75,1101,18 4. Significant trends in the county related to agricultural land use, agricultural production, enterprises related to agriculture, and the conversion of agricultural lands to other uses.

AB75,1101,20 5. Anticipated changes in the nature, scope, location, and focus of agricultural production, processing, supply, and distribution.

AB75,1101,22 6. Goals for agricultural development in the county, including goals related to the development of enterprises related to agriculture.

AB75,1101,24 7. Actions that the county will take to preserve farmland and to promote agricultural development.

AB75,1102,2 8. Key land use issues related to preserving farmland and to promoting agricultural development and plans for addressing those issues.

AB75,1102,7 (d) Clearly identifies areas that the county plans to preserve for agricultural use and agriculture-related uses, which may include undeveloped natural resource and open space areas but may not include any area that is planned for nonagricultural development within 15 years after the date on which the plan is adopted.

AB75,1102,9 (e) Includes maps that clearly delineate all areas identified under par. (d), so that a reader can easily determine whether a parcel is within an identified area.

AB75,1102,11 (f) Clearly correlates the maps under par. (e) with text that describes the types of land uses planned for each area on a map.

AB75,1102,14 (g) Identifies programs and other actions that the county and local governmental units within the county may use to preserve the areas identified under par. (d).

AB75,1102,19 (2) If the county has a comprehensive plan, the county shall include the farmland preservation plan in its comprehensive plan and shall ensure that the farmland preservation plan is consistent with the comprehensive plan. The county may incorporate information contained in other parts of the comprehensive plan into the farmland preservation plan by reference.

AB75,1102,21 (3) To adopt a farmland preservation plan under sub. (1), a county shall follow the procedures under s. 66.1001 (4) for the adoption of a comprehensive plan.

AB75,1102,23 (4) The department may provide information and assistance to a county in developing a farmland preservation plan under sub. (1).

AB75,1103,3 (5) A county shall notify the department before the county holds a public hearing on a proposed farmland preservation plan under sub. (1) or on any amendment to a farmland preservation plan. The county shall include a copy of the proposed farmland preservation plan or amendment in the notice. The department may review and comment on the plan or amendment.

AB75,1103,8 (6) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (dm) or (tm), the department may award a planning grant to a county to provide reimbursement for up to 50 percent of the county's cost of preparing a farmland preservation plan required under sub. (1). In determining priorities for awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the expiration dates for plan certification under s. 91.14.

AB75,1103,12 (b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards a planning grant under par. (a) before the department distributes any grant funds to the county. In the contract, the department shall identify the costs that are eligible for reimbursement through the grant.

AB75,1103,17 (c) The department may distribute grant funds under this subsection only after the county shows that it has incurred costs that are eligible for reimbursement under par. (b). The department may not distribute more than 50 percent of the amount of a grant under this subsection for a farmland preservation plan before the county submits the farmland preservation plan for certification under s. 91.16.

AB75,1103,19 91.12 Certified plan. The following farmland preservation plans are certified, for the purposes of this chapter and s. 71.613:

AB75,1103,21 (1) An agricultural preservation plan that was certified under s. 91.06, 2007 stats., if the certification has not expired.

AB75,1103,23 (2) A farmland preservation plan that was certified under s. 91.16 if the certification has not expired or been withdrawn.

AB75,1104,2 91.14 Expiration of plan certification. (1) The certification of a farmland preservation plan that was certified under s. 91.06, 2007 stats., expires on the date provided in the certification or, if the certification does not provide an expiration date, on the following date:

AB75,1104,4 (a) December 31, 2011, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 9 percent.

AB75,1104,6 (b) December 31, 2012, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 3.75 percent but not more than 9 percent.

AB75,1104,8 (c) December 31, 2013, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 1.75 percent but not more than 3.75 percent.

AB75,1104,10 (d) December 31, 2014, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 0.8 percent but not more than 1.75 percent.

AB75,1104,12 (e) December 31, 2015, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of not more than 0.8 percent.

AB75,1104,14 (2) The certification of a farmland preservation plan that the department certifies under s. 91.16 expires on the date specified under s. 91.16 (2).

AB75,1104,18 (3) For the purposes of sub. (1), a county's increase in population per square mile is the percentage by which the county's population per square mile based on the department of administration's 2007 population estimate under s. 16.96 exceeds the county's population per square mile based on the 2000 federal census.

AB75,1104,21 91.16 Certification of plan by the department. (1) General. The department may certify a farmland preservation plan or an amendment to a farmland preservation plan as provided in this section.

AB75,1104,25 (2) Certification period. (a) The department may certify a farmland preservation plan for a period that does not exceed 10 years. The department shall specify the expiration date of the certification of the farmland preservation plan in the certification.

AB75,1105,6 (b) The certification of an amendment to a certified farmland preservation plan expires on the date that the certification of the farmland preservation plan expires, except that the department may treat a comprehensive revision of a certified farmland preservation plan as a new farmland preservation plan and shall specify an expiration date for the certification of the revised farmland preservation plan as provided in par. (a).

AB75,1105,10 (3) Scope of department review. (a) The department may certify a county's farmland preservation plan or an amendment to the farmland preservation plan based on the county's certification under s. 91.20 (3), without conducting any additional review or audit.

AB75,1105,12 (b) The department may do any of the following before it certifies a county's farmland preservation plan or amendment:

AB75,1105,14 1. Review the farmland preservation plan or amendment for compliance with s. 91.18.

AB75,1105,16 2. Review and independently verify the application for certification, including the statement under s. 91.20 (3).

AB75,1105,19 (4) Denial of certification. The department shall deny a county's application for certification of a farmland preservation plan or amendment if the department finds any of the following:

AB75,1105,21 (a) That the farmland preservation plan or amendment does not comply with the requirements in s. 91.18.

AB75,1105,22 (b) That the application for certification does not comply with s. 91.20.

AB75,1106,2 (5) Written decision; deadline. The department shall grant or deny an application for certification under this section no more than 90 days after the day on which the county submits a complete application, unless the county agrees to an extension. The department shall issue its decision in the form required by s. 227.47 (1).

AB75,1106,7 (6) Conditional certification. The department may grant an application for certification under this section subject to conditions specified by the department in its decision under sub. (5). The department may certify a farmland preservation plan or amendment contingent upon the county board adopting the farmland preservation plan or amendment as certified.

AB75,1106,11 (7) Effective date of certification. A certification under this section takes effect on the day on which the department issues its decision, except that if the department specifies conditions under sub. (6), the certification takes effect on the day on which the department determines that the county has met the conditions.

AB75,1106,15 (8) Effectiveness of plan amendments. For purposes of this chapter and s. 71.613, a certified farmland preservation plan does not include an amendment adopted after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], unless the department certifies the amendment.

AB75,1106,18 (9) Withdrawal of certification. The department may withdraw a certification that it granted under sub. (3) (a) if the department finds that the farmland preservation plan materially violates the requirements under s. 91.18.

AB75,1106,20 91.18 Requirements for certification of plan. (1) A farmland preservation plan qualifies for certification under s. 91.16 if it complies with all of the following:

AB75,1106,21 (a) The requirements in s. 91.10 (1) and (2).

AB75,1106,22 (b) Any other requirements that the department specifies by rule.

AB75,1107,2 (2) An amendment to a farmland preservation plan qualifies for certification under s. 91.16 if it complies with all of the requirements in sub. (1) that are relevant to the amendment and it does not cause the farmland preservation plan to violate any of the requirements in sub. (1).

AB75,1107,6 91.20 Applying for certification of plan. A county seeking certification of a farmland preservation plan or amendment to a farmland preservation plan shall submit all of the following to the department in writing, along with any other relevant information that the county chooses to provide:

AB75,1107,7 (1) The proposed farmland preservation plan or amendment.

AB75,1107,8 (2) All of the following background information:

AB75,1107,10 (a) A concise summary of the farmland preservation plan or amendment, including key changes from any previously certified farmland preservation plan.

AB75,1107,16 (b) A concise summary of the process by which the farmland preservation plan or amendment was developed, including public hearings, notice to and involvement of other governmental units within the county, approval by the county, and identification of any key unresolved issues between the county and other governmental units within the county related to the farmland preservation plan or amendment.

AB75,1107,18 (c) The relationship of the farmland preservation plan or amendment to any county comprehensive plan.

AB75,1107,21 (3) A statement, signed by the county corporation counsel and the county planning director or chief elected official, certifying that the farmland preservation plan or amendment complies with all of the requirements in s. 91.18.

AB75,1107,22 (4) Other relevant information that the department requires by rule.

AB75,1107,24 Subchapter III Farmland preservation zoning

AB75,1108,2 91.30 Authority to adopt. A political subdivision may adopt a farmland preservation zoning ordinance.

AB75,1108,4 91.32 Certified ordinance. The following zoning ordinances are certified, for the purposes of this chapter and s. 71.613:

AB75,1108,6 (1) An exclusive agricultural use zoning ordinance that was certified under s. 91.06, 2007 stats., if the certification has not expired or been withdrawn.

AB75,1108,8 (2) A farmland preservation zoning ordinance that was certified under s. 91.36 if the certification has not expired or been withdrawn.

AB75,1108,12 91.34 Expiration of zoning certification. (1) The certification of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance that was certified under s. 91.06, 2007 stats., expires on the date provided in the certification or, if the certification does not provide an expiration date, on the following date:

AB75,1108,14 (a) December 31, 2012, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 9 percent or a city, village, or town in such a county.

AB75,1108,17 (b) December 31, 2013, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 3.75 percent but not more than 9 percent or a city, village, or town in such a county.

AB75,1108,20 (c) December 31, 2014, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 1.75 percent but not more than 3.75 percent or a city, village, or town in such a county.

AB75,1108,23 (d) December 31, 2015, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of more than 0.8 percent but not more than 1.75 percent or a city, village, or town in such a county.

AB75,1108,25 (e) December 31, 2016, for a county with an increase in population per square mile of not more than 0.8 percent or a city, village, or town in such a county.

AB75,1109,2 (2) The certification of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance that the department certifies under s. 91.36 expires on the date specified under s. 91.36 (2).

AB75,1109,6 (3) For the purposes of sub. (1), a county's increase in population per square mile is the percentage by which the county's population per square mile based on the department of administration's 2007 population estimate under s. 16.96 exceeds the county's population per square mile based on the 2000 federal census.

AB75,1109,10 91.36 Certification of zoning ordinance by the department. (1) General. The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or an amendment to a farmland preservation zoning ordinance as provided in this section.

AB75,1109,14 (2) Certification period. (a) The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance for a period that does not exceed 10 years. The department shall specify the expiration date of the certification of the farmland preservation zoning ordinance in the certification.

AB75,1109,21 (b) The certification of an amendment to a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance expires on the date that the certification of the farmland preservation zoning ordinance expires, except that the department may treat a comprehensive revision of a certified farmland preservation zoning ordinance as a new farmland preservation zoning ordinance and specify an expiration date for the certification of the revised farmland preservation zoning ordinance as provided in par. (a).

AB75,1109,25 (3) Scope of department review. (a) The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment to a farmland preservation zoning ordinance based on statements submitted under s. 91.40 (3) and (4), without conducting any additional review or audit.

AB75,1110,2 (b) The department may do any of the following before it certifies a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment:

AB75,1110,4 1. Review the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment for compliance with the requirements under s. 91.38.

AB75,1110,6 2. Review and independently verify the application for certification, including the statements under s. 91.40 (3) and (4).

AB75,1110,9 (4) Denial of certification. The department shall deny an application for certification of a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment if the department finds any of the following:

AB75,1110,11 (a) That the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment does not comply with the requirements in s. 91.38.

AB75,1110,12 (b) That the application for certification does not comply with s. 91.40.

AB75,1110,17 (5) Written decision; deadline. The department shall grant or deny an application for certification under this section no more than 90 days after the day on which the political subdivision submits a complete application, unless the political subdivision agrees to an extension. The department shall issue its decision in the form required by s. 227.47 (1).

AB75,1110,22 (6) Conditional certification. The department may grant an application for certification under this section subject to conditions specified by the department in its decision under sub. (5). The department may certify a farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment contingent upon the political subdivision adopting the farmland preservation zoning ordinance or amendment as certified.

AB75,1111,2 (7) Effective date of certification. A certification under this section takes effect on the day on which the department issues the certification, except that if the department specifies conditions under sub. (6), the certification takes effect on the day on which the department determines that the political subdivision has met the conditions.