AB920: Bill Text

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1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 920

March 17, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman and Walker, cosponsored by Senators Grobschmidt and Darling. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB920,1,3 An Act to amend 36.37 (3) (intro.) and 36.37 (4) (a) to (c); and to create 36.37 (3) (e) of the statutes; relating to: Downer Woods on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the preservation of the area on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) known as Downer Woods. Currently the area consists of 18.805 acres, which are divided into four separate categories: the permanent conservation area (11.101 acres); permanently reserved woodland (3.018 acres); the park and woodland areas (4.686 acres); and the buildings and grounds of the former Downer College. The park and woodland areas are subject only to limited modifications, such as landscaping.

This bill adds 2.6287 acres to the Downer Woods. The additional acreage constitutes a 5th category: park and woodland areas that may be subject only to limited modifications, such as landscaping and utility lines.

The bill also allows 0.75 acres of that portion of Downer Woods designated as permanently reserved woodland to be used for an addition to Sandburg Hall, a UW-Milwaukee dormitory. The bill directs the UW board of regents to grant a temporary easement to allow construction of the addition, and whenever Sandburg Hall needs maintenance, conditioned upon the ecological restoration of the area within the easement.

Finally, the bill directs the chancellor of the UW-Milwaukee, through the UW-Milwaukee Field Station, to prepare and implement a Downer Woods natural area management and restoration plan to ensure that the conservation area is managed properly as a natural area.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB920, s. 1 Section 1. 36.37 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB920,2,6 36.37 (3) Definitions. (intro.) In this section, "Downer Woods" or "the woods" means those parcels of wood, parkland and buildings comprising more than 18.805 21.4337 acres located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and divided into 4 5 separate and distinct categories, which categories shall define the proper and permissible uses of the parcels, as follows:

AB920, s. 2 Section 2. 36.37 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB920,2,9 36.37 (3) (e) Park and woodland areas, consisting of 2.6287 acres, which may be subject to limited modifications, such as landscaping and utility lines.

AB920, s. 3 Section 3. 36.37 (4) (a) to (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB920,2,17 36.37 (4) (a) That portion of Downer Woods designated a permanent conservation area is to be forever protected from encroachment or disparate uses, and its boundaries are to be defined and protected by fencing or other suitable means. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station, shall prepare and implement a Downer Woods natural area management and restoration plan to ensure that the conservation area is managed properly as a natural area.

AB920,3,5 (b) That portion of Downer Woods designated as permanently reserved woodland shall be set aside exclusively for purposes of community enhancement and relaxation, and any disparate uses to or encroachments upon such land is prohibited except for the purpose of constructing an addition and providing service to Sandburg Hall, which may not exceed 0.75 acres. The board shall grant a temporary easement sufficient to facilitate the construction of the addition, and whenever necessary to facilitate the maintenance of Sandburg Hall, conditioned upon the ecological restoration of the area within the easement.

AB920,3,11 (c) That portion Those portions of Downer Woods designated as park and woodland areas under sub. (3) (c) and (e) may be used by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as recreational and aesthetic corridors, if any. Any modifications made to such portions of the woods do under sub. (3) (c) and (e) may not significantly alter the present character of such land, and any disparate uses to or encroachments upon such land is are prohibited.

AB920,3,12 (End)