Chapter 16

16.965(1)(a) (a) “Local governmental unit” means a county, city, village, town or regional planning commission.

16.965(1)(b) (b) “Smart growth area” means an area that will enable the development and redevelopment of lands with existing infrastructure and municipal, state and utility services, where practicable, or that will encourage efficient development patterns that are both contiguous to existing development and at densities that have relatively low municipal, state governmental and utility costs.

16.965(2) (2) From the appropriations under s. 20.505 (1) (cm) and (ud), the department may provide grants to local governmental units to be used to finance the cost of planning activities, including contracting for planning consultant services, public planning sessions and other planning outreach and educational activities, or for the purchase of computerized planning data, planning software or the hardware required to utilize that data or software. The department shall require any local governmental unit that receives a grant under this section to finance a percentage of the cost of the product or service to be funded by the grant from the resources of the local governmental unit. The department shall determine the percentage of the cost to be funded by a local governmental unit based on the number of applications for grants and the availability of funding to finance grants for the fiscal year in which grants are to be provided. A local governmental unit that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall file an application with the department. The application shall contain a complete statement of the expenditures proposed to be made for the purposes of the grant. No local governmental unit is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection unless the local governmental unit agrees to utilize the grant to finance planning for all of the purposes specified in s. 66.1001 (2).

16.965(4) (4) In determining whether to approve a proposed grant, preference shall be accorded to applications of local governmental units that contain all of the following elements:

16.965(4)(a) (a) Planning efforts that address the interests of overlapping or neighboring jurisdictions.

16.965(4)(b) (b) Planning efforts that contain a specific description of the means by which all of the following local, comprehensive planning goals will be achieved:

16.965(4)(b)1. 1. Promotion of the redevelopment of lands with existing infrastructure and public services and the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing residential, commercial and industrial structures.

16.965(4)(b)2. 2. Encouragement of neighborhood designs that support a range of transportation choices.

16.965(4)(b)3. 3. Protection of natural areas, including wetlands, wildlife habitats, lakes, woodlands, open spaces and groundwater resources.

16.965(4)(b)4. 4. Protection of economically productive areas, including farmland and forests.

16.965(4)(b)5. 5. Encouragement of land uses, densities and regulations that promote efficient development patterns and relatively low municipal, state governmental and utility costs.

16.965(4)(b)6. 6. Preservation of cultural, historic and archaeological sites.

16.965(4)(b)7. 7. Encouragement of coordination and cooperation among nearby units of government.

16.965(4)(b)8. 8. Building of community identity by revitalizing main streets and enforcing design standards.

16.965(4)(b)9. 9. Providing an adequate supply of affordable housing for individuals of all income levels throughout each community.

16.965(4)(b)10. 10. Providing adequate infrastructure and public services and an adequate supply of developable land to meet existing and future market demand for residential, commercial and industrial uses.

16.965(4)(b)11. 11. Promoting the expansion or stabilization of the current economic base and the creation of a range of employment opportunities at the state, regional and local levels.

16.965(4)(b)12. 12. Balancing individual property rights with community interests and goals.

16.965(4)(b)13. 13. Planning and development of land uses that create or preserve varied and unique urban and rural communities.

16.965(4)(b)14. 14. Providing an integrated, efficient and economical transportation system that affords mobility, convenience and safety and that meets the needs of all citizens, including transit-dependent and disabled citizens.

16.965(4)(c) (c) Planning efforts that identify smart growth areas.

16.965(4)(d) (d) Planning efforts, including subsequent updates and amendments, that include development of implementing ordinances, including ordinances pertaining to zoning, subdivisions and land division.

16.965(4)(e) (e) Planning efforts for which completion is contemplated within 30 months of the date on which a grant would be awarded.

16.965(4)(f) (f) Planning efforts that provide opportunities for public participation throughout the planning process.

16.965(5) (5) The department may, upon application, grant a local governmental unit that has received a grant under sub. (2) and that has not adopted a comprehensive plan under s. 66.1001 an extension of time to adopt a comprehensive plan. During the period of the extension, the local governmental unit shall be exempt from the requirements under s. 66.1001 (3).

16.965 History History: 1999 a. 9, 148, 185; 2001 a. 16, 30, 105; 2003 a. 33 s. 2813; 2009 a. 372; 2013 a. 20.

16.965 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 48, Wis. adm. code.

16.965 Annotation Challenges to “Smart Growth”: State Legislative Approaches to Comprehensive Growth Planning and the Local Government Issue. Yajnik. 2004 WLR 229.

16.9651 16.9651 Transportation planning grants to local governmental units.

16.9651(1) (1) In this section, “local governmental unit” means a county, city, village, town or regional planning commission.

16.9651(2) (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (z), the department may provide grants to local governmental units to be used to finance the cost of planning activities related to the transportation element, as described in s. 66.1001 (2) (c), of a comprehensive plan, as defined in s. 66.1001 (1) (a), including contracting for planning consultant services, public planning sessions, and other planning outreach and educational activities, or for the purchase of computerized planning data, planning software, or the hardware required to utilize that data or software. The department may require any local governmental unit that receives a grant under this section to finance not more than 25 percent of the cost of the product or service to be funded by the grant from the resources of the local governmental unit. Prior to awarding a grant under this section, the department shall forward a detailed statement of the proposed expenditures to be made under the grant to the secretary of transportation and obtain his or her written approval of the proposed expenditures.

16.9651 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 30.

16.9651 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 48, Wis. adm. code.

16.966 16.966 Geographic information systems. The department may develop and maintain geographic information systems relating to land in this state for the use of governmental and nongovernmental units.

16.966 History History: 1997 a. 27 ss. 133am to 133d, 9456 (3m); 2003 a. 33 s. 2811; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 s. 23; 2005 a. 25 ss. 91, 2493.

16.967 16.967 Land information program.

16.967(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.967(1)(a) (a) “Agency” has the meaning given in s. 16.70 (1e).

16.967(1)(b) (b) “Land information” means any physical, legal, economic, or environmental information or characteristics concerning land, water, groundwater, subsurface resources, or air in this state. “Land information” includes information relating to topography, soil, soil erosion, geology, minerals, vegetation, land cover, wildlife, associated natural resources, land ownership, land use, land use controls and restrictions, jurisdictional boundaries, tax assessment, land value, land survey records and references, geodetic control networks, aerial photographs, maps, planimetric data, remote sensing data, historic and prehistoric sites, and economic projections.

16.967(1)(c) (c) “Land information system” means an orderly method of organizing and managing land information and land records.

16.967(1)(d) (d) “Land records” means maps, documents, computer files, and any other information storage medium in which land information is recorded.

16.967(1)(e) (e) “Systems integration” means land information that is housed in one jurisdiction or jurisdictional subunit and is available to other jurisdictions, jurisdictional subunits, public utilities, and other private sector interests.

16.967(3) (3) Duties of department. The department shall direct and supervise the land information program and serve as the state clearinghouse for access to land information. In addition, the department shall:

16.967(3)(a) (a) Provide technical assistance and advice to state agencies and local governmental units with land information responsibilities.

16.967(3)(b) (b) Maintain and distribute an inventory of land information available for this state, land records available for this state, and land information systems.

16.967(3)(c) (c) Prepare guidelines to coordinate the modernization of land records and land information systems.

16.967(3)(cm) (cm) Provide standards for the preparation of countywide plans for land records modernization under s. 59.72 (3) (b), including a list of minimum elements to be addressed in the plan.

16.967(3)(d) (d) Review project applications received under sub. (7) and determine which projects are approved.

16.967(3)(e) (e) Review for approval a countywide plan for land records modernization prepared under s. 59.72 (3) (b).

16.967(3)(f) (f) Review reports received under s. 59.72 (2) (b) and determine whether county expenditures of funds received under sub. (7) and s. 59.72 (5) (b) have been made for authorized purposes.

16.967(3)(g) (g) Post reports received under s. 59.72 (2) (b) on the Internet.

16.967(3)(h) (h) Establish an implementation plan for a statewide digital parcel map.

16.967(4) (4) Funding report. The department shall identify and study possible program revenue sources or other revenue sources for the purpose of funding the operations of the land information program, including grants to counties under sub. (7).

16.967(6) (6) Reports.

16.967(6)(a) (a) By March 31 of each year, the department of administration, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of safety and professional services, the department of health services, the department of natural resources, the department of tourism, the department of revenue, the department of transportation, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the public service commission, and the board of curators of the historical society shall each submit to the department a plan to integrate land information to enable such information to be readily translatable, retrievable, and geographically referenced for use by any state, local governmental unit, or public utility. Upon receipt of this information, the department shall integrate the information to enable the information to be used to meet land information data needs. The integrated information shall be readily translatable, retrievable, and geographically referenced to enable members of the public to use the information.

16.967(6)(b) (b) No later than January 1, 2017, the department shall submit to the members of the joint committee on finance a report on the progress in developing a statewide digital parcel map.

16.967(7) (7) Aid to counties.

16.967(7)(a) (a) A county board that has established a county land information office under s. 59.72 (3) may apply to the department on behalf of any local governmental unit, as defined in s. 59.72 (1) (c), located wholly or partially within the county for a grant for any of the following projects, except that a county shall complete the project under subd. 1. and make public records in the land information system accessible on the Internet before the county may expend any grant moneys under this paragraph for any other purpose:

16.967(7)(a)1. 1. The design, development, and implementation of a land information system that contains and integrates, at a minimum, property and ownership records with boundary information, including a parcel identifier referenced to the U.S. public land survey; tax and assessment information; soil surveys, if available; wetlands identified by the department of natural resources; a modern geodetic reference system; current zoning restrictions; and restrictive covenants.

16.967(7)(a)2. 2. The preparation of parcel property maps that refer boundaries to the public land survey system and are suitable for use by local governmental units for accurate land title boundary line or land survey line information.

16.967(7)(a)2m. 2m. In coordination with the department, the creation, maintenance, or updating of a digital parcel map.

16.967(7)(a)3. 3. The preparation of maps that include a statement documenting accuracy if the maps do not refer boundaries to the public land survey system and that are suitable for use by local governmental units for planning purposes.

16.967(7)(a)4. 4. Systems integration projects.

16.967(7)(a)5. 5. To support technological developments and improvements for the purpose of providing Internet-accessible housing assessment and sales data.

16.967(7)(am) (am)

16.967(7)(am)1. 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the department shall award land information system base budget grants for eligible projects under par. (a) to enable a county land information office to develop, maintain, and operate a basic land information system.

16.967(7)(am)2. 2. The minimum amount of a grant under this paragraph is determined by subtracting the amount of fees that the county retained under s. 59.72 (5) (b) in the preceding fiscal year from $100,000. The department is not required to award a grant to a county that retained at least $100,000 in fees under s. 59.72 (5) (b) in the preceding fiscal year.

16.967(7)(am)3. 3. If the moneys available for grants under this paragraph in a fiscal year are insufficient to pay all amounts determined under subd. 2., the department shall establish a system to prorate the grants.

16.967(7)(b) (b) In addition to any other grant received under this subsection, the department may award a grant to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system.

16.967(7m) (7m) Suspension of aid.

16.967(7m)(a) (a) If the department determines that grants under sub. (7) or retained fees under s. 59.72 (5) (b) have been used for unauthorized purposes, the department shall notify the county or local governmental unit of the determination. The notice shall include a listing of unauthorized expenditures. The county or local governmental unit shall have not less than 30 days to contest the determination or resolve the unauthorized expenditures. If the unauthorized expenditures are not resolved in a manner acceptable to the department, the department may suspend the eligibility of the county or local governmental unit that made unauthorized expenditures to receive further grants or to retain further fee revenues.

16.967(7m)(b) (b) If the department determines that a county has violated s. 59.72, the department shall suspend the eligibility of the county to receive grants under sub. (7) and, after June 30, 2017, the county shall be eligible to retain only $6 of the portion of each fee submitted to the department under s. 59.72 (5) (a). After not less than one year, if the department determines that the county has resolved the violation, the department may reinstate the eligibility of the county for grants under sub. (7) and for retaining $8 of the portion of each fee submitted to the department under s. 59.72 (5) (a).

16.967(8) (8) Advice; cooperation. In carrying out its duties under this section, the department may seek advice and assistance from the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System and other agencies, local governmental units, and other experts involved in collecting and managing land information. Agencies shall cooperate with the department in the coordination of land information collection.

16.967(9) (9) Technical assistance; education. The department may provide technical assistance to counties and conduct educational seminars, courses, or conferences relating to land information. The department shall charge and collect fees sufficient to recover the costs of activities authorized under this subsection.

16.967 History History: 1989 a. 31, 339; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 403, 9116 (5), 9126 (19); 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 27 ss. 141am to 141an, 9456 (3m); 1999 a. 9 ss. 114m, 114n, 9401 (2zu); 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 ss. 2811, 2813; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 s. 23; 2005 a. 25 ss. 92, 2493, 2495; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 314; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.

16.967 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 47, Wis. adm. code.

16.9675 16.9675 Land activities. The department shall do all of the following:

16.9675(1) (1) Identify state land use goals and recommend these goals to the governor.

16.9675(2) (2) Identify state land use priorities to further the state’s land use goals and recommend to the governor legislation to implement these priorities.

16.9675(3) (3) Study areas of cooperation and coordination in the state’s land use statutes and recommend to the governor legislation to harmonize these statutes to further the state’s land use goals.

16.9675(4) (4) Study areas of the state’s land use statutes that conflict with each other and recommend to the governor legislation to resolve these conflicts to further the state’s land use goals.

16.9675(5) (5) Identify areas of the state’s land use statutes that conflict with county or municipal land use ordinances, and areas of county or municipal land use ordinances that conflict with each other, and recommend to the governor legislation to resolve these conflicts.

16.9675(6) (6) Establish a state agency resource working group that is composed of representatives of the departments of administration; agriculture, trade and consumer protection; commerce; natural resources; revenue; transportation; and other appropriate agencies to discuss, analyze, and address land use issues and related policy issues, including the following:

16.9675(6)(a) (a) Gathering information about the land use plans of state agencies.

16.9675(6)(b) (b) Establishing procedures for the distribution of the information gathered under par. (a) to other state agencies, local units of government, and private persons.

16.9675(6)(c) (c) Creating a system to facilitate, and to provide training and technical assistance for the development of, local intergovernmental land use planning.

16.9675(7) (7) Study the activities of local units of government in the land use area to determine how these activities impact on state land use goals, and recommend to the governor legislation that fosters coordination between local land use activities and state land use goals.

16.9675(8) (8) Identify procedures for facilitating local land use planning efforts, including training and technical assistance for local units of government, and recommend to the governor legislation to implement such procedures.

16.9675(9) (9) Gather and analyze information about the land use activities in this state of the federal government and American Indian governments and inform the governor of the impact of these activities on state land use goals.