60.63
60.63
Community and other living arrangements. For purposes of
s. 60.61, the location of a community living arrangement, as defined in
s. 46.03 (22), a foster home, as defined in
s. 48.02 (6), a treatment foster home, as defined in
s. 48.02 (17q), or an adult family home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (1), in any town shall be subject to the following criteria:
60.63(1)
(1) No community living arrangement may be established after March 28, 1978 within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other such facility. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the local town. Two community living arrangements may be adjacent if the town authorizes that arrangement and if both facilities comprise essential components of a single program.
60.63(2)
(2) Community living arrangements shall be permitted in each town without restriction as to the number of facilities, so long as the total capacity of the community living arrangements does not exceed 25 or one percent of the town's population, whichever is greater. If the capacity of the community living arrangements in the town reaches such total, the town may prohibit additional community living arrangements from locating in the township. Agents of a facility may apply for an exception to this requirement, and such exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the town.
60.63(3)
(3) A foster home or a treatment foster home that is the primary domicile of a foster parent or treatment foster parent and that is licensed under
s. 48.62 or an adult family home certified under
s. 50.032 (1m) (b) shall be a permitted use in all residential areas and is not subject to
subs. (1) and
(2) except that foster homes and treatment foster homes operated by corporations, child welfare agencies, churches, associations or public agencies shall be subject to
subs. (1) and
(2).
60.63(3m)(a)(a) No adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) may be established within 2,500 feet, or any lesser distance established by an ordinance of the town, of any other adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) or any community living arrangement. An agent of an adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) may apply for an exception to this requirement, and the exception may be granted at the discretion of the town.
60.63(3m)(b)
(b) An adult family home described in
s. 50.01 (1) (b) that meets the criteria specified in
par. (a) and that is licensed under
s. 50.033 (1m) (b) is permitted in the town without restriction as to the number of adult family homes and may locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided in
sub. (10).
60.63(4)
(4) If the community living arrangement has capacity for 8 or fewer persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated or permitted under the authority of the department of health and family services, the community living arrangement is entitled to locate in any residential zone, without being required to obtain special zoning permission except as provided under
sub. (10).
60.63(5)
(5) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for 9 to 15 persons being served by the program, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated or permitted under the authority of the department of health and family services, that facility is entitled to locate in any residential area except areas zoned exclusively for single-family or 2-family residences except as provided in
sub. (10), but is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in those areas. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
60.63(6)
(6) In all cases where the community living arrangement has capacity for serving 16 or more persons, meets the criteria listed in
subs. (1) and
(2), and is licensed, operated or permitted under the authority of the department of health and family services, that facility is entitled to apply for special zoning permission to locate in areas zoned for residential use. The town may grant such special zoning permission at its discretion and shall make a procedure available to enable such facilities to request such permission.
60.63(7)
(7) The department of health and family services shall designate a single subunit within the department to maintain appropriate records indicating the location and the capacity of each community living arrangement, and such information shall be available to the public.
60.63(8)
(8) In this section, "special zoning permission" includes but is not limited to the following: special exception, special permit, conditional use, zoning variance, conditional permit and words of similar intent.
60.63(9)
(9) The attorney general shall take all necessary action, upon the request of the department of health and family services, to enforce compliance with this section.
60.63(10)
(10) Not less than 11 months nor more than 13 months after the first licensure of an adult family home under
s. 50.033 or of a community living arrangement and every year thereafter, the town board of a town in which a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement is located may make a determination as to the effect of the adult family home or community living arrangement on the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town. The determination shall be made according to the procedures provided under
sub. (11). If the town board determines that the existence in the town of a licensed adult family home or a community living arrangement poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town, the town board may order the adult family home or community living arrangement to cease operation unless special zoning permission is obtained. The order is subject to judicial review under
s. 68.13, except that a free copy of the transcript may not be provided to the licensed adult family home or community living arrangement. The licensed adult family home or community living arrangement must cease operation within 90 days after the date of the order, or the date of final judicial review of the order, or the date of the denial of special zoning permission, whichever is later.
60.63(10m)
(10m) The fact that an individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or a positive test for the presence of HIV, as defined in
s. 252.01 (1m), antigen or nonantigenic products of HIV or an antibody to HIV resides in a community living arrangement with a capacity for 8 or fewer persons may not be used under
sub. (10) to assert or prove that the existence of the community living arrangement in the town poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of the town.
60.63(11)
(11) A determination made under
sub. (10) shall be made after a hearing before the town board. The town shall provide at least 30 days' notice to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement that such a hearing will be held. At the hearing, the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement may be represented by counsel and may present evidence and call and examine witnesses and cross-examine other witnesses called. The town board may call witnesses and may issue subpoenas. All witnesses shall be sworn by the town board. The town board shall take notes of the testimony and shall mark and preserve all exhibits. The town board may, and upon request of the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement shall, cause the proceedings to be taken by a stenographer or by a recording device, the expense thereof to be paid by the town. Within 20 days after the hearing, the town board shall deliver to the licensed adult family home or the community living arrangement its written determination stating the reasons therefor. The determination shall be a final determination.
60.64
60.64
Historic preservation. The town board, in the exercise of its zoning and police powers for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the community and of the state, may regulate any place, structure or object with a special character, historic interest, aesthetic interest or other significant value for the purpose of preserving the place, structure or object and its significant characteristics. The town board may create a landmarks commission to designate historic landmarks and establish historic districts. The board may regulate all historic landmarks and all property within each historic district to preserve the historic landmarks and property within the district and the character of the district.
60.64 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.65
60.65
Board of adjustment. 60.65(1)(1)
Town board shall appoint. If a zoning ordinance has been adopted under
s. 60.61, the town board shall establish and appoint a board of adjustment.
60.65(2)
(2) Membership. The board of adjustment consists of 3 members. Not more than one town board supervisor may be a member of the board of adjustment. The initial terms of the members of the board of adjustment are one, 2 and 3 years, respectively, starting from the first day of the month next following the appointment. Successors shall be appointed or elected at the expiration of each term and their term of office shall be 3 years and until their successors are appointed or elected. Members of the board of adjustment shall reside within the town. The board shall choose a chairperson. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of any member whose office becomes vacant. The town board may compensate the members of the adjustment board.
60.65(3)
(3) Powers and duties. The town board may authorize the board of adjustment to, in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, permit special exceptions to the terms of the zoning ordinance under
s. 60.61 consistent with the ordinance's general purpose and intent and with applicable provisions of the ordinance. This subsection does not preclude the granting of special exceptions by the town zoning committee designated under
s. 60.61 (4) or the town board, in accordance with regulations and restrictions adopted under
s. 60.61.
60.65(4)
(4) Procedure. The town board shall adopt regulations for the conduct of the business of the board of adjustment consistent with ordinances adopted under
s. 60.61. The board of adjustment may adopt rules necessary to implement the regulations of the town board. Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairperson and other times as the board may determine. The chairperson or, in his or her absence, the acting chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent, indicating that fact and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the board and shall be a public record. In any action involving a historic property, as defined in
s. 44.31 (3), the board shall consider any suggested alternatives or recommended decision submitted by the landmarks commission or the zoning committee.
60.65(5)
(5) Exercise of county board of adjustment powers. Boards of adjustment under town zoning ordinances shall have the powers and duties provided for boards of adjustment under
s. 59.694 and shall carry out their duties in the manner provided for boards of adjustment by
s. 59.694.
60.65 Annotation
General, rather than explicit, standards regarding the granting of special exceptions may be adopted and applied by the governing body. The applicant has the burden of formulating conditions showing that the proposed use will meet the standards. Upon approval, additional conditions may be imposed by the governing body. Kraemer & Sons v. Sauk County Adjustment Bd. 183 W (2d) 1, 515 NW (2d) 256 (1994).
60.66
60.66
Town park commission. 60.66(1)
(1)
Established by annual town meeting. The annual town meeting may establish a town park commission consisting of 7 members.
60.66(2)(a)(a) The town board shall appoint the members of the commission within 60 days after the commission is established. Each member shall take and file the official oath.
60.66(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided under
par. (c), members shall serve a term of 7 years, commencing July 1 of the year in which appointed. The town board shall appoint a successor during the month of June immediately preceding the expiration of the member's term.
60.66(2)(c)
(c) The first 7 members shall be appointed for staggered terms so that on the first day of July in each of the 7 years next following the year in which they are appointed, the term of one member expires.
60.66(2)(d)
(d) A member shall hold his or her office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.
60.66(3)(a)(a) Within 30 days after the appointment and qualification of the initial members of the commission, the commission shall hold a meeting to appoint officers and establish bylaws for its operation.
60.66(3)(b)
(b) The commission may appoint necessary assistants and employes to carry out its functions, make rules and regulations concerning their work and remove them at pleasure.
60.66(3)(c)
(c) The town board shall provide sufficient office space for the maps, plans, documents and records of the commission.
60.66(4)(a)(a) In this subsection, "park" means a public park, parkway, boulevard or pleasure drive.
60.66(4)(b)
(b) The commission shall have charge of and supervision over all parks located in the town and may exercise the powers of a board of park commissioners under
ss. 27.08 and
27.10 (1).
60.66(4)(c)
(c) Within 2 years after its organization under
sub. (3), the commission shall:
60.66(4)(c)1.
1. Make a thorough study of the town with reference to reserving lands for park purposes.
60.66(4)(c)2.
2. Make plans and maps of a comprehensive town park system.
60.66(4)(c)3.
3. Present the results of its study and its plans to the town meeting.
60.66(4)(d)1.
1. Lay out, improve and maintain parks in the town.
60.66(4)(d)2.
2. Lay out, grade, construct, improve and maintain highways, roads and bridges in a park or connecting the park with any other park or with any municipality.
60.66(4)(d)3.
3. Establish regulations for the use and enjoyment of the parks by the public.
60.66(4)(d)4.
4. With town board approval, acquire, in the name of the town, by purchase, land contract, lease, condemnation or otherwise, tracts of land suitable for parks. No land acquired by the commission may be disposed of by the town without the consent of the commission. If the land is disposed of, all money received for the land shall be paid into a town park fund.
60.66(4)(d)5.
5. Accept, in the name of the town, grants, conveyances and devises of land and bequests and donations of money to be used for parks located in the town.
60.66 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
TOWN SANITARY DISTRICTS
60.70
60.70
Definitions. In this subchapter:
60.70(1)
(1) "Commission" means the town sanitary district commission.
60.70(1m)
(1m) "Commissioner" means a member of a commission.
60.70(2)
(2) "Equalized full value" means the assessed full value adjusted to reflect the full value as determined under
s. 70.57.
60.70(3)
(3) "Municipality" means a city, village or town.
60.70(4)
(4) "Pollution" means contaminating or rendering unclean or impure the waters of the state, or making them injurious to public health, harmful for commercial or recreational use, or deleterious to fish, bird, animal or plant life.
60.70(6)
(6) "Sewerage system" means all structures, conduits and pipelines by which sewage is collected, transported, pumped, treated and disposed of, except plumbing inside and in connection with buildings served, and service pipes from building to street main.
60.70(9)
(9) "Town sanitary district" or "district" means a town sanitary district created under this subchapter.
60.70(10)
(10) "Water system" means all structures, conduits and appurtenances by means of which water is delivered to consumers except piping and fixtures inside buildings served and service pipes from building to street main.
60.71
60.71
Creation of town sanitary district by town board order. 60.71(1)(a)(a) The town board may establish one or more town sanitary districts under this section.
60.71(1)(b)
(b) If a proposed town sanitary district is in more than one town, the town board of the town containing the largest portion of the equalized full value of taxable property within the proposed district has exclusive jurisdiction to establish the town sanitary district.
60.71(2)(a)(a) At least 51% of the persons owning land or the owners of at least 51% of the land within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a town sanitary district may petition the town board for the establishment of a town sanitary district. The petition shall be addressed to the town board and filed with the town clerk. The petition shall contain the following information:
60.71(2)(a)1.
1. The proposed name of the town sanitary district.
60.71(2)(a)2.
2. A statement of the necessity for the proposed work.
60.71(2)(a)3.
3. A statement that the public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be promoted by the establishment of the town sanitary district and that the property to be included will be benefited by the proposed district.
60.71(2)(a)4.
4. A legal description of the boundaries of the proposed town sanitary district.
60.71(2)(a)5.
5. A plat or sketch showing the approximate area and boundaries of the proposed town sanitary district.
60.71(2)(a)6.
6. A general description of the proposed improvements.
60.71(2)(b)
(b) One or more of the petitioners shall verify that the petition was signed personally by the persons whose signatures appear on the petition. The petition is presumed to have been signed by the persons whose signatures appear on the petition. No petition with the requisite number of valid signatures may be declared void because of alleged defects in the information required to be included in the petition. The town board at any time may permit a petition to be amended to conform to the facts.
60.71(3)
(3) Bond. At least 15 days prior to the hearing under
sub. (4), the petitioners shall file a personal or a surety bond with the town clerk, with security approved by the town board, sufficient to pay all of the expenses connected with the proceedings if the town board refuses to organize the district. The petitioners shall maintain the bond until either the town board issues an order to organize the district, the petitioners pay the costs of the town board under
sub. (6) (f) or the proceedings are otherwise terminated. If the town board determines that a bond is insufficient, it may order the execution of an additional bond within a specified time, but not less than 10 days from the date of the order. If the petitioners fail to execute or maintain the bond, the town board may dismiss the petition.
60.71(4)(a)(a) The town board shall schedule and conduct a hearing within 30 days after receipt of any petition with the requisite number of valid signatures.
60.71(4)(b)
(b) The town board shall publish a class 2 notice, under
ch. 985, of the hearing. The notice shall contain an announcement of the hearing and a description of the boundaries of the proposed town sanitary district. The town board shall mail the notice to the department of commerce and the department of natural resources at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
60.71(4)(c)
(c) Any person may file written comments on the formation of the district with the town clerk. Any owner of property within the boundary of the proposed district may appear at the hearing and offer objections, criticisms or suggestions as to the necessity of the proposed district and the question of whether his or her property will be benefited by the establishment of the district. A representative of the department of commerce and of the department of natural resources may attend the hearing and advise the town board.
60.71(5)
(5) Territory comprising a district. 60.71(5)(a)(a) A town sanitary district may not include any territory located within a village or city.
60.71(5)(b)
(b) A town sanitary district may include territory located within a metropolitan sewerage district or any other similar district outside of the boundaries of a village or city for the purpose of auxiliary sewer construction by the town sanitary district.
