PLANNING, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION
66.1001
66.1001
Comprehensive planning. 66.1001(1)(a)
(a) "Comprehensive plan" means a guide to the physical, social, and economic development of a local governmental unit that is one of the following:
66.1001(1)(am)
(am) "Consistent with" means furthers or does not contradict the objectives, goals, and policies contained in the comprehensive plan.
66.1001(1)(b)
(b) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, county or regional planning commission that may adopt, prepare or amend a comprehensive plan.
66.1001(1)(c)
(c) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county that may adopt, prepare, or amend a comprehensive plan.
66.1001(2)
(2) Contents of a comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan shall contain all of the following elements:
66.1001(2)(a)
(a)
Issues and opportunities element. Background information on the local governmental unit and a statement of overall objectives, policies, goals and programs of the local governmental unit to guide the future development and redevelopment of the local governmental unit over a 20-year planning period. Background information shall include population, household and employment forecasts that the local governmental unit uses in developing its comprehensive plan, and demographic trends, age distribution, educational levels, income levels and employment characteristics that exist within the local governmental unit.
66.1001(2)(b)
(b)
Housing element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs of the local governmental unit to provide an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the local governmental unit. The element shall assess the age, structural, value and occupancy characteristics of the local governmental unit's housing stock. The element shall also identify specific policies and programs that promote the development of housing for residents of the local governmental unit and provide a range of housing choices that meet the needs of persons of all income levels and of all age groups and persons with special needs, policies and programs that promote the availability of land for the development or redevelopment of low-income and moderate-income housing, and policies and programs to maintain or rehabilitate the local governmental unit's existing housing stock.
66.1001(2)(c)
(c)
Transportation element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development of the various modes of transportation, including highways, transit, transportation systems for persons with disabilities, bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, walking, railroads, air transportation, trucking and water transportation. The element shall compare the local governmental unit's objectives, policies, goals and programs to state and regional transportation plans. The element shall also identify highways within the local governmental unit by function and incorporate state, regional and other applicable transportation plans, including transportation corridor plans, county highway functional and jurisdictional studies, urban area and rural area transportation plans, airport master plans and rail plans that apply in the local governmental unit.
66.1001(2)(d)
(d)
Utilities and community facilities element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development of utilities and community facilities in the local governmental unit such as sanitary sewer service, storm water management, water supply, solid waste disposal, on-site wastewater treatment technologies, recycling facilities, parks, telecommunications facilities, power-generating plants and transmission lines, cemeteries, health care facilities, child care facilities and other public facilities, such as police, fire and rescue facilities, libraries, schools and other governmental facilities. The element shall describe the location, use and capacity of existing public utilities and community facilities that serve the local governmental unit, shall include an approximate timetable that forecasts the need in the local governmental unit to expand or rehabilitate existing utilities and facilities or to create new utilities and facilities and shall assess future needs for government services in the local governmental unit that are related to such utilities and facilities.
66.1001(2)(e)
(e)
Agricultural, natural and cultural resources element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs for the conservation, and promotion of the effective management, of natural resources such as groundwater, forests, productive agricultural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, threatened and endangered species, stream corridors, surface water, floodplains, wetlands, wildlife habitat, metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources consistent with zoning limitations under
s. 295.20 (2), parks, open spaces, historical and cultural resources, community design, recreational resources and other natural resources.
66.1001(2)(f)
(f)
Economic development element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to promote the stabilization, retention or expansion, of the economic base and quality employment opportunities in the local governmental unit, including an analysis of the labor force and economic base of the local governmental unit. The element shall assess categories or particular types of new businesses and industries that are desired by the local governmental unit. The element shall assess the local governmental unit's strengths and weaknesses with respect to attracting and retaining businesses and industries, and shall designate an adequate number of sites for such businesses and industries. The element shall also evaluate and promote the use of environmentally contaminated sites for commercial or industrial uses. The element shall also identify county, regional and state economic development programs that apply to the local governmental unit.
66.1001(2)(g)
(g)
Intergovernmental cooperation element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps, and programs for joint planning and decision making with other jurisdictions, including school districts, drainage districts, and adjacent local governmental units, for siting and building public facilities and sharing public services. The element shall analyze the relationship of the local governmental unit to school districts, drainage districts, and adjacent local governmental units, and to the region, the state and other governmental units. The element shall consider, to the greatest extent possible, the maps and plans of any military base or installation, with at least 200 assigned military personnel or that contains at least 2,000 acres, with which the local governmental unit shares common territory. The element shall incorporate any plans or agreements to which the local governmental unit is a party under
s. 66.0301,
66.0307 or
66.0309. The element shall identify existing or potential conflicts between the local governmental unit and other governmental units that are specified in this paragraph and describe processes to resolve such conflicts.
66.1001(2)(h)
(h)
Land-use element. A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development and redevelopment of public and private property. The element shall contain a listing of the amount, type, intensity and net density of existing uses of land in the local governmental unit, such as agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and other public and private uses. The element shall analyze trends in the supply, demand and price of land, opportunities for redevelopment and existing and potential land-use conflicts. The element shall contain projections, based on the background information specified in
par. (a), for 20 years, in 5-year increments, of future residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial land uses including the assumptions of net densities or other spatial assumptions upon which the projections are based. The element shall also include a series of maps that shows current land uses and future land uses that indicate productive agricultural soils, natural limitations for building site development, floodplains, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive lands, the boundaries of areas to which services of public utilities and community facilities, as those terms are used in
par. (d), will be provided in the future, consistent with the timetable described in
par. (d), and the general location of future land uses by net density or other classifications.
66.1001(2)(i)
(i)
Implementation element. A compilation of programs and specific actions to be completed in a stated sequence, including proposed changes to any applicable zoning ordinances, official maps, or subdivision ordinances, to implement the objectives, policies, plans and programs contained in
pars. (a) to
(h). The element shall describe how each of the elements of the comprehensive plan will be integrated and made consistent with the other elements of the comprehensive plan, and shall include a mechanism to measure the local governmental unit's progress toward achieving all aspects of the comprehensive plan. The element shall include a process for updating the comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan under this subsection shall be updated no less than once every 10 years.
66.1001(2m)
(2m) Effect of enactment of a comprehensive plan. The enactment of a comprehensive plan by ordinance does not make the comprehensive plan by itself a regulation.
66.1001(3)
(3) Ordinances that must be consistent with comprehensive plans. Except as provided in
sub. (3m), beginning on January 1, 2010, if a local governmental unit enacts or amends any of the following ordinances, the ordinance shall be consistent with that local governmental unit's comprehensive plan:
66.1001(3m)(a)(a) If a local governmental unit has not adopted a comprehensive plan before January 1, 2010, the local governmental unit is exempt from the requirement under
sub. (3) if any of the following applies:
66.1001(3m)(a)1.
1. The local governmental unit has applied for but has not received a comprehensive planning grant under
s. 16.965 (2), and the local governmental unit adopts a resolution stating that the local governmental unit will adopt a comprehensive plan that will take effect no later than January 1, 2012.
66.1001(3m)(a)2.
2. The local governmental unit has received a comprehensive planning grant under
s. 16.965 (2) and has been granted an extension of time under
s. 16.965 (5) to complete comprehensive planning.
66.1001(3m)(b)
(b) The exemption under
par. (a) shall continue until the following dates:
66.1001(4)
(4) Procedures for adopting comprehensive plans. A local governmental unit shall comply with all of the following before its comprehensive plan may take effect:
66.1001(4)(a)
(a) The governing body of a local governmental unit shall adopt written procedures that are designed to foster public participation, including open discussion, communication programs, information services, and public meetings for which advance notice has been provided, in every stage of the preparation of a comprehensive plan. The written procedures shall provide for wide distribution of proposed, alternative, or amended elements of a comprehensive plan and shall provide an opportunity for written comments on the plan to be submitted by members of the public to the governing body and for the governing body to respond to such written comments. The written procedures shall describe the methods the governing body of a local governmental unit will use to distribute proposed, alternative, or amended elements of a comprehensive plan to owners of property, or to persons who have a leasehold interest in property pursuant to which the persons may extract nonmetallic mineral resources in or on property, in which the allowable use or intensity of use of the property is changed by the comprehensive plan.
66.1001(4)(b)
(b) The plan commission or other body of a local governmental unit that is authorized to prepare or amend a comprehensive plan may recommend the adoption or amendment of a comprehensive plan only by adopting a resolution by a majority vote of the entire commission. The vote shall be recorded in the official minutes of the plan commission or other body. The resolution shall refer to maps and other descriptive materials that relate to one or more elements of a comprehensive plan. One copy of an adopted comprehensive plan, or of an amendment to such a plan, shall be sent to all of the following:
66.1001(4)(b)1.
1. Every governmental body that is located in whole or in part within the boundaries of the local governmental unit.
66.1001(4)(b)2.
2. The clerk of every local governmental unit that is adjacent to the local governmental unit that is the subject of the plan that is adopted or amended as described in
par. (b) (intro.).
66.1001(4)(b)4.
4. After September 1, 2005, the department of administration.
66.1001(4)(b)5.
5. The regional planning commission in which the local governmental unit is located.
66.1001(4)(b)6.
6. The public library that serves the area in which the local governmental unit is located.
66.1001(4)(c)
(c) No comprehensive plan that is recommended for adoption or amendment under
par. (b) may take effect until the political subdivision enacts an ordinance or the regional planning commission adopts a resolution that adopts the plan or amendment. The political subdivision may not enact an ordinance or the regional planning commission may not adopt a resolution under this paragraph unless the comprehensive plan contains all of the elements specified in
sub. (2). An ordinance may be enacted or a resolution may be adopted under this paragraph only by a majority vote of the members-elect, as defined in
s. 59.001 (2m), of the governing body. One copy of a comprehensive plan enacted or adopted under this paragraph shall be sent to all of the entities specified under
par. (b).
66.1001(4)(d)
(d) No political subdivision may enact an ordinance or no regional planning commission may adopt a resolution under
par. (c) unless the political subdivision or regional planning commission holds at least one public hearing at which the proposed ordinance or resolution is discussed. That hearing must be preceded by a class 1 notice under
ch. 985 that is published at least 30 days before the hearing is held. The political subdivision or regional planning commission may also provide notice of the hearing by any other means it considers appropriate. The class 1 notice shall contain at least the following information:
66.1001(4)(d)2.
2. A summary, which may include a map, of the proposed comprehensive plan or amendment to such a plan.
66.1001(4)(d)3.
3. The name of an individual employed by the local governmental unit who may provide additional information regarding the proposed ordinance.
66.1001(4)(d)4.
4. Information relating to where and when the proposed comprehensive plan or amendment to such a plan may be inspected before the hearing, and how a copy of the plan or amendment may be obtained.
66.1001(4)(e)
(e) At least 30 days before the hearing described in
par. (d) is held, a local governmental unit shall provide written notice to all of the following:
66.1001(4)(e)3.
3. Any other property owner or leaseholder who has an interest in property pursuant to which the person may extract nonmetallic mineral resources, if the property owner or leaseholder requests in writing that the local governmental unit provide the property owner or leaseholder notice of the hearing described in
par. (d).
66.1001(4)(f)
(f) A political subdivision shall maintain a list of persons who submit a written request to receive notice of any proposed ordinance, described under
par. (c), that affects the allowable use of the property owned by the person. At least 30 days before the hearing described in
par. (d) is held a political subdivision shall provide written notice, including a copy of the proposed ordinance, to all such persons. The notice shall be by mail or in any reasonable form that is agreed to by the person and the political subdivision. The political subdivision may charge each person on the list who receives a notice a fee that does not exceed the approximate cost of providing the notice to the person.
66.1001(5)
(5) Applicability of a regional planning commission's plan. A regional planning commission's comprehensive plan is only advisory in its applicability to a political subdivision and a political subdivision's comprehensive plan.
66.1001(6)
(6) Comprehensive plan may take effect. Notwithstanding
sub. (4), a comprehensive plan, or an amendment of a comprehensive plan, may take effect even if a local governmental unit fails to provide the notice that is required under
sub. (4) (e) or
(f), unless the local governmental unit intentionally fails to provide the notice.
66.1001 Annotation
A municipality has the authority under s. 236.45 (2) to impose a temporary town-wide prohibition on land division while developing a comprehensive plan under this section. Wisconsin Realtors Association v. Town of West Point,
2008 WI App 40,
309 Wis. 2d 199,
747 N.W.2d 681,
06-2761.
66.1001 Annotation
The use of the word "coordination" in various statutes dealing with municipal planning does not by itself authorize towns to invoke a power of "coordination" that would impose affirmative duties upon certain municipalities that are in addition to any other obligations that are imposed under those statutes. With respect to the development of and amendment of comprehensive plans, s. 66.1001 is to be followed by the local governmental units and political subdivisions identified in that section.
OAG 3-10 66.10015
66.10015
Limitation on development regulation authority. 66.10015(1)(a)
(a) "Approval" means a permit or authorization for building, zoning, driveway, stormwater, or other activity related to land development.
66.10015(1)(b)
(b) "Existing requirements" means regulations, ordinances, rules, or other properly adopted requirements of a political subdivision that are in effect at the time the application for an approval is submitted to the political subdivision.
66.10015(1)(c)
(c) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town, or county.
66.10015(1)(d)
(d) "Project" means a specific and identifiable land development that occurs on defined and adjacent parcels of land, which includes lands separated by roads, waterways, and easements.
66.10015(2)(a)(a) Except as provided under
par. (b) or
s. 66.0401, if a person has submitted an application for an approval, the political subdivision shall approve, deny, or conditionally approve the application solely based on existing requirements, unless the applicant and the political subdivision agree otherwise. An application is filed under this section on the date that the political subdivision receives the application.
66.10015(2)(b)
(b) If a project requires more than one approval or approvals from more than one political subdivision and the applicant identifies the full scope of the project at the time of filing the application for the first approval required for the project, the existing requirements applicable in each political subdivision at the time of filing the application for the first approval required for the project shall be applicable to all subsequent approvals required for the project, unless the applicant and the political subdivision agree otherwise.
66.10015(2)(c)
(c) An application for an approval shall expire not less than 60 days after filing if all of the following apply:
66.10015(2)(c)1.
1. The application does not comply with form and content requirements.
66.10015(2)(c)2.
2. Not more than 10 working days after filing, the political subdivision provides the applicant with written notice of the noncompliance. The notice shall specify the nature of the noncompliance and the date on which the application will expire if the noncompliance is not remedied.
66.10015(2)(c)3.
3. The applicant fails to remedy the noncompliance before the date provided in the notice.
66.10015(2)(d)
(d) This section does not prohibit a political subdivision from establishing an expiration date on an approval.
66.10015 History
History: 2013 a. 74.
66.1002
66.1002
Development moratoria. 66.1002(1)(b)
(b) "Development moratorium" means a moratorium on rezoning or approving any subdivision or other division of land by plat or certified survey map that is authorized under
ch. 236.
66.1002(1)(d)
(d) "Municipality" means any city, village, or town.
66.1002(1)(e)
(e) "Public health professional" means any of the following:
66.1002(1)(f)
(f) "Registered engineer" means an individual who satisfies the registration requirements for a professional engineer as specified in
s. 443.04
66.1002(2)
(2) Moratorium allowed. Subject to the limitations and requirements specified in this section, a municipality may enact a development moratorium ordinance if the municipality has enacted a comprehensive plan, is in the process of preparing its comprehensive plan, is in the process of preparing a significant amendment to its comprehensive plan in response to a substantial change in conditions in the municipality, or is exempt from the requirement as described in
s. 66.1001 (3m), and if at least one of the following applies:
66.1002(2)(a)
(a) The municipality's governing body adopts a resolution stating that a moratorium is needed to prevent a shortage in, or the overburdening of, public facilities located in the municipality and that such a shortage or overburdening would otherwise occur during the period in which the moratorium would be in effect, except that the governing body may not adopt such a resolution unless it obtains a written report from a registered engineer stating that in his or her opinion the possible shortage or overburdening of public facilities justifies the need for a moratorium.
66.1002(2)(b)
(b) The municipality's governing body adopts a resolution stating that a moratorium is needed to address a significant threat to the public health or safety that is presented by a proposed or anticipated activity specified under
sub. (4), except that the governing body may not adopt such a resolution unless it obtains a written report from a registered engineer or public health professional stating that in his or her opinion the proposed or anticipated activity specified under
sub. (4) presents such a significant threat to the public health or safety that the need for a moratorium is justified.
66.1002(3)(a)(a) An ordinance enacted under this section shall contain at least all of the following elements:
