PLANNING, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

 

Monday, December 3, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, Tom Rauk, Don Meyer, Don Bina, Bob Keil, Brian Kapanke, David Hansen (FSA rep.)  

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  None  

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None

STAFF & GUESTS:  Jeff Bluske, Gregg Stangl, Mary Meehan-Strub, Mike Weibel, Bill Jung, Charlie Handy, Brian Fukuda, Steve O’Malley, Cheryl Stephen

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair George Hammes called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Hanson/Keil to approve minutes of October 29, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

 

DISCUSS AND ADOPT THE TOWN OF CAMPBELL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INTO THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Sent with the agenda were the following documents:  (1) draft resolution entitled, “Adoption of Amendments to La Crosse County Development Plan 2020 for the Town of Campbell”, (2) a letter from Town of Campbell, dated November 13, 2007, indicating their adoption by ordinance and requesting the County to adopt the Town of Campbell’s comprehensive plan as part of the County Comprehensive Plan, and (3) a map of the Town of Campbell showing the various land use areas.  Charlie Handy briefly reviewed.  The Town of Campbell has a very limited supply of undeveloped land and thresholds for new growth are not recommended.  Charlie will prepare a final resolution for committee chair signature.  MOTION by Hanson/Keil to approve, as presented, the adoption of the Town of Campbell Comprehensive Plan into the County Comprehensive Plan.  Motion carried unanimously.   

 

REVIEW THE PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Charlie reviewed noting as part of the State Statues, the Planning Commission which is the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, has the authority to approve the draft County Comprehensive Plan.  This group met on November 15 and approved the draft plan via a resolution that also included two pages of amendments, including one on the 20% slope which was changed with eliminating the word “prohibited” and changed it to “limited” that will require more engineering, soil testing, etc.  The Planning, Resources and Development Committee is not required to take any action, but it is before this committee for input.  The public hearing is planned for Monday, December 10th as part of the County Board Policy Planning session.  Following the public hearing, the County Comp Plan will be adopted by ordinance.  Committee Chair Hammes said he disagrees with “development thresholds” as indicated for the twelve (12) towns on page 14 of the “Land Use” portion of the plan; it is stifling growth in the towns; he considers it as anti-development for industry.  Charlie noted the thresholds were based on current trends plus 10-year projections and then these figures were doubled; throughout the entire comp planning process, input was received from the towns and from the public.  Changes to the comp plan can be made as needed.

 

Supervisor Rauk said he would like to see development with fore thought; large acreage proposals need to be thoroughly reviewed, including a long-range plan; there is a lot of elbow-room within these thresholds; the comp plan was driven by the planning process, and the plan can be changed if needed.  Supervisor Bina asked, if one town exceeds their threshold(s), does that mean another town needs to give up a portion of their threshold amount?  Charlie indicated no, but if they exceed the amount, then the committee needs to figure out what has changed;  if it’s a good thing then the County plan can be amended, and if not a good thing, it gives the committee strength to deal with those developers. 

 

Question asked how the public will be notified of the public hearing.  Charlie noted that it will be published as a Class 1 legal notice, notices will be placed at strategic locations, posted on the County website, municipalities will be asked to post it, including an email distribution list.

 

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

None presented.

 

RECESS (4:36 p.m.)

MOTION by Hanson/Keil to recess until the 6:00 p.m. public hearing.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

 

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder