WAUPACA COUNTY

FARMLAND PRESERVATION STEERING COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

                        March 27^th, 2013

                        City Hall, Manawa

Chair Beyer called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. and gave the open meeting statement.

The Roll Call sign in sheet was passed.

Appointed Members Present:  Jackie Beyer, Doug Behnke, Les Procknow , Gary Prill, Jack Bazile, Art Richardson, Walter Strebe, Tom Bleck, Bill Jonely, Jim Biddison, Gary Marx, Frank Bauer Jr., Dennis Desens, Dale Zaug and Greg Baumgart.

Also Present:   Ryan Brown, Brian Haase, Dan McFarlane, Alison Volk(DATCP), Lynne Hess(DATCP), and Patricia Craig.

Motion made (Marx/Behnke) and passed to approve the minutes of the October 25^th meeting.

Motion made (Jonely/Richardson) and passed to approve the agenda of the March 27^th meeting.

Haase and Brown gave a brief update on the county’s activities regarding Farmland Preservation (FP) since the last meeting. They have been meeting with various town boards and town planning commissions to develop eligibility maps for FP areas.  Several towns have decided to withdraw from Farmland Preservation and one new one has joined.

Alison Volk from DATCP gave a power point presentation on Farmland Preservation that led to a discussion about the density approach versus the rezone based approach to FP.  Waupaca County has decided to change to the rezone based approach because it coincides better with the philosophy of the existing county and towns comprehensive plans.  Haase and Brown passed out visual examples of the rezone approach from the Columbia County and Jefferson County FP plans.

Brown led a discussion on rezones, lot size, density and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).  Waupaca County would like to see a uniform maximum lot size and density in each FP district (AE, AR & PVRF) for ease of administration.  The committee felt that the town planning commissions should make that decision.  The committee also took a voice poll that showed no interest in the concept of additional density rights.

Timeline was discussed for completion of the plan and DATCP review.

The next meeting date was not set.  It will be based on the county’s mapping progress and scheduled after DATCP’s initial plan review.

Beyer opened meeting to public comment.  There was none.

Motion made (Marx/Bazile) to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.  Motion carried.

Respectfully Submitted by

Brian Haase for Jim Biddison, Secretary.