Common Visions: Sheboygan County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, 2010 – 2030 Adopted December 2009 (Amendment 1 – 1/21/14) SHEBOYGAN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Prepared By: Sheboygan County Planning and Resources Department Jessica Potter, Land Use Planner James Hulbert, Planning Director Shawn Wesener, Assistant Planning Director Brett Zemba, GIS Specialist Terri DeMaster, Planning Technician III Cheryl Beernink, Secretary II Funding for this Plan was provided through a Multi-Jurisdictional Comprehensive Planning Grant through the Department of Administration. Prepared under the jurisdiction of the Sheboygan County Board of Supervisors’ Planning, Resources, Agriculture, and Extension Committee Jacob Van Dixhorn Chairman Keith Abler Vice Chairman Michael Ogea Secretary Al Bosman Member James Baumgart Member Mike Rammer Citizen Member With guidance and development by: The Sheboygan County Smart Growth Implementation Committee: Area of Expertise Name Representing Rural Town Representative Mr. Mike Limberg Town of Greenbush Urban Town Representative Mr. Brian Hoffmann County Board/Town of Wilson Rural Village Representative Mr. Andy Schmitt Village of Adell Urban Village Representative Mr. Jim Scheiber Village of Howards Grove City of Sheboygan Representative Mr. Steve Sokolowski City of Sheboygan City of Sheboygan Falls Representative Mr. Randy Meyer City of Sheboygan Falls City of Plymouth Representative Mr. Harold Meyer City of Plymouth Natural Resources Representative Mr. Vic Pappas WDNR Cultural Resources Representative Mr. Bob Harker Sheb. Co. Historical Museum Schools Representative Vacant Transportation Representative Mr. Greg Schnell Sheb. Co. Highway Commissioner Agriculture Representative Mr. Jerold Berg Farm Bureau Land Use Representative Mr. Shawn Wesener Sheboygan County Planning Land Use Representative Mr. Bob Werner Werner Homes Housing Representative Ms. Donna Liedtke Sheboygan Housing Authority Homebuilder’s Assoc Rep Mr. Dennis VanSluys D&H Land Survey Economic Development Ms. Dee Olsen Sheb. Co. Chamber of Commerce UW-Extension/Intergovernmental Cooperation Rep Mr. Kevin Struck UW-Extension UW-Extension Mr. Dave Such UW-Extension Intergovernmental Cooperation Bay-Lakes Regional Planning Rep Mr. Mark Walter Commission Citizen Mr. Ted Scharl Citizen of Oostburg Citizen Mr. Dan Morin Town of Scott Citizen Ms. Kathryn Prange LTC Citizen Mr. Greg Hunolt Town of Plymouth Citizen Mr. Gene Blindauer Town of Plymouth Citizen Ms. Kim Marggraf Town of Sheboygan Citizen Ms. Carol Ann Rittenhouse Town of Herman Citizen Mr. Henry Nelson City of Sheboygan Citizen Mr. Dennis Weinhold Cascade Citizen Mr. Gary Zimmermann City of Sheboygan Citizen Mr. Dwight Darrow Town of Lyndon City of Sheboygan-Sheboygan River Citizen Mr. Pete Pittner Basin Partnership Citizen Mr. David Gartman Town of Wilson City of Sheboygan/Landowner in Citizen Mr. Peter Jensen Mitchell and Sherman Citizen Ms. Vickie Hall Glacial Lakes Conservancy County Planning Ms. Jessica Potter Sheboygan County County Planning Director Mr. Jim Hulbert Sheboygan County ~ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ~ The Sheboygan County Comprehensive Plan was developed through an intensive public and local government participation and review process and is intended to be reflective of the values, goals, and vision of the residents and communities that comprise Sheboygan County. The Plan is not intended to pre-empt local comprehensive plans—rather, the Plan is a framework or “toolbox” that can provide local communities with concepts and ideas (tools) to implement the objectives set forth in their own local comprehensive plans while still maintaining a coordinated and consistent vision with the Sheboygan County Comprehensive Plan. PURPOSE The purpose of the Plan is to address County issues and coordinate overall growth within the County’s borders for a 20-year time frame. The Plan shall be used by County officials when revising and administering its countywide ordinances, as well as when setting priorities for major investments. The Plan shall also be a guide for reviewing future developments over which the County has jurisdiction, constructing transportation improvements, and extending public services. All County shoreland/floodplain zoning and subdivision decisions must, by statute, be consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies in the Plan. VISION “Sheboygan County envisions the Smart Growth Plan to be a living document responsive to the changing needs of its citizens and fostering intergovernmental cooperation through reference to a compilation of local land use plans. From Lake Michigan to the Kettles, from the cities to the farms, our County has a rich heritage. We enjoy an attractive combination of rural, urban, and semi-urban areas. Our unique location provides many opportunities for employment, housing, education, recreation, transportation, or agri-business. The Smart Growth Plan will promote balanced development with the preservation and protection of our natural, scenic, agricultural, economic, and cultural resources. Through the Smart Growth Plan, we will retain our character and unique identity, while enhancing the quality of life for all citizens in the County.” CONTENT The Plan was prepared and can be amended under s. 66.1001. It contains chapters, maps, and appendices regarding: Intergovernmental Agriculture Economic Development Cooperation Natural & Cultural Resources Transportation Land Use Housing Utilities & Community Facilities Implementation of the Plan The document was written by County staff and was reviewed over the course of 2008- 2009 by a 36-member ad hoc citizens advisory committee and the Sheboygan County Planning, Resources, Agriculture, and Extension Committee. xiii Within the chapters can be found demographic data (e.g., population growth, commuting patterns, housing conditions, etc.), public facility inventories (e.g., highways, parks, etc.), information on public services (e.g., law enforcement, waste disposal, etc.), and mapping (e.g., soils, wetlands, land use, etc.). Some of the major findings include: • Looking at recent history, Sheboygan County experienced its highest rate of population growth between 1960 and 1970. However, the State of Wisconsin overall has grown at a faster rate than Sheboygan County in every decade since at least 1940. [p. 1-15] • Per the 2000 Census, the City of Sheboygan accounted for 45.1% of the County’s total population. Towns accounted for 29.7%, villages for 12.3%, the City of Plymouth for 6.9%, and the City of Sheboygan Falls for 6.0%. [p. 1-18] • Per the 2000 Census, the 35-44 age group had the most residents of any age group. [p. 1-22] • Per the 2000 Census, 33.7% of the homes in Sheboygan County had been built prior to 1939. This was the highest percentage of any county in the region. [p. 1-22] • The median sale price of a home in Sheboygan County was $140,000 in 2007 which was higher than Manitowoc County to the north ($103,000) but much lower than Ozaukee County to the south ($244,700). [p. 3-13] • In Sheboygan County’s “2008 Comprehensive Planning Survey,” almost 50% of respondents agreed that their community has a need for more housing for seniors. [p. 3-15] • As of 2006, 37.2% of employment in Sheboygan County was in the Manufacturing sector, which was the highest percentage of counties in the region. Employment in the Education & Health sector was second in the County at 17.7%. [p. 1-29] • Per the 2000 Census, almost 7,000 Sheboygan County residents (about 12% of the workforce) commuted to jobs outside of Sheboygan County. [p. 4-3] • Wind speeds in the County average 10-12 miles per hour at a height of 30 meters, which is a typical height for small private wind generators (in general, winds exceeding 11 mph are required for cost-effective installations). Speeds average 13-15 miles per hour at a height of 60 meters, which is a typical height for large commercial wind turbines (in general, winds exceeding 13 mph are required for financially feasible projects). [p. 2-3] • Sheboygan continues to be among nine counties in the state designated by the EPA as being in non-attainment of the ozone standard. [p. 2-4] • There are over 8,900 private septic systems and 700 holding tanks in the County. The Sheboygan County Planning & Resources Department is in charge of inspections at various stages in the siting, installation, and maintenance of these systems. [p. 2-12, 2-14] • There were approximately 17 active nonmetallic mining sites in Sheboygan County as of July 2008. Sheboygan County operates five of the active mining sites. The Sheboygan County Land and Water Conservation Department is in charge of issuing the permits for nonmetallic operations. [p. 2-14] • About 57% of the water needs in Sheboygan County are met via withdrawals from Lake Michigan. The remaining 43% are dependent on groundwater. Overall, each year wells in the County use approximately 13% of the total water volume that is replenished to the groundwater aquifer by precipitation. [p. 2-37, 2-39] xiv • There is 26.3 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in Sheboygan County. Erosion and bluff stability is a concern in certain areas. [p. 2-1, 2-24] • About 58% of the land in Sheboygan County was in agricultural related uses in 2002. There were 1,116 operating farms*, of which 230 were dairy farms. (*The Census of Agriculture defines a farm as anything that sells over $1,000 of commodities in a year.) There were 195,248 acres in farms in 2002, with an average farm size of 175 acres. Farms in Sheboygan County are generally slightly smaller than the state average. [p. 2-1, 2-61, 2-63] • In 2007, travelers spent $352 million in Sheboygan County, ranking the County 9th in the state in tourist expenditures. [p. 4-3] • County-owned recreation facilities include two multi-purpose trails, over 7,000 acres within the Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park & Wildlife Area, the 110-acre Gerber Lakes Public Fish & Wildlife Area, and 5 lake boat launches. • As of 2008, there were 12 industrial/business parks in Sheboygan County. Of these, 7 had parcels available for new development and one had vacant building space. [p. 4-14, 4-15] • Sheboygan County has 451 miles of roads under its jurisdiction.