Lincoln County, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan 2012-2021 Effective January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2021

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Lincoln County, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan 2012-2021 Effective January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2021 Lincoln County, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan 2012-2021 Effective January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2021 Completed December, 2011 1 Lincoln County Board of Supervisors Robert Lussow, Chairperson Daniel Caylor, Vice Chairperson James Alber Ronald Mittelsteadt John Bailey Donald Nelson Richard Berndt Ramona Pampuch Ray Bloomer Graham Rankin David Fox Greta Rusch Bruce Giese Frank Saal Ronald Krueger E. Richard Simon Robert Lee Robert Weaver Michael Loka Patricia (Patsy) Woller Arlene Meyer William Zeitz Prepared under the direction of the Lincoln County Planning & Zoning Committee Frank Saal – Chair Ronald Mittelsteadt – Vice Chair Greta Rusch - Secretary Arlene Meyer Donald Nelson 2 Prepared by the Lincoln County Land Services Department Diane Hanson, Land Services Director Primary Author Art Lersch Community Resource Development Educator University of Wisconsin – Extension Lincoln County 3 Acknowledgements The Lincoln County Planning & Zoning Department appreciates the involvement of various community stakeholders in the creation of new Transportation, Housing, Agricultural and Natural Resources, and Economic Development plans for the county. The names and organizations of those persons participating in the planning processes are included in the appropriate section of this comprehensive plan. Also appreciated was the involvement of the Lincoln County Land Services Group consisting of: • Diane Hanson, Land Services Department Head • Randy Scholz, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator • Kevin Kleinschmidt, Forestry, Land & Parks • Dan Miller, Solid Waste/Landfill • Sheila Pudelko, Lincoln County Clerk • Frank Saal, County Board Supervisor • Ron Mittelsteadt, County Board Supervisor • Brian Sladek, Emergency Management • Nancy Bergstrom, Corporation Council • Tim Tarras, Lincoln County Land Information & Conservation Department • Audrey Jensen, Lincoln County Land Information & Conservation Department • Thomas Cadwallader, University of Wisconsin – Extension, Lincoln County • Art Lersch, University of Wisconsin – Extension, Lincoln County 4 Placeholder for County Board Resolution 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 JURISDICTIONAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................................................... 12 ISSUES AND OPPORTUNTIES ................................................................................................................................ 18 PRIMARY FOCUS ELEMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 37 TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 38 HOUSING ....................................................................................................................................................................... 60 AGRICULTURAL , NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES ......................................................................................... 81 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 111 SECONDARY FOCUS ELEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 136 LAND USE ................................................................................................................................................................. 137 UTILITIES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES .............................................................................................................. 176 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ............................................................................................................... 193 IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 196 6 FIGURES FIGURE 1 County Historical Population by Decade ......................................................................... 18 FIGURE 2 Estimated Town Populations ........................................................................................... 19 FIGURE 3 Population Projections by Age ......................................................................................... 20 FIGURE 4 Lincoln County Working Age Population ......................................................................... 21 FIGURE 5 Lincoln County Senior Population ................................................................................... 22 FIGURE 6 Change in Lincoln County Population/Selected Age Groups ......................................... 23 FIGURE 7 County and State Per Capita Income Comparisons ........................................................ 24 FIGURE 8 Top Reasons for Choosing to Live in Lincoln County .................................................... 27 FIGURE 9 Household Ratings of Public Facilities and Services ...................................................... 28 FIGURE 10 Ratings of the County’s Efforts to Guide New Development.......................................... 29 FIGURE 11 Importance of Rural Character ....................................................................................... 32 FIGURE 12 TRANSPORTATION PLAN OUTLINE ...................................................................... 49 FIGURE 13 Total Housing Units ........................................................................................................ 60 FIGURE 14 Lincoln County Housing Types ....................................................................................... 61 FIGURE 15 Age of Lincoln County Housing Stock ............................................................................ 64 FIGURE 16 Lincoln County Home Values ......................................................................................... 65 FIGURE 17 Home Ownership Rates .................................................................................................. 66 FIGURE 18 Projected Households (2000-2030) .................................................................................. 67 FIGURE 19 Lincoln County Zoning Permit History .......................................................................... 68 FIGURE 20 HOUSING PLAN OUTLINE ......................................................................................... 71 FIGURE 21 AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL, CULTURAL RESOURCES PLAN OUTLINE ......... 97 FIGURE 22 Lincoln County Typical & Current Unemployment ....................................................... 111 FIGURE 23 Lincoln County, WI Employment by Industry Sector (NAICS) ..................................... 113 FIGURE 24 Lincoln County Food Share Caseload recipients ........................................................... 114 FIGURE 25 Pace of Job Growth in Merrill ......................................................................................... 115 7 FIGURE 26 Employment Opportunities ............................................................................................ 116 FIGURE 27 Average Annual Wages ................................................................................................... 117 FIGURE 28 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN OUTLINE .................................................... 123 8 MAPS Map 1 Jurisdictional Boundaries (Page 16) Map 2 Lincoln County Road Network & Traffic Counts (Page 38) Map 3 Agricultural Suitability (Page 84) Map 4 Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Page 90) Map 5 Community Facilities & Historic Resources (Page 107) Map 6 Current Land Use (Page 135) Map 7 Existing Parks, Open Spaces & Trails (Page 180) Map 8 Aesthetic Management Zones (Page 182) 9 I. INTRODUCTION Lincoln County is a growing, yet predominantly rural community in northern Wisconsin. The County has experienced accelerated growth in lakefront and recreational home development in recent years as more and more people discover the its abundant natural features and attractive communities. Given its unique natural setting and proximity to major metropolitan areas, the County has potential for significant growth in the future. There is concern in Lincoln County, as well as in communities throughout northern Wisconsin, that unplanned and uncoordinated growth could gradually erode the region’s quality of life. In this context, planned development in a timely, orderly, and predictable manner is essential to preserve Lincoln County’s natural landscape; provide for phased and efficient county services; avoid land use conflicts; protect the environment; provide diverse housing and employment opportunities; and protect and improve the “northwoods” character of the County. To help guide its growth, the County is preparing this updated Lincoln County Comprehensive Plan, 2012-2021 . The purposes of the updated Comprehensive Plan are, very generally, to: • Identify areas appropriate for development and preservation over the next 10 years. • Recommend types of land use for specific areas in the county, and • Identify needed community facilities to serve future land uses. This updated version of the Lincoln County Comprehensive Plan is being prepared under the State of Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth” legislation adopted in 1999 and contained in §66.1001,
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