WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES

Citizens United for Responsible Land Use

A Quarterly Newsletter of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Volume 3, Issue 3 & 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Land Use Institute Fall 1999

1000 Friends of Wisconsin’s flagship Smart Growth Poised environmentally and fiscally piece of legislation, “Smart Growth For responsible. Wisconsin,” is positioned for legislative to Pass Legislature approval this Fall. Smart Growth was • Fourth, Smart Growth establishes a set undefined. approved as part of the 1999-2001 state of broad state policy goals for land use budget by the Joint Finance Committee • Second, Smart Growth would provide planning. Local governments have and the State Senate, but not by the 75% state funding for local planning long been concerned about state Assembly. It is now one of about 200 activities, so that this is not an policies that seem contradictory. The items of disagreement between the unfunded state mandate, yet it does state, with its enormous financial and houses which are being ironed out in a require some local commitment which policy weight, needs to send consistent legislative conference committee. The is important to meaningful buy-in to signals about land use to state budget, already almost local governments. State three months past due, How to Make An Impact With One Phone Call policy goals would remains stuck in the establish a clear direction. conference committee as of Smart Growth is one step away from passage. You can help this writing. put it over the top by contacting your legislators. Here’s how. • Fifth, Smart Growth Smart Growth would be an Call the toll free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472. The would ask the University historic improvement in Hotline will get your message to your legislators, even if you of Wisconsin Extension to how we do land use don’t know their names. develop a model traditional

planning and decision- Want to have a bigger impact? Contact them by e-mail. You neighborhoods ordinance making in Wisconsin. And can find your legislators and write them by accessing the to establish common lot an improvement is badly Legislature’s web site at www.legis.state.wi.us. sizes, street widths, needed. A 1998 University building set backs and of Wisconsin Extension Finally, a thoughtful letter is still the most effective way to other development report found that only 29% persuade your representatives. You can write your own letter parameters for compact, of all Wisconsin — or call or email us and we’ll get you a personalized letter neighborly, walkable communities had any kind that you can simply sign and mail. communities. Every of land use plan and that For representatives with last names ending in A-L: municipality in Wisconsin many of those were P.O. Box 8952 above 5,000 in population outdated, inadequate or Madison, WI 53708 would be required to adopt

ignored. Smart Growth For representatives with last names ending in M-Z: the model ordinance. would require communities P.O. Box 8953 However, the decision to to have plans that are Madison, WI 53708 approve traditional comprehensive, to follow neighborhood those plans once adopted For all senators: P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707 developments would and to show how their plans continue to be a local one. would fight sprawl. The ordinance would open the plan. the door to development proposals These are the major points of our • Third, a Smart Growth Dividend that are more compact and less auto- legislation: would be provided to communities dependent than the typical large lot • First, it supplies a uniform definition starting in the year 2005. The subdivision. of what a comprehensive plan should dividend would be available only to contain. Our current state laws refer communities with a comprehensive • Sixth, Smart Growth would require to all kinds of plans, but leave the plan in place and only if the communities to designate “Smart term “comprehensive plan” community is following its plan and growing in ways that are (Continued on page 3)

1 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES Board of Directors Senator Gaylord Nelson, Emeritus Board Chair From the Desk of the Director

1000 Friends of Wisconsin This summer has seen more activity on the land use policy front than perhaps Don Last, President ever before in Wisconsin. As we report in this newsletter, our Smart Growth Stevens Point legislation teeters only one step away from passage in the Legislature as does our Bev Anderson, Darlington proposal for a dramatically expanded Stewardship land protection fund. The long Dennis Boyer, Linden debate over the land use impacts of new septic system technologies may be headed Marigen Carpenter, Neenah toward a positive solution. In addition, the stage is being set for progress on reform of Wisconsin’s 20 year-old and limping Farmland Preservation Program. Walter John Chilsen, Wausau Arlen Christensen, Madison After better than two decades of little or no progress in land use legislation, why David Cieslewicz, Madison is so much happening so fast? The first answer that comes to my mind is self- Emily Earley, Madison serving: us! When we formed our organization three years ago, 1000 Friends of Robert Ellingson, Amherst Wisconsin vowed to put a positive land use agenda before the Legislature and to Kristine Euclide, Monona fight vigorously for its enactment. We’re doing exactly that. So, I don’t think it’s Jim Holperin, Eagle River just self-congratulatory to say that a big part of the reason for this progress is 1000 Charles James, Milwaukee Friends. Bud Jordahl, Madison Tom Quinn, Menomonie But there’s more to it. We have been able to pull together an unusual coalition Roger Shanks, Merrimac of groups behind our Smart Growth initiative. That coalition, brought together by Jeanie Sieling, Fitchburg our board member and UW professor Brian Ohm, includes groups as diverse as the Deb Slavin, Middleton Realtors, the Sierra Club, the Towns Association and the Alliance of Cities. There Charles Trainer, Milwaukee is a broader recognition that Wisconsin’s population is growing, that growth is not Jim Van Deurzen, Mazomanie often being managed well, and that in order to protect and enhance our quality of life we need to get a handle on it. 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Land Use Institute Most importantly, this recognition of the problems and the opportunities for Jeanie Sieling, President solutions extends beyond interest groups in Madison to Wisconsin citizens Fitchburg everywhere. After all, 1000 Friends wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our 1,800 Judith Adler, Janesville members in 250 communities all over the state. In a very real sense, we’re starting to make progress in reigning in sprawl because of you. Jim Arts, Madison Juli Aulik, Madison Soon, maybe even before you receive this newsletter, the state budget will be David Cieslewicz, Madison passed – with or without our Smart Growth and Stewardship proposals. Of course, Lindberg Ekola, Superior we aim to win on those issues. But win or lose, we’ll be back in the Legislature John Imes, Madison with more ideas for reform later this fall. We will be there, thanks to you. Erika Kent, Waukesha Larry Kirch, LaCrosse Dave Cieslewicz, Director Don Last, Stevens Point Bryce Luchterhand, Unity Brian Ohm, Madison Dan Olson, Stevens Point Ruth Oppedahl, Washburn Wish list Bryan Pierce, Eagle River If you have been surfing the web lately, you may have happened upon our website Glenn Reynolds, Primrose at www.1000friendsofwisconsin.com. Jay Tappen, Eau Claire Kim Verhein, Waukesha We hope that as more people become concerned Meagan Yost, Poynette about land use, they will seek out our site to learn Thank you! about what we are doing to protect Wisconsin’s Staff As is the case with most non- landscapes. profit organizations — many of

our goals could not be achieved David Cieslewicz, Director We need help updating, maintaining and keeping without the help of those Andrea Dearlove, Asst. Director this website easily accessible to our members and individuals who volunteer their Carrie Hirsch, Program Asst. others. If you like working with websites, are time, energy and skills to us. We Lisa MacKinnon, Counsel comfortable working with Adobe, and would like would like to thank the following Lisa Nett, Gvmt. Relations Asst. to volunteer 5 to 10 hours a month working on folks for all of their work: Kathy Bero, Waukesha Field Rep. the website, please call Andrea Dearlove at 608/259-1000.

2 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES Stewardship Reauthorization: proposal adopted by the A Once In A Decade Opportunity Senate. The $350 million A few weeks ago, the Department Meanwhile, Wisconsinites are program would not even reach the of Natural Resources announced the program’s 1990 buying power. A “Great Addition,” a purchase of always finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors and our understanding $600 million program would bring 32,000 acres in Wisconsin’s north it back to its original buying power woods. At $25 million, the Great of biological diversity and the need to protect it is increasing. While and add initiatives to meet new Addition would account for all of challenges and opportunities like the state’s land acquisition money the total state population was up 5% between 1990 and 1995, state the Great Addition purchase. for an entire year and it points at the importance of renewing the state park visitors increased 15%, trail Is it too much money? Well, Stewardship Fund at a much higher users were up 107%, visitors to consider that if Stewardship had level. state forests rose 19%, registered matched the increases in the state snowmobiles were up 28% and prison program over the last ten The Stewardship Fund is a program 13% more deer hunting licenses years, it would be a $2.5 billion to protect land for public outdoor were sold. The DNR estimates that program, instead of the $600 recreation and habitat protection. If almost 200,000 acres of sensitive million program we are you ride your bike on the Military natural areas, home to endangered recommending. And keep in Ridge State Trail, camp in Devil’s species of plants and animals, must mind that Stewardship represents Lake State Park or enjoy natural be protected. Meanwhile, not a only one-tenth of one percent of areas in the Baraboo Hills and the penny was added to the the entire state budget. Land Northern Highland State Forest, you Stewardship Fund and its buying protection is a permanent have experienced just a small power was severely eroded. investment. Once protected these

fraction of the benefits of this lands will be available for our program. Now is the time to act to replenish the Fund. Stewardship is a 10-year children and their children. Even But there’s a problem. Started in program that must be reauthorized the Devil’s Lake and Peninsula 1990, the Fund has been frozen at by the Legislature this year for the state parks purchases were $23.1 million per year ever since, next decade. A conference controversial at the time, but today while land prices and the general committee hammering out we are all grateful for the foresight state budget have been anything but of those who created those parks. differences between the Senate and flat. Land prices have nearly Assembly versions of the budget The Stewardship Fund is an doubled since 1990, cutting the must decide between 10-year investment we make for future Fund’s buying power roughly in reauthorizations at $350 million generations, for our own half while the overall size of the approved by the Assembly or the enjoyment and for the biological state budget has increased by almost $600 million 1000 Friends diversity that supports and 50% over that same period. enhances our Smart Growth, continued from first page lives and Growth Areas” to which local and state infrastructure would be directed.

• Finally, by 2010 Smart Growth would link comprehensive planning to most local land use decisions. One of the major failings of our current system is that some communities invest significant resources in planning processes which produce fine plans only to have them ignored when it comes to on-the-ground decisions. Under Smart Growth, plans would have to be taken seriously.

An unprecedented coalition of groups has come together in support of the Smart Growth initiative. In addition to 1000 Friends, organizations in support of Smart Growth include the Wisconsin Builders Association, the Sierra Club, Citizens for a Better Environment, the Wisconsin Association of Planners, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the Wisconsin Towns Association and the Alliance of Cities. It is probably not inaccurate to say that these groups have never agreed on any one proposal in the past.

The catalyst for this agreement is a common recognition that growth is occurring in our state and that this growth can be better channeled through intelligent planning and decision-making based on the best information available. Projections are that Wisconsin will add about 400,000 new households over the next 20 years. The question is not whether those households will come, but where to put them. Smart Growth is only one part of our 40 point WisConservation agenda, but it can be a big part of the solution to sprawl.

3 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES

How a Community Group Saved a Movie Palace Yet we knew we had a worthy This is another in a series of occasional articles by successful fight. community organizers. We hope these stories will inspire and inform others fighting for a sense of place in their communities.

By Joe Lusson Over the decades, the Strategies Orpheum has showed • Meet the opposition. Last fall, a group of six citizens, countless movies and has Before taking a public stance, I one visionary businessman, and hosted performers such as met with the people who innumerable allies stopped Benny Goodman, Houdini, supported the IMAX plan in developers from destroying Ginger Rodgers, and Bob order to accurately understand Madison’s historic Orpheum Marley. In recent years it has their plans and to ensure a more Theatre. Today that businessman exclusively shown first-run civil debate. owns the theatre. He is giving it movies. new life and embarking on an • Positive image. ambitious restoration effort. This By 1998, the theatre was still We chose the name “Preserve effort successfully preserved a in remarkably good shape, yet the Orpheum” because it piece of historic Madison while most people had no idea what indicated our specific and maintaining a centrally located a treasure it was. The out-of- positive goal of preservation. movie theatre for downtown town owner, who had done

residents, employees and little to maintain or promote it, • Spokesperson. had quietly We chose one person to handle entertained media interviews, giving the purchase group an accessible, inquiries for recognizable face and single years. A local voice. non-profit

foundation eventually • Correspondence and press purchased a legal releases. option to buy the Another person handled press theatre. They releases, thank-you notes and planned to distributed fact sheets to people remove the who wrote to our post office balcony and all box. the seats, level the floor and • Public education. install a five- In the press, the IMAX proposal photo by Julie Chambers story box to house an IMAX came across as a harmless students. theatre. This would destroy or “theatre to theatre” obscure the Orpheum’s unique transformation that would draw Hopefully, our example can interior. hundreds of thousands of annual provide inspiration to others visitors. Most of the public and faced with the daunting task of By the time our group – media were unfamiliar with the influencing land use and historic Preserve the Orpheum -- Orpheum’s beauty and grandeur preservation decisions. formed, the foundation and the damage that would be “We had claimed to have raised $2.5 done through the IMAX Circumstances million of the $4.5 million transformation. So we informed reached the Madison’s Orpheum Theatre they needed to purchase and the public through an attractive often feared opened in 1927, as a combination remodel the theatre. Financial brochure and a publicity “it’s a done vaudeville/movie house. commitments, press coverage, campaign explaining the threat deal” point. Designed by renowned Chicago no apparent opposition and an to the ornate interior. Yet we knew architects Rapp and Rapp, the option to purchase made our 1,800 seat palace features an we had a group’s task seem impossible. • Petition campaign. worthy ornate French Renaissance We had reached the often fight.” interior and art deco exterior. feared “it’s a done deal” point.

4 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES In order to lend further tried to respond to rising public Soliciting petition signatures gave credibility to the effort, we concerns, they co-opted many us exposure, insights to public formed an advisory board of our preservation themes, but sentiment, historic anecdotes, including politicians and couldn’t produce drawings or valuable contacts, a priceless respected business, cultural and details. As the time ran out on mailing list and an e-mail preservation leaders (including their option to buy, Henry network. It represented 1000 Friends). In addition to Doane remained in contact with momentum and strength. their valuable advice, their the owner. Ironically, we never had to names on our letterhead carried present our 4,000 signatures to symbolic weight. Equally Finally, in December, the anyone. important were a few IMAX developers’ option ran unpublicized advisors who out and their largest private • Historical research. provided tips on the art and donor withdrew his money. The Details from the state historical business communities. next day, the owner began society, public library and negotiations with Henry Doane. landmark nomination papers • Town hall meeting. By mid-April 1999, the fueled our public statements. We were fortunate to have purchase was finalized and the piqued the interest of the Orpheum was in safe hands. • Interior photos. Madison Trust for Historic We obtained stunning current Preservation who decided to The theatre has remained open photos of the Orpheum’s interior. host a town hall meeting at the entire time as a movie Displayed at public events, these which both sides would be house. Renovations are under countered false claims that the presented. We mailed 2,000 way to tastefully and sensitively theatre was “in tatters.” postcards inviting our add a restaurant to the lobby, supporters and packed the 250- while restoring original • Public appearances. seat hall. chandeliers and sconces that We reserved tables at the Dane have been in storage for 30 County Farmers Market and • Viable alternative. years. Plans include a mixture neighborhood festivals, spoke to Fortunately, we had a strong of live music, foreign, vintage

neighborhood associations, and committed ally in Henry preservation and political groups. Doane, a longtime Madison New Heritage Trust resident who owns two Program Approved • Positive attitude. restaurants downtown and cares We tried not to attack developers deeply about historic The state budget will contain a personally, nor the owner of the preservation. Thorough new program to help preserve theatre, nor the IMAX product. preparation led to his Wisconsin’s historic buildings We focused on the beauty and announcement at the town hall and places. The Wisconsin value of the Orpheum. When meeting that he would offer to Heritage Trust is a ten year $20 asked to participate in an anti- purchase and preserve the million program to provide grants corporate march from the new Orpheum. This finally gave the and low interest loans for historic media and public reason to preservation efforts. Starbucks coffee shop to the Orpheum, we declined. doubt that the IMAX was The Trust, a 1000 Friends “We tried inevitable. The initial WisConservation agenda item and not to attack • Allies. “conventional wisdom” that the the result of efforts of the developers We sought strategic and symbolic movie palace was doomed Wisconsin Historic Preservation allies to boost our credibility. We began to erode. Mr. Doane Partnership (a coalition of groups personally, followed through by making the nor the approached business owners, who support historic preservation groups, politicians purchase offer and proceeded to owner of the preservation), was included in and the campus film community. develop a positive relationship both the Senate and Assembly theatre, nor with the owner. versions of the state budget and the IMAX • National resources. will be included in the budget sent product. We We gained valuable information Results to Governor Thompson. The focused on from the League of Historic Our positive publicity began to program will be administered by the beauty American Theatres, the National turn public sentiment in our the State Historical Society. and value of Trust for Historic Preservation favor. This was likely a and others. significant factor in cutting off Assuming budget passage this the Fall, the program could be up and the IMAX developers’ Orpheum.” running by early next year. • Advisory board. fundraising. As the developers

5 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES Welcome New Members ... and Thank You!

We would like to recognize those who have joined our fight to promote Kerwin, Bob, 1604 sound land use decision making in Wisconsin. We also thank those Kilmer, Richard, 1523 members who have increased their investment in our organization’s work. Kinney, Michael, 1631 The following list includes the names of our new members, followed by Klawitter, Sharon, 1568 their membership numbers, who have joined us since March. Welcome! Korpela, Ernest, 1638 Krings, Steve, 1639 Simonsen, Skip & Joedy, 1545 Friends Circle Members Landscape Alternatives, Lynn Marsh, Sinderson, Steve, 1520 Friends Circle Members support 1574 Slesinger, Doris & Ed Wellin, 1550 our organization at levels of $1000 Langer, Mark & Anita, 1516 Soffa, Marguerite, 1603 or higher. Lindquist, Perry, 1590 Spring, Steve & Sue, 1635 Lotz, Robert, 1607 Earley, Emily, 10 Statz, David & Denise, 1552 Lynn Haasl, Mary, 1537 Stieg, Scott, 1628 MacKie, Sally, 1572 Friends Society Members Winkle, Jim &Bonnie Madison , Jerry & Nelda, 1599 Friends Society Members support Schmidt,1536 Malone, Bill & Barbara, 1518 our organization at levels of $500 to Zagozen, Judy, 1642 Martin, Lisa, 1532 $999. Zauner, Richard, 1637 Merkes, Donald, 1610 Beutner, Grant, 1616 Zeller, Reynold, 1555 Meyer, Mina, 1600 Dermond, Max & Sandra, 1547 Bader, Daniel & Linda, 1606 Basic Membership Miller, Tom, 1623 Mossman, Mike, 1601 Basic Membership supporters give Friends Muench, Dave, 1586 $35 to $99 annually. Nussbaum, Mitchell, 1602 Friends support our organization at Alpine, Amy, 1611 levels of $100 to $499. Olson, N.F., 1531 Anibas, Robert, 1573 Oppedahl, Ruth, 1589 Brick, Ed & Lois, 1618 Baskfield, Jerry & Mary Ann, 1526 Carlson, Karen, 1629 Penn, Randall, 1644 Bennett, Jesse, 1023 Poppe, Tom, 1534 Church, Charles, 1580 Boone, Vera, 1592 Daub, Ed & Liba, 1524 Ptacek, Mara, 1566 Brabender Mattox, Shirley, 1615 Railey, Linda, 1549 Dennis, Barbara, 1587 Brady, Maureen, 1528 Droste, Sabine, 1605 Rand, Robert, 1529 Christofferson, Bill, 1625 Robertson, Sylvia, 1554 Duersten, Nancy, 1633 Ciepluch, David, 1543 Eaton, Helen & Stevenson, 1636 Rohan, Joan, 1634 Craig, Jane, 1538 Salway, Mary Kay, 1560 Fish, Art & Virginia, 1595 Danielson, Rob & Terese Goetz, Gene, 1632 Schalch, Don & Joanne, 1588 Agnew, 1515 Scheberle, Denise, 1630 Goodman, Idy, 1557 Danielson, Lynn & Tim Grauer, Curt & Ruth, 1540 Shively, Neil & Jacqueline Ann, 1517 Chapman, 1553 Shumway, Bernice & Dean, 1640 Gruder, Sherrie, 1559 DeBardeleben, Helen, 1571 Hakanson, Karl & Terri Sloniker, Susan, 1613 Dettinger, Glenn, 1541 Stanley, Terri & John Hibbard, 1583 Colamatteo, 1614 Dodd, Eugene, 1593 Heideman, Robert & Carroll, 1563 Stark, Sandy, 1542 Dolan, Linda, 1519 Stix, Sally & Michael McDermott, Hill, Emily J., 1584 Dugan, Cathy, 1619 Hodgman, Suzanne, 1521 1612 Ebbott, John, 1577 Stone, Andrew, 1626 Karlson, Trudy, 1576 Finet, David, 1562 This list Kaster, Pat, 1578 Stueber, Jerome, 1544 should include Frey, Mary, 1533 Szymanski, Steve, 1643 Knight, James &Lisa Ferin, 1620 Greenfield, Susan, 1594 all our new Krueger, Ron, 1565 Thomas, Ron, 1570 members from Greulich, James, 1569 Thompson, Linda, 1579 March 1999 Lawton, Barbara, 1527 Haggie, Woody & Inga, 1597 Leah Ritz, Esther, 1567 Toulmin, Charles, 1564 to the date of Haines, Dorothy, 1596 this printing. Lightfoot, E.N., 1575 Uhrinak, Jim, 1535 Hansen, Kathleen, 1598 Wade, Joe & Cathy, 1624 If we have Lubbers, Joel & Mary, 1622 Harris, Grandon & Dorothy, 1525 inadvertently Maclay, Tod, 1591 Wagner, Richard, 1530 Hutnik, Brad & Mary, 1561 Webster, Mark, 1556 missed your Mink, Lisa, 1617 Hutsick, Martha, 1585 name, please Moede, Hans, 1609 Wilson, Beth, 1558 call us and we Ihm, Mark, 1582 Zanzi, Jim, 1627 Mohs, Thomas & Nancy, 1581 Jahn, Heidi, 1621 will note it in our next Progressive Designs, 1608 Jensen, Kris, 1546 newsletter. Schapiro, Renie, 1641 Johnson, Frances R., 1539 Schwalbe, Laura, 1522

6 WISCONSIN LANDSCAPES Around Wisconsin... The PROTECT THE KICKAPOO Gathering Leopold Conference comes to the Monona Terrace in Madison, October 4 - 7 October 1-3, Ontario, Wisconsin Conservation leaders from across the continent will The scenic and peaceful beauty of the Kickapoo celebrate the legacy of Aldo Leopold and look Valley will be destroyed by the WI Department of forward to conservation’s next century at a Transportation’s plan to cut a new major truck route conference titled, “Building on Leopold’s Legacy: through the narrow valley along the Kickapoo River. Conservation for a New Century.” Confirmed Their plan calls for cutting the hillsides, filling the speakers include Leopold family members, Natural valleys and wetlands and widening the clearing of the Resources Conservation Chief Pearlie Reed, Abenaki present road 4-10 times its present width. elder Joseph Bruchac, and U.S. Forest Chief Michael

Domback. To register, visit the conference website at Local residents, environmentalists and sportsmen and www.wisc.edu/wesacad/landethic/ or call Michael women will come together to draw a line in the sand Strigel at 208/263.1692. the weekend of October 1-3. Please join them by canoe, bike, horse, buggy, or foot for the trek down Now Available from UW-Extension the valley five miles from Ontario to the old Billings Publications: “Guide to Community Planning Creek School for an important rally to fight this road. in Wisconsin” This weekend rally is intended to send a message to Written by UW Assistant Professor in Urban and the governor and legislature that we will not tolerate Regional Planning Brian W. Ohm, this book is an paving over any more of our precious natural lands. invaluable resource guide for planners, developers, attorneys, citizens and local officials interested in Weekend activities include: a rally, fly fishing, planning issues. It is 275 pages long and includes guided nature hikes, a SPECIAL SATURDAY information about plan commissions, community CONCERT with Larry Long, speakers including Ben design, zoning, subdivisions, transportation, housing, Logan, local music artists, food and more. agriculture, natural resources and many other issues. To obtain copies, call 608/262-3346. Outside For information on how to register or how to Madison call toll free 1/877-WIS-PUBS (947-7827). support this effort, please call 608/625-2042. The cost is $20 plus shipping and handling.

New State Policy Would Open 9 Million Acres to Development

Some of Wisconsin’s most cherished landscapes would be opened to increased development pressure under an administrative rule being pushed by developers and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. This rule, known as “Comm 83” referring to its placement in the department’s code book, would allow the use of experimental septic system technologies in new construction.

Millions of acres have been off limits to development because of natural limitations in soil depth or because of steep slopes. This has been a lucky coincidence because much of this land – places like the Baraboo Bluffs and Door County -- is also some of the most sensitive and beautiful in the state. Many wildlife species have taken advantage of the refuge provided by the lack of development in these places. Comm 83 would wipe out these natural limitations by allowing technologies that might work with only six inches of natural soil beneath them. The department’s own study admits that nine million acres (25% of the Wisconsin landscape) would be open to increased development pressure by the rule. The department’s response is that land use impacts should be left to planning and zoning. But only 22% of the areas most heavily impacted by the rule have any land use plan at all and one out of three has no zoning.

1000 Friends has asked the Legislature to stop the rule until: 1) Land use plans and zoning in accordance with our Smart Growth proposal are in place; 2) Independent studies have been done to prove that the new systems are safe for groundwater; 3) Local governments have the resources they need to protect land and groundwater under this new, more complex code.

As of this writing, the department had agreed to consider slowing the rule and making modifications, but no agreement had been reached. 1000 Friends has committed to join other organizations in a law suit to stop the rule if the department will not reach a negotiated agreement, but we hope to avoid going to court.

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Rule Would Open 9 Million Acres to Development Development to Acres Million 9 Open Would Rule q q

Stewardship Headed for Reauthorization Reauthorization for Headed Stewardship q q

Smart Growth Poised to Pass Legislature Legislature Pass to Poised Growth Smart q q

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