TOWN OF FOUNTAIN PRAIRIE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2030 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN PRAIRIE, COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN Town Board Steven D. Rubert, Chair Carl Benck, Supervisor William Gretzinger, Supervisor Steven R. Jacob, Supervisor Eugene Niehoff, Supervisor Linda Henning, Town Clerk/Treasurer Plan Commission Carl Benck, Chair Tom Agnew Jeff Mroz Tom Todd Phil Waterworth Assistance in planning was provided by the Columbia County Planning and Zoning Department Staff John Bluemke, Director of Planning & Zoning Randy Thompson, Planning Administrator Brian Zirbes, Principal Planner Susan Runnion, Office Administrator TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION - THE PLANNING PROGRAM ........................................................ 1 1.2 THE PURPOSE OF PLANNING ...................................................................................... 1 1.3 OVERALL VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................ 2 1.3.1 Overall Vision Statement ......................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Overall Goals and Objectives .................................................................................. 3 1.4 OVERALL EXISTING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES ................................................ 13 1.5 POPULATION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION ............................................ 15 1.5.1 Population .............................................................................................................. 15 1.5.1.1 History and Setting ......................................................................................... 15 1.5.1.2 Population Trends ........................................................................................... 16 1.5.2 Population Characteristics ..................................................................................... 21 1.5.2.1 Gender ............................................................................................................ 21 1.5.2.2 Marital Status .................................................................................................. 21 1.5.2.3 Racial Composition ........................................................................................ 22 1.5.2.4 National Origin ............................................................................................... 22 1.5.2.5 Density ............................................................................................................ 23 1.5.2.6 Natural Increase and Migration ...................................................................... 25 1.5.2.7 Age Distribution & Median Age .................................................................... 26 1.5.2.8 Educational Levels ......................................................................................... 27 1.5.2.9 Income Levels ................................................................................................. 28 1.5.3 Population Forecasts .............................................................................................. 30 1.5.3.1 Department of Administration Projection ...................................................... 30 1.5.3.2 Alternative Projections Based Upon Current Population Trends ................... 31 1.5.3.3 Alternative Projection Based Upon Historic Population Trends .................... 31 1.5.4 Households ............................................................................................................. 32 1.5.4.1 Household Size ............................................................................................... 32 1.5.4.2 Housing Unit Trends ...................................................................................... 33 1.5.4.3 Population Based Household Forecast ........................................................... 34 1.5.4.4 Permit Based Household Forecast .................................................................. 36 1.5.5 Employment ........................................................................................................... 37 1.5.5.1 Labor Force ..................................................................................................... 37 1.5.5.2 Employment Trends ....................................................................................... 37 1.5.5.3 Employment Forecast ..................................................................................... 39 2.0 HOUSING .......................................................................................................................... 41 2.1 HOUSING VISION ......................................................................................................... 41 2.2 HOUSING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ....................................................................... 41 2.3 HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS .................................................................... 42 2.3.1 Columbia County Zoning Ordinance ..................................................................... 42 2.3.2 Columbia County Housing Rehabilitation Program .............................................. 42 2.3.3 Habitat for Humanity ............................................................................................. 42 2.3.4 United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) .................................................... 42 2.3.5 Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) ............................................................................ 42 2.3.6 Town Ordinances ................................................................................................... 43 2.4 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................. 43 2.4.1 Age of Housing Supply .......................................................................................... 43 2.4.2 Units in Structure ................................................................................................... 43 2.4.3 Value of Owner-Occupied Housing ....................................................................... 44 2.4.4 Rent For Non-Farm Housing ................................................................................. 45 2.4.5 Occupancy Characteristics ..................................................................................... 46 2.4.6 Household Size ...................................................................................................... 47 2.4.7 Housing Unit Trends .............................................................................................. 48 3.0 TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................... 50 3.1 TRANSPORTATION VISION ....................................................................................... 50 3.2 TRANSPORTATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ..................................................... 50 3.3 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS ............................................................................... 51 3.3.1 Columbia County Land Division and Subdivision Ordinance .............................. 51 3.3.2 Columbia County Highway Access Control Ordinance ........................................ 51 3.3.3 PASER Program .................................................................................................... 51 3.3.4 Rustic Roads – Wisconsin Department of Transportation ..................................... 52 3.3.5 Other State Road Aid Programs ............................................................................. 52 3.4 STATE AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS ............................................ 53 3.5 FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF ROADWAYS ................................................ 54 3.5.1 Local Roads ........................................................................................................... 54 3.5.2 Collector Roads ...................................................................................................... 54 3.5.3 Arterial Roads ........................................................................................................ 54 3.6 TRAFFIC VOLUMES ..................................................................................................... 54 3.7 TRAFFIC SAFETY ......................................................................................................... 55 3.8 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING TOWN AND COUNTY ROADS ............................... 58 3.9 COUNTY ROAD DESIGN STANDARDS .................................................................... 62 3.10 TOWN ROADWAY DEFICIENCES ............................................................................. 62 3.11 THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ............................................................................ 64 3.11.1 Water Transport ..................................................................................................... 64 3.11.2 Airports .................................................................................................................. 64 3.11.3 Railroads ................................................................................................................ 68 3.11.4 Trucking ................................................................................................................. 69 3.11.5 Public Transit ......................................................................................................... 69 3.11.6 Bicycles .................................................................................................................