City of Beaver Dam Comprehensive Plan Preliminary Draft for Intergovernmental Meeting July 2008 Table of Contents Introduction 1 Issues and Opportunities 4 Housing and Neighborhood Development 11 Transportation 20 Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources 30 Economic Development 43 Land Use 57 [DRAFT 07/14/08] Introduction The Value of a Comprehensive Plan doing so, the Plan also seeks to foster a sustainable economy that is in keeping with its character. When we think about places we have visited or lived, some stand out as models of natural beauty and This plan is a blueprint for community‐wide action human comfort, supported by thriving local over the next 20 years. Action must come from all economies. The most satisfying places to live, work, segments of the community – business owners, and raise families are communities that meet the residents, and visitors ‐ not just from City needs of commerce and individual expression, and Government. Everyone must be involved and provide opportunities to explore and conserve our dedicated to making needed improvements and to natural environment. continue those efforts that have already had a positive influence. Great communities do not grow by accident or without public debate and agreed‐upon guidelines. Collaborative planning processes and comprehensive Wisconsin “Smart Growth” Legislation plans are the building blocks of such great communities. Planning helps maintain and promote As part of the state’s 1999‐2000 biennial budget, livable, vital communities. Governor Thompson signed into law what is referred to as the “Smart Growth” legislation (1999 Wisconsin The City of Beaver Dam is a great place to live. Our Act 9). Smart Growth legislation significantly changed neighborhoods are safe and affordable, we have a the stature of comprehensive planning in the state fantastic park system, and Beaver Dam Lake offers and placed it very high on the “to do” list. Although wonderful recreational opportunities. The City is well state statutes do not require local governmental units loved by residents and visitors alike. This to adopt comprehensive plans consistent with the Comprehensive Plan outlines how to maintain what requirements, it provides that if a local governmental we like about our community, and identifies key unit does not do so by January 1, 2010, it may not improvements to make our community even better. enforce existing or adopt new ordinances, plans or regulations that in anyway affect land use. This plan is intended to capture a shared vision for the City. It is a statement reflecting community pride If a community wants to prepare a comprehensive and how residents want the City to manage growth plan, it must follow various substantive and and development in the future. This Plan will help procedural requirements. State statutes define nine elected officials make decisions that reflect the short‐ areas that need to be addressed in a community’s and long‐term wishes of the community. It will help comprehensive plan: prioritize the City’s human and financial resources to 1. Issues and opportunities (Chapter2) provide the necessary public infrastructure and 2. Housing (Chapter 3) amenities needed to maintain a high quality of life. In 3. Transportation (Chapter 4) 1 [DRAFT 07/14/08] 4. Utilities and community facilities (Chapter 5) A Community Process 5. Agricultural, natural, and cultural resources (Chapter 6) The planning process set out to celebrate and protect 6. Economic development (Chapter 7) the diversity of lifestyles and interests within our 7. Intergovernmental cooperation (Chapter 8) community, build on the strengths of our community 8. Land use (Chapter 9) in achieving our goals, and guide the future of the 9. Implementation (Chapter 10) city. The Smart Growth legislation also outlines specific In order to fulfill this charge, the Plan Commission procedures for public participation that must be took seriously the process of engaging as many followed as part of the comprehensive planning residents as possible in the comprehensive planning process. Specifically, a municipality must hold at least process. The Plan Commission’s job was not merely one public hearing on the plan and notify the public to produce a report, but to reach out and collaborate at least 30 days in advance of this hearing. In an with the community, to educate residents about effort to foster meaningful public input, the City of planning, and to involve them in developing the plan. Beaver Dam provided additional opportunities for These goals stem from the fundamental aim of the public involvement, as outlined below. A copy of the planning process: to engage residents in building City of Beaver Dam’s public participation plan can be community consensus for a vision for Beaver Dam’s found in Appendix A. future. Public Visioning Workshop Past Planning Efforts The planning process began with a public visioning workshop in January 2008, conducted by Crispell‐ The most recent planning effort resulted in the Snyder, Inc who was hired by the City to assist with adoption of a master plan in 1999. MSA Professional the Comprehensive Plan. Members of the community Services prepared the document on behalf of the met in small groups to engage in a guided discussion City. The plan follows a traditional approach to on what the current assets, issues, and opportunities comprehensive planning; however, it does not meet are in the community and to identify specific top the new requirements of state law for comprehensive priority goals and actions for the comprehensive plan. planning in all respects. Notes from this meeting, including individual responses to the discussion questions, can be found Given the new legislation, the City felt that it would in Appendix B. be appropriate to create a new plan from scratch, rather than revising and reorganizing the 1999 Plan Focus Groups to meet the new requirements. Ideas and In January 2008 Crispell‐Snyder conducted nine focus recommendations from the 1999 Plan were groups with a total of 25 individuals identified by the incorporated into this plan where appropriate. Upon Plan Commission. These focus groups covered a wide adoption, this plan will supersede the 1999 Plan and range of topics and were designed to solicit all other previously adopted comprehensive plans. additional insight into key issues. The following [Note: More detail will be added to this section] groups met for 30‐45 minutes each: 2 [DRAFT 07/14/08] • Economic Development Focus Group goals, objectives, and actions for the plan. A draft • Utilities and Engineering Focus Group plan was completed in _________ and an open house • Lake Focus Group was held to again seek public input. The plan was • Natural Resources and Parks Focus Group then revised based on comments received at the open house, and a final plan was approved and • Business Owners Focus Group adopted on __________ following a public hearing. • Schools Focus Group • Historical Society Focus Group [Note: This section will be expanded on later.] • Rental Property Owners Focus Group • Realtors Focus Group Regional Cooperation City‐Wide Survey A key theme in this Comprehensive Plan is the In February 2008, the Plan Commission, with the interrelationship among the various aspects of our assistance of Crispell‐Snyder, Inc and the Taurean daily lives. These interrelationships often extend well Group, conducted a city‐wide survey to collect public beyond municipal lines and are regional in nature. input for the comprehensive plan. The survey was The City of Beaver Dam is part of a broader made available in two forms: 1) on the internet via a geographic area and economic market that influences link from the city’s website; and 2) in hard copy at the everything from where we choose to shop and live to City Hall, Public Library, Senior Center, and other what areas we visit to hike and swim. public locations. Everyone over the age of 10 was encouraged to fill out the survey. Approximately X An over‐arching principle of the Plan is that the City people returned the survey. of Beaver Dam will work proactively with Dodge County, Town of Beaver Dam, Town of Trenton, and A report analyzed results from the survey, state and federal agencies to cooperatively address documenting what residents identified as priorities regional issues, such as natural resources, public and goals for a comprehensive plan and the best infrastructure, and consumer, employment, and strategies for achieving these goals. A copy of this housing markets. report on the survey results can be found in Appendix C. The State of Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning legislation adopted in 1999 requires that Website and Newspaper Articles municipalities work cooperatively to address regional Throughout the process, regular updates to the City’s issues. As part of the planning process, two official website as well as several articles in the paper kept meetings were held with nearby municipalities and the community informed and encouraged the county to discuss regional issues and seek involvement. agreement on inter‐municipal planning issues. Informal conversations throughout the process helped to ensure a collaborative and mutually‐ Open House and Plan Adoption beneficial planning process. Based on input from the public and extensive data and analysis provided by the planning consultants, the Plan Commission worked to identify specific 3 [Draft 07/14/08] Issues and Opportunities For reference while drafting this section – Remove before publication Issues and opportunities element. Background information on the local governmental unit and a statement of overall objectives, policies, goals and programs of the local governmental unit to guide the future development and redevelopment of the local governmental unit over a 20–year planning period. Background information shall include population, household and employment forecasts that the local governmental unit uses in developing its comprehensive plan, and demographic trends, age distribution, educational levels, income levels and employment characteristics that exist within the local governmental unit.