After seven years as a CARPC Commissioner, David Pfeiffer was elected Chairperson last month. Get to know our new Chair and the unique perspective he brings to the Commission as a private sector business owner, town government official, and regional planning representative.
David Pfeiffer was appointed to the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission by the Dane County Towns Association in March 2015. In addition to his CARPC duties, progressing from Commissioner to Vice Chair to Chairperson, David also serves as Chair of the Town of Pleasant Springs and Treasurer of the Pleasant Springs Sanitary District and operates an IT consulting firm with his wife.
Commissioner Pfeiffer first joined CARPC at a time of flux, when the Commission was working to redefine its role in the regional planning landscape following changes to state legislation and contention over recent service area amendments. At that time, one of the Commission’s primary goals was to improve CARPC’s effectiveness at working with municipalities to encourage growth that meets both community needs and regional water quality goals.
During his seven-year tenure, David and his fellow Commissioners have worked to establish CARPC as a relied-upon source of information and expertise for Dane County communities. This involved moving away from a strident regulatory stance in favor of collaboration and communication, encouraging municipalities to consider big picture impacts and regional interconnectedness. Reactivity, he explains, builds opposition, while proactivity builds relationships.
As a result of this increased focus on relationship building, David has observed gradual improvements in CARPC’s reputation and effectiveness. Under former Chair Larry Palm’s leadership, communications at Commission meetings have become more collegial and staff have had the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. He believes this shift has helped CARPC make great strides toward building trust among Dane County’s communities.
This year, Commissioner Pfeiffer looks forward to deepening his understanding of the urban planning process and launching the 2050 Regional Development Framework. Updating the region’s land use plan has been a high priority since David first joined the Commission, when CARPC was still operating off of the Vision 2020 plan adopted in 1997. To prepare the updated Framework, input was gathered through many avenues, from community leaders and members of the public who participated in A Greater Madison Vision to municipal staff on the Framework’s Technical Advisory Committee. Commissioner Pfeiffer believes this strategy was of particular importance in creating a plan that reflects the wishes of the regional community at large.
Commissioner Trivia: As a member of one of Wisconsin’s top amateur water ski show teams in the late 70s, Commissioner Pfeiffer executed daring stunts like skiing barefoot and participating in the record largest human pyramid performed at the state ski show tournament. His most unique trick, however, was skiing one-footed on an 18-inch-long toy canoe paddle while holding the rope with his other foot!
Originally from Monona, David earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from UW-Madison, where he also participated in environmental studies curriculum. Having taught himself programming in high school, Commissioner Pfeiffer landed his first IT job working for the Wisconsin State Elections Board while still in college. There, he developed the initial software used to track political contributions and audit campaign finance reports. This experience launched his career in IT consulting, ultimately leading to entrepreneurship with Enterprise Solutions Technology Group in 1996.
Commissioner Pfeiffer believes in taking a holistic approach to planning decisions: everything is related, so it’s important to look at all aspects of a decision and think through potential impacts. He first picked up this philosophy from his father, a science teacher at Monona Grove High School; later, the lesson was reinforced by college coursework in environmental studies.
His introduction to local government began with his local sanitary district. After experiencing dissatisfaction with the district’s operations, he volunteered to join the commission himself when seats became available. Though it’s easy to complain, he says, complaints don’t create change – people stepping up do. Since this initial experience, Commissioner Pfeiffer has taken pride in working to improve government responsiveness to public needs in subsequent public service roles.
Outside of his professional work and public service, Commissioner Pfeiffer enjoys traveling and exploring new cuisines with his wife. He is also a voracious reader and composes piano and electronic music. For the last several decades, David has made regular visits to a cabin on a spring-fed lake in Vilas County, where he enjoys the solitude of the Northwoods and the day-to-day, season-to-season experience of being part of nature.
