Local Officials Support Land Use Goals and Objectives
Responding to a survey from the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, local government officials in Dane County strongly supported draft goals and objectives for regional land use. Officials overwhelmingly agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to promote land use that:
- Fosters community resilience to climate change
- Increases access to jobs, housing, and services
- Conserves farmland, water resources, and natural areas
Each goal included four specific objectives that survey takers considered when registering their opinion.
Most officials also reported that related goals and objectives are already a part of their community’s long-range plans or initiatives. Of those who said they did not have such goals and objectives, the majority said they were open to the possibility.
CARPC sent the survey to all local elected officials, plan commission members, and key staff such as administrators, clerks, and planners. 148 people responded for a response rate of 38%, representing most municipalities in Dane County.
To prepare the draft goals, CARPC drew from key findings from the 2018 survey by A Greater Madison Vision.
CARPC issued the survey to gather feedback as part of its work to prepare a new Regional Development Plan. This advisory plan to guide future development is needed in our fast-growing region. The current plan, drafted in the 1990s, is past its useful life.
Additional work still needs to be done to build consensus on the meaning of the draft goals and objectives and to articulate the roles that everyone will play in realizing them. In the coming months, CARPC will conduct additional outreach and have further discussions with local communities on the meaning of the goals and objectives and the measurements used to assess progress towards their achievement. CARPC will then use this information to project future land use needs and opportunities, prepare future land use maps, draft implementation strategies, and prepare a draft and final Regional Development Plan.
For more information contact Steve Steinhoff, Agency Director, at steves@capitalarearpc.org.