Regional planners outline 16–18 month schedule for Dunn County comprehensive plan update

The Planning, Resource and Development Committee on Jan. 15 heard a briefing from the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on a proposed county comprehensive plan and integrated farmland preservation plan update. Susan Badke, deputy director and senior planner with the regional commission, walked the committee through a scope of work that envisions a 16–18 month process with public surveys, focus groups, zone-town meetings and seven committee working sessions.

Badke said the regional commission will handle much of the project management and technical analysis; the plan will include the nine elements required by Wis. Stat. § 66.1001, including housing, transportation, utilities and community facilities, agricultural and natural resources, land use, economic development, intergovernmental cooperation and implementation. She said the farmland preservation plan will be integrated into the comprehensive plan and that the regional commission will coordinate with county Land & Water Conservation on farmland-owner outreach.

County staff and committee members discussed meeting cadence and public participation. Staff noted the county previously adopted a detailed public-participation plan in November 2023; the regional commission’s scope is narrower but is intended to be coordinated with county outreach. Committee members endorsed moving forward and asked staff and regional planners to target the committee’s first February meeting as a kickoff to begin work on survey instruments, stakeholder mapping and a project website to encourage public engagement.