Regional planner previews draft comprehensive plan and farmland‑preservation update; committee given review timeline

Susan Badke, senior planner and associate assistant director of the West Central Regional Planning Commission, presented the working draft of Dunn County's comprehensive plan and farmland preservation update and asked the PR&D committee to focus review on policy outcomes and implementation actions. She said the RPC has been working with county staff for about 14 months and that the plan was informed by countywide surveys, targeted focus groups and a mailed survey to farmland owners (over 1,300 mailings) with a strong response.

Badke summarized core themes from public engagement: a strong desire to preserve rural character, protect groundwater and surface water quality, and address housing shortages to support the workforce. She described the plan structure (a main plan document with appendices holding data), pointed to a working draft preferred future land‑use map (map 11‑2) and table definitions (table 11‑1) that define terms such as "rural hamlet" or "rural neighborhood," and urged commissioners to prioritize feedback on desired outcomes and policy strategies. She outlined the adoption timeline: preliminary review in July, committee discussion on August 6 (or August 20 if more time is needed), a required 30‑day public‑hearing notice before a hearing and a goal to adopt the plan by November.

Badke and county planner Tammy described multiple feedback methods (email, review form, phone calls, focus‑group drafts), staff assistance for commissioners needing help understanding the maps, and planned outreach (website, interactive map, social media). Committee members were asked to submit comments before the August 6 meeting if possible so staff can prepare substantive policy discussions for the committee.