Pleasant Prairie Community Development Department

Comprehensive Plan

What is Happening with the "Smart Growth" Law and the Village's Comprehensive Plan?

Summary of the New Comprehensive Planning Law:
Significant changes to the planning related statutes for local governments were included in the 1999-2001 Wisconsin biennial budget and are referred to as the "Smart Growth" Law. The changes in the Comprehensive Planning laws are summarized below:

Comprehensive Planning (s. 66.1001 Wis. Stats.)
  • Requires that after January 1, 2010 all programs and actions of the local government that affect land use must be guided by and be consistent with that of the local government's adopted Comprehensive Plan;
  • Defines a comprehensive plan as containing nine (9) required elements:
    • Issues and Opportunities
    • Housing, Transportation
    • Utilities and Community Facilities
    • Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Facilities
    • Economic Development
    • Intergovernmental Cooperation
    • Land Use
    • Implementation
  • Requires public participation at every stage of the Comprehensive Planning process including the adoption of written procedures, notice provisions, the opportunity to review and comment on draft plans, and a required public hearing prior to the Plan adoption;
  • Standardizes the procedure for adopting the Comprehensive Plan, including the Plan Commission recommending the Plan to the Village Board and the Village Board, adopting and enacting the Plan by Ordinance and the Village filing the Ordinance;
  • Requires that copies of the draft and final Comprehensive Plans be sent to adjacent communities, the Wisconsin Land Council, the regional planning commission, and the public library serving the areas and all other area jurisdictions that are located entirely or partially within the boundaries of the community.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan is the community's guide and framework for the planning of future growth and development. The Plan Commission has the statutory responsibility to adopt and maintain the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan includes detailed recommendations relating to: the protection and preservation of natural resources and agricultural resources; the proper arrangement of various residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, and park/recreational land uses; the identification of population and housing projections; the development of transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities; the development of park facilities; the identification of potential sites for neighborhood schools and parks; and the identification of public utilities and facilities to meet the needs of the future population. The Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for preparing neighborhood plans and providing roadway, sewer, water, and storm sewer facilities to serve the new developments in the community.

Does the Village Currently Have a Comprehensive Plan?
Yes; the 343-page "Comprehensive Plan for the Kenosha Urban Planning District", which incorporates the Village of Pleasant Prairie, City of Kenosha, and Town of Somers, was adopted by the Village in June 1996. The Plan, prepared by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), was presented to the Village Plan Commission and Village Board after five (5) years of reviewing draft chapters/plans, researching demographic and land use data, making plan recommendations, making presentations, and holding public hearings and meetings. The SEWRPC work effort, which included maps, tables, charts, and written narrative, was carried out under the direction of a Technical Advisory Committee made up of area elected and appointed officials, representatives of the Kenosha Unified School District, local and County government representatives, and private citizens.

The current Comprehensive Plan is a second generation plan for the District with a design year of 2010. The first Comprehensive Plan completed in 1967 for the Kenosha Urban Planning District had a design year of 1990. Copies of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as newsletter excerpt copies and Comprehensive Plan amendments, have been available at the Village Hall for purchase since 1996.

Has the Comprehensive Plan Been Amended Since 1996?
Yes; the Comprehensive Plan for the Village's portion of the District has been amended by the Plan Commission since 1996 to reflect some Village Board policy changes for the promotion of orderly and economical growth and development in the community.

How is the Village Proceeding to Comply with the "Smart Growth" Law?
Due to the significant costs involved in preparing an update to a Comprehensive Plan and the overall benefits in working cooperatively with neighboring communities and SEWRPC, preliminary discussions have already taken place for the Village to work again with area communities to put together an area-wide Comprehensive Plan that addresses the new law requirements. In the fall of 2004, SEWRPC, with its expertise and resources, has agreed to take on the challenge and to work with Kenosha County and several communities in Kenosha County, including the Village, to prepare a Multi-Jurisdictional Comprehensive Land Use Plan to comply with the new State law and also to apply for a Comprehensive Planning grant for the funding of the Plan. The State's grant announcements will be made in 2005.

How Will the Public be Involved in the Planning Process?
The new law requires public participation at every stage of the planning process. The Village Board "will be required to adopt written procedures that are designed to foster public participation, including open discussions, communication programs, information services, and public meetings."

Tracking "Smart Growth" at the State Level
Several amendments have been introduced over the past few years by various legislators in the State to amend or even abolish the "Smart Growth" Law. Bills are currently in both the State Senate and Assembly to modify the current provisions. While changes are being proposed to the Law, the Village intends to proceed with its efforts to work with Kenosha County to update the Village's Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the new regulations while continuing to monitor the current activities and proposed changes to the law in Madison.