Frank A. Risler, Planning Manager

OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

Pursuant to Section 59.69, Wisconsin Statutes, Planning and Development staff members perform land use planning functions for Racine County. These include short range activities, such as analyzing rezoning requests and conditional use petitions, as well as long range planning activities such as working with towns to develop land use plans for the year 2020 and beyond. As required by the State, Racine County has adopted non-metallic mining rules and regulations (Chap. 21, Racine County Code of Ordinances), which are administered by this Division. Division functions include receiving, processing, and analyzing rezoning petitions and conditional use applications relating to land in the County’s towns. Staff members also critique proposed subdivisions for consistency with good planning principles and the Racine County land division ordinance (Chap. 18). This office is also responsible for monitoring the Racine County zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations to keep them current with changing technologies, lifestyles, and State and federal statutes and regulations. As part of the Division’s subdivision and major development review process, staff members prepare precise neighborhood plans. In addition, Planning and Development is involved in protecting and preserving Racine County's environment through coastal erosion mapping and studies as well as shoreland, wetland, and floodplain management, including shoreland contracts.
 

 EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES

•    Our first goal for 2002 was to perform assigned land use related functions. To accomplish this, the Division processed, reviewed and presented at Planning and Development Committee public hearings: conditional use applications, rezoning petitions and planned unit development rezonings; processed, reviewed, and presented to the Planning and Development Committee for action: site plan review applications; conditional use or site plan extensions or amendments, preliminary subdivision plats, final subdivision plats and extra-territorial plats from incorporated communities; issued non-metallic mining reclamation permits to existing mining operations.
   

•    Our second goal was to work with applicants and municipalities to review and assess questions related to: congestion and overcrowding, safety; sanitation, drainage, the provision of public facilities and utilities, ensuring appropriate land use, conserving natural resources, implementing the County’s comprehensive plan and municipal, watershed, and regional comprehensive plans.
   

•    In furtherance of these goals, Department staff attended monthly plan commission meetings of the Towns of Caledonia, Dover, Norway, Rochester, and Waterford; provided information and recommendations to the Towns of Burlington and Yorkville; prepared several digital ortho-photo maps with multiple information layers using GIS technology, which were used for various presentations to towns and the general public in the form of neighborhood plans, other land use analyses, and inventories. We provided thorough analyses and written reviews for certified survey maps in the Towns of Caledonia, Dover, Norway, Rochester and Waterford; worked with the Towns of Caledonia and Rochester on conservation subdivision ordinances; provided pond information and reviewed applications for projects and issued pond permits; assisted in the development of the All Hazards Mitigation Plan under Project Impact and coordinated the ongoing STH 36 north corridor design plan.
   

•    We also worked with Racine County Information Systems to convert the zoning permit database from QandA to Access.
   

2003 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES

•    Perform land use planning functions for Racine County. Administer and enforce Chapter 21 concerning non-metallic mining reclamation.
   
•    Work with residents and local municipalities to review and assess questions related to congestion and overcrowding, safety, sanitation, drainage, the provision of public facilities and utilities, stabilization of property values, appropriate land use, natural resources conservation, implementation of the County's comprehensive plan and municipal, watershed and regional comprehensive plans and the wise use, preservation, and promotion of Racine County's natural beauty.
   
•    Educate and assist town planning commissions and other local committees in following good land use planning practices and principles by providing staff presence at town planning commission and other local committee meetings.
   
•    Preserve and protect Racine County's natural environment by working toward the implementation of various land use plans through the enforcement of shoreland, floodplain, and wetland provisions and by balancing economic development with environmental protection.
   
•    Work with Racine County Information Systems to digitize forms, applications, and information sheets and make them available electronically.
   

COUNTY BOARD DIRECTIVE

Require that all forms (conditional uses, variances, etc.) be available on line no later than June 30, 2003.