TOWN OF KILDARE
SUMMARY OF PLAN COMMISSION MEETING
November 12, 2007

Present:  Members Thomas Guyse, Dennis Franek, Patti Thompson, Penny Arens, and Beth Onofrio and 1 citizen, Linda Winterstein.            

1.  Call to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Kildare Town Hall by Chairman Guyse.

2.  Public Comments:  None   

3.  Minutes of October 30, 2007 Meeting: Motion made by Franek to accept minutes as presented, second by Onofrio; carried by voice vote of 5 ayes.

4.  NATURAL, AGRICULTURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES Element:

GOALS:  1. Conserve the Town’s major environmental and recreational resources, including floodplains, wildlife habitat, wetlands, woodlands, open spaces, surface and groundwater sources.  2. Protect and support agriculture and timber production as an important economic activity and land use within the Town.  3. Protect surface and groundwater quality. 4. Preserve cultural and historic sites. 
OBJECTIVES:  1. New development in the Town should not negatively impact natural resources.  2. Encourage limited land divisions on prime and productive farm lands.  3. Existing agricultural uses to be taken into consideration when locating new development to avoid conflicts.  4. Encourage and support the preservation of undeveloped lands that serve to minimize flooding such as wetlands and floodplains.  5. Minimize impacts to the Town’s natural resources from non-metallic mineral mining.  6. Develop an information packet regarding natural resources, preservation, and enhancement programs. 
POLICIES:  1. Encourage non-farm development in areas away from intensive agricultural activities in order to minimize farm - non farm conflicts.  2. Discourage the draining or filling of wetlands.  3. Provide interested landowners with woodland management information.  4. Development of non-metallic mining operations should be allowed only on lands that will not conflict with pre-existing development, or adjacent land use.  5. Development proposals should be reviewed for potential impacts to the historical and cultural resources of the Town.  6. Provide an information packet to inform and promote awareness of natural resource programs that may be available to landowners in the Town.  7. Work with adjoining Towns, the County, the State, and individual landowners to maintain current water quality standards.  The Commission decided to review and finalize this element at the next meeting. 

 5.  The remaining elements were finalized as follows:

     ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 
GOALS:  1. Continue the community’s farming tradition and encourage the growth of small or home-based businesses while protecting the Town’s clean environment and rural/woodland characteristics.  
OBJECTIVES:  1. Encourage businesses that do not conflict with a quiet, rural quality of living.  2. Promote awareness of community-based businesses. 
POLICIES:  1. Encourage Town businesses to provide information on products and services available.  2. Encourage businesses that do not negatively impact property values of surrounding areas.  3. Encourage screening (planting or fencing) of industrial/commercial business eyesores that would negatively impact property values of surrounding areas.  4. Review both the financial as well as the aesthetic costs and benefits of a proposed development project prior to approval.  5. Industry should be steered to areas that have the infrastructure to support such a development.  6. Encourage Town businesses to take advantage of low-cost advertising on the Town’s website.

     INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION: 
GOALS:  1. Encourage communication, cooperation, mutual aid, and cost-effective shared services with nearby Towns, the Village of Lyndon Station, City of Mauston, Juneau County, State and Federal agencies. 
OBJECTIVES:  1. Pursue opportunities to provide coordinated, cost-effective services.  2. Promote communication with other units of government, including adjoining municipalities, county, state and federal governments. 
POLICIES:  1. Periodically review existing shared service agreements.  2. Continue to seek new ways to coordinate and share community facilities and services with neighboring communities whenever cost-efficient.  3. Identify alternative solutions to existing or potential land use, administration or policy issues that may hinder intergovernmental cooperation.  4. Meet as needed with adjoining units of government to discuss issues of mutual concern.

    UTILITIES & COMMUNITY FACILITIES: 
GOALS:  1. Provide ambulance, volunteer fire and first responder services to residents.  2. Encourage the use of services offered by the County and State.  3. Encourage maintenance and rehabilitation of existing structures, where feasible. 
OBJECTIVES:  1. Make information available to residents of community services offered by the Town, County, and State on the Town website. 
POLICIES:  1. Ensure the best ambulance, volunteer fire and first responder services are provided to residents.  2. Encourage recycling and clean-up of roadside trash by residents.  3. The Town will continue to provide quality service to residents. 

The committee decided to work on the narratives for the next meeting. Each member is to do a narrative on the element that they have been working on. Dennis Franek volunteered to take the Transportation Element also.

6.  Next meeting is on December 5, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
       Agenda Items: Review the Natural, Agricultural, & Cultural Resources Element to Finalize; Discuss Narratives For Each Element.

7.  Motion by Arens to adjourn, second by Franek; carried by voice vote of 5 ayes. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m

Penny Arens, Secretary 

*Note:  This summary is posted on the town website until the formal minutes are approved.
Contact Secretary, Penny Arens for additional information on specific items.