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TOWN OF KILDARE PLAN COMMISSION

SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION MEETING

 

September 1, 2007

 

 

 Tom Guyse, Chairperson of Town of Kildare Plan Commission, opened the meeting at 9:10 a.m. in the Lyndon Village Hall. Thirty-six citizens and four Plan Commission members were present.

 

Guyse thanked everyone for coming and said he appreciated the good turnout, considering it was a holiday weekend. Then he turned the meeting over to Linda Winterstein.

 

Winterstein explained the purpose of the Plan Commission, how far along they are, and that this meeting was the next step before the Plan Commission could create a vision statement for Town of Kildare. The main purpose of the meeting was to brainstorm and reach a general consensus on where the citizens of Town of Kildare would like to be by the year 2027.Winterstein explained the ground rules and emphasized that this was not a “gripe session”.

 

There were charts on the wall containing data on population growth, number of households, housing units, existing land use and changes in land use. Estimates for growth until the year 2027 were also given. These figures were from the State of Wisconsin and the U.S. Census. Nine questions would be asked and the answers written down on flip charts. The nine questions and the responses were:

 

Q#1:  What do you [personally] value about the town?

-  rural                                                  -  wildlife

-  people                                               -  farmland

-  sense of community                            -  security

-  great access (transportation)               -  recreation

-  clean water (& lots of it)       

 

Q#2:  What are the values that [you think] influence people to vacation and live here?

           (What makes residents remain, take pride in and become actively involved in the town?)

-  cost of living                                      -  close to activities/entertainment

-  taxes                                                 -  minimum sq.ftg. on new construction

-  quiet                                                  -  air quality

-  small town atmosphere                       -  parks & places for youth (green spaces)

-  distance between neighbors                -  proximity to workplace

-  equal setbacks (min. standard)

 

Q#3:  What are the town’s strengths?  (Something that makes the town stand out when compared

           to other towns….can be a physical asset, an environmental condition or an impression or feeling.)

-  rural area                                           -  hunting & fishing

-  people                                               -  organized government

-  farmland & livestock                          -  access to water

-  woodlands                                         -  town services (trash, snow removal, etc.)

-  roads

 

Q#4:  What are the town’s weaknesses?  (Problem that needs to be addressed.)

-  lack of jobs                                        -  better communication (btwn govt & people)

-  industry (lack of it)                             -  “park” trailers & campers used as residences (incl seasonal)

-  road maintenance                               -  old town hall

-  enforcement of existing ordinances      -  high expectations of board….low pay

-  lack of zoning                         -  low participation at town board meetings

-  unbridled growth                                -  roadside trash

-  ATVs                                                -  building inspections (illegal structures)

-  senior citizen services (lack of)           -  planned low income housing (lack of)

-  youth services (lack of)

                       

 

Q#5:  What are the town’s opportunities?  (Something that could be done to improve the town.)

-  encourage industry                             -  improve town hall for meetings (senior, youth, govt)

-  industrial park                                    -  participate in farmland preservation program (continue)

-  town sports facility                             -  participate in woodland preservation program

-  improve/enforce ordinances                            (continue)

-  insect control (gypsy moth, etc.)          -  development/improvement to park & rec areas

-  preserve environment                         -  meals on wheels

-  research grant programs available       -  ATV & horse trails (also bike)

-  welcome wagon (committee)             

 

           

 

Q#6:  What are the town’s threats?  (Anything that could jeopardize the future success?)

-  subdivisions                                        -  too much growth…too little water

-  annexation                                         -  increased industrial traffic (from I90/94)

-  border agreements                             -  industry traffic growth

-  water runoff                                      -  gypsy moths & oak wilt

-  soil disturbance                                  -  massive fire

-  random tree removal (by owners)        -  emergency alert system (lack of)

-  centrally located town hall                   -  tornado warning siren (lack of)

-  loss of wetlands/floodplain

 

Q#7:  What does a healthy town mean to you [personally]?

-  low taxes                                           -  industrial/residential balance

-  controlled growth                               -  strong enforcement of ordinances

-  low pollution                                       -  community focused on town overall…not just on

-  security                                                         individual concerns

-  green space                                       -  participation in town affairs

-  good schools                                      -  balanced budget

-  good services                                     -  privacy

 

Q#8:  What [do you think] are important characteristics of a healthy town for all who live, work and play here?

-  same as responses for Q#7

 

Q#9:  How do you envision the town in the next 20 years?

-  rural                                                  -  interstate entrance/exit ramps

-  stay the same                                     -  village instead of a town

-  more subdivisions                               -  village center

-  condominiums                                    -  town square

-  multi-family dwellings             -  bedroom community for the Dells (suburb)

-  expanded retail                                   -  no green space

-  “old folks” home                                -  1 residence per 5-acre rule still in place

-  smaller size (due to annexation)           -  improved water & sanitation systems

-  no public access to water                    -  no hunting

-  police & fire depts.                             -  “best town for living in USA”

 

After these questions were answered a short break was taken to enjoy the refreshments and allow the participants to group their answers to the above questions by Plan Element. After the break, Winterstein asked the group to help choose key words for the Vision Statement. The following words were agreed on: rural, people, great access, recreation, wildlife, farmland, security, clean water, quiet, small town atmosphere, air quality/low pollution, controlled growth, balance between industry and residential, green space, good schools, privacy.

 

Now, the Plan Commission will sort through all of the information and begin working on goals for the Elements of the Town of Kildare Comprehensive Plan. Tom Guyse thanked Linda Winterstein and her husband, Bill for all of their help. The meeting was closed at 12:15 p.m.

 

 

Penny Arens, Secretary