Thank you for including strong criteria for review of Urban Service Area amendments. We recognize the importance of consistent review of development proposals from a regional perspective emphasizing water quality/quantity, community infrastructure, and natural resource protection. All of this will be enhanced by adoption of the CARPC Review Criteria which are stronger than those of the former Dane County RPC.

We are particularly in support of the following criteria that are part of the draft documents. We feel these are essential to protect Dane County's farmland and groundwater from poorly planned development.

• Prioritize infill, redevelopment, and density, and emphasize contiguity of urban infrastructure. New USA extensions should not be approved while developable land remains in the 20 year supply that each municipality is allotted. Compact and contiguous development is more efficient to service, and can significantly reduce taxpayer burden.

• Eliminate the multiplier or “flexibility factor. The “flexibility factor” used formerly by the DCRPC allowed municipalities in the Central Urban Service Area to expand the number of acres up 50% more land than the population estimates would allow. In the outer municipalities, the flexibility factor was 100%, doubling the acreage. A multiplier is inconsistent with priority for infill and redevelopment. Municipalities should be encouraged to plan for development within their current urban service areas and the 20 year supply of land that is estimated to be needed to serve their population growth.

• Farmland Loss Mitigation: A number of tools are available to discourage loss of valuable farmland. Examples include intergovernmental agreements, easements, Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. PDR is already a proven success in the Town of Dunn and in northwestern Dane County. TDR has been in effect in the Cottage Grove and the Dane County Board recently adopted a TDR ordinance. CARPC’s work group on this criterion is just beginning to flesh out how these programs can work to the advantage of developers and incorporated areas as well as farmers and towns. Support programs will be available for local jurisdictions using these planning tools.

  We support the amended goals and objectives in the draft documents. CARPC added two very important goals: dealing with water resources and promoting sustainability.
  
  There is one area of the draft document that is lacking however. A stronger water quality plan needs to be added to both the Goals and Objectives document as well as the criteria for reviewing urban service area extensions.

  The Water Quality Plan needs to be updated to reflect areas that need to be protected to preserve both surface waters and underground aquifers and recharge areas. The charter for the CARPC states, “The CARPC will work with communities to update the Water Quality Plan. In addition to the elements required by NR 121 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, the Water Quality Plan shall also define areas that should be protected from development based on provisions to protect water quality…. The Plan shall also define areas that can be developed with measures to protect, restore, or minimize degradation of water quality.” [Emphasis added]

  Water quality must be the first priority when reviewing urban service area extension requests, and an updated Water Quality Plan is essential to be able to accomplish this task. Per Res. 52, 06-07 #7, CARPC is required to update the Water Quality Plan. The draft Goals and Objectives and Planning Requirements do not give sufficient attention to updating the Water Quality Plan that is the basic reason for the existence of the CARPC. Until the Water Quality Plan is updated as required, CARPC should not approve any applications to extend urban service areas.

  We believe all of the above elements are essential to successful planning in Dane County, and we thank the CARPC for its hard work to produce a thoughtful document to guide protection of all we hold dear about the quality of life and natural resources of the region.

  The fiscal impacts and environmental insults of poorly planned development are many and serious. Beyond the additive impacts, these insults aggravate and build on each other. These:
  

  
  
  • cause increased local property taxes;
    
  • threaten water quality, lake levels, drinking water quality and quantity;
    
  • degrade wetlands’ ability to absorb floodwaters;
    
  • reduce acres of food production; and
    
  • increase the intensity and number of days and weeks of unhealthy air, resulting from the increased vehicle miles traveled by residents of sprawling low density development.
    

  The location and quality of new residential and commercial development that require extensions of water and sewer services will depend on the Review Criteria that the Commissioners adopt. Low density residential development does not pay its fair share of operating costs or of investments in infrastructure (typically having a 20-30 year life), e.g. new roads, police and fire protection, trash pick-up, new schools, etc.

  The Review Criteria are the master key to controlling poorly planned, low density development in Dane County. However, the successful use of the Review Criteria depends on interpreting presently available mapped data and updating the Water Quality Plan.

  Thank you for this opportunity to comment to CARPC.

  Regards,
  
  Dane County Supervisors Chuck Erickson, John Hendrick, Ashok Kumar, Al Matano, Barbara Vedder

  City of Madison Alders Tim Gruber, Brenda Konkel, Satya Rhodes-Conway, Marsha Rummel, Mike Verveer, Robbie Webber