Threatened repeal of Comprehensive Planning ends in veto

Vetoed by Governor Jim Doyle

In May 2005, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted to repeal the state's "Smart Growth" Comprehensive Planning law and the funding for the planning grants program

Governor Doyle has vetoed the proposed repeal of Wisconsin's "Smart Growth" comprehensive planning law, and restored funding for the planning grants program.

What is Smart Growth?

The 1999 Comprehensive Planning law, commonly referred to as "Smart Growth," requires Wisconsin communities to create long range land use plans by 2010. Smart Growth was created and is supported by many groups including farmers, local governments, realtors, builders, and riparian property owners. The goal of Smart Growth is to have citizens determine how they want to their communities to grow. Comprehensive planning is an important tool that can help protect property values for landowners, lower costs for municipal services, and preserve special places for future generations.

This popular and successful law enables local governments to make locally based land use decisions about the best ways for them to grow into the future. These plans allow communities to decide where growth occurs, where treasured resources will be protected, and better plan for the cost effective delivery of services like sewer, water and schools. The law requires that the voices of private property owners and the public be heard in the plan creation process.

Many communities have adopted Smart Growth plans and the overwhelming majority of citizens are supportive of the planning process

How does Smart Growth affect my lake?

The quality of our lakes is dependent on the health of their watersheds. Nothing has a more profound effect on our lakes than the decisions we make on how we use the land that surrounds them. Planning helps guide future decisions to preserve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and lakefront property values.

Local citizens, who best know their lakes and lake issues, must be part of land use planning decisions. Maintaining the right to an open planning process guarantees that the citizens who live on, use, and enjoy our lakes will help determine their future.