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What is Planning?
Planning is a tool we all use on a daily basis both on a professional and personal basis. We plan for our financial future; the equipment required at a job site; how to build that new home; and even what is needed at the store on our way home from work. Planning for something simple or complex involves assessing the current situation, determining what we want to accomplish, and taking the necessary steps to accomplish it.
Planning is utilized by the County, Towns, Villages, and Cities in which we live and work. Planning is utilized to:
• Determine local needs, goals, and priorities.
• Balance various types of developments.
• Establish and implement policies.
What is Comprehensive Planning?
Taking a broad look at every element and feature of a community in the planning process is often referred to as “comprehensive planning”. A comprehensive plan will assess the current situation, determine needs, create a vision for the future, develop goals and objectives, and establish an action guide to accomplish that desired vision. In October of 1999, Wisconsin enacted statute 66.1001 establishing a standard for planning throughout Wisconsin.
What is the status of Comprehensive Plans in Oconto County?
Throughout Oconto County, communities are at different planning stages. Numerous communities created plans in the late 90's prior to the state legislation. These communities are participating in the current planning process to update existing plans in order to meet legislative requirements. The remaining communities are currently participating in the current planning process to create plans meeting the legislative requirements.?Of 29 Local Units of
Government:
Of 29 Local Units of Government: |
- 15 have completed statute compliant plans
- 8 have completed plans under 62.23 that must be updated
- 6 have not undertaken planning activities in the past
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What is the Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Grant Program?
The state of Wisconsin established a grant program to assist communities with funding for
comprehensive planning. This grant program is administered by the Department of Administration
(DOA).
Oconto along with multiple local communities submitted a grant application in the fall of 2005.
This grant application was awarded in the spring of 2006. Oconto County, 13 Towns, 2 Villages,
and 1 City were awarded $263,000 to assist in offsetting the cost of creating or updating
comprehensive plans meeting the requirements of 66.1001.
What is the Oconto County Planning Process?
Oconto County has developed a planning process to develop comprehensive plans that meet
statutory requirements. The planning process will be facilitated by the "Planning Team". The
Planning Team consists of Oconto County, Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission (contracted
by Oconto County to assist in the planning process), and UW-Extension staff.
For planning purposes, Oconto County communities have been grouped into "planning clusters".
These planning clusters are effective from an efficiency standpoint as well as promoting
intergovernmental cooperation.
To assist throughout the planning process the Oconto County Planning Advisory Committee
(OCPAC) has been created. This committee is comprised of two representatives from each
community throughout Oconto County. The OCPAC will serve an advisory role for the Planning
Team and Oconto County Planning and Zoning Committee throughout the planning process.
A flow chart was developed to assist in understanding the flow of information and decisions
throughout the planning process.
A project timeline was initially created to give a general idea of when project phases would be
completed. Additional timelines have since then been created to better detail when and how project
phases will be completed.
A public participation plan was created to guide public interaction throughout the planning process.
Oconto County adopted a County Public Participation Plan on August 24, 2006. For those local
communities creating or updating plans as part of this multi-jurisdictional planning process, local
public participation plans have been adopted. These plans reference the plan adopted by the
County and discuss means of fostering public participation locally.
As part of the planning process, an Economic S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats) Workshop was held in Oconto County in early 2007. This workshop asked participants to
fully examine the county’s economic climate and identify important economic issues. The
economic issues identified during this workshop will assist Oconto County and local municipalities
prepare strategies to promote their economic strengths, minimize economic weaknesses, take full
advantage of economic opportunities, and lessen potential economic threats.
Early in the planning process an issue identification "Nominal Group" exercise was held with each
of the planning clusters and the OCPAC. The exercise asked participants to identify significant
issues that should be addressed during the planning process. By identifying issues early in the
planning process, they can be effectively addressed throughout plan development.
Developing a vision statement is another important step in the planning process. The vision
statements drafted during the planning process throughout Oconto County will be based on
participant input. One method of gathering input is through surveys, which ask for input in areas
such as Natural, Cultural, and Historical Resources; Land Planning and Development; Commerce
and Industry; Community Services; Housing; Transportation (Roads and Highways); Agriculture;
and Recreation. The responses gathered from these surveys will assist communities develop a
vision for the future.
As the Oconto County planning process continues so will
development of the plan documents. County and Local
plans will have a user friendly format to promote
document use and consistency. All plans will be
comprised of three volumes. Volume I will contain the
community vision, goals, objectives, land use maps and
other information required to make land use decisions on
a daily basis. This Volume will also include steps to
implementing the plan. Volume II will contain the
background information utilized as the basis for plan
development and continued reference.
Volume II - County Resources (Draft)
As the resource information reached draft stage, open houses were held at the cluster levels to give
the public an opportunity to view the data, ask questions, and state concerns. Mid-Point summaries
were created for the County and the planning clusters.
Where can I access more County and local planning information?
Throughout the planning process Oconto County planning information can be located on the
Oconto County and Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Websites?
Throughout the planning process local planning information can be located on the Oconto County
and Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Websites.
Planning information will also be available at local libraries, and Oconto County Planning and
Zoning Office.
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