URBAN PLANNING VISION
A Vision for the Future
of Urban Portage County (Adopted June 26,
2002)
"The future belongs to those who
believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt
"Visioning" is a process through which a community
talks about the type of future it wants, and then decides how
to achieve it. A "vision statement" is the end product
of such a process. It depicts, in words and images, what the
community seeks to become-how it will look, how it will function,
how it might be different or better twenty years from now.
Through a series of visioning workshops held in March and April
of 2002, citizens had the opportunity to express their vision
for the future of Portage County. These workshops built on information
gathered from the public through a countywide mail-in survey
and a number of community hopes and concerns workshops. As a
result of this input, the Portage County Comprehensive Planning
Joint Steering Committee, a group representing each of the county's
27 local units of the government, identified nine priority issue
areas.
The recent round of visioning workshops asked citizens to express
their thoughts for the future of the rural and urban areas of
the County, as they relate to the nine issue areas. This document
describes a year 2020 vision for the "urban area" of
Portage County, which includes the City of Stevens Point, the
Villages of Plover, Whiting and Park Ridge, and a portion of
the adjacent Towns of Hull, Stockton, Plover, Linwood and Carson.
It is intended to distill the discussions that took place at
the visioning workshops and serve as a defining statement for
how the urban area of Portage County should evolve and progress.
It is based on the ideas, suggestions, and strategies put forward
by those who live here and have a stake in the future of the
County. The vision statement addresses new and emerging issues
such as the challenge of a growing population base, growing demands
on our natural resources, the demand for livable communities,
and a variety of other forces acting to affect the "small
town atmosphere" we all enjoy. It strives to capture the
values and concerns of our urban community as we look to the
future.
Read on to explore the vision for the urban area of Portage
County in the year 2020.
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AGRICULTURE
In 2020, the agricultural industry in Portage County is healthy
and thriving. Development has been directed away from productive
agricultural land, giving farmers, both large and small, ample
space and freedom to be productive and efficient. A variety of
agricultural commodities are produced for direct sale in local
markets or for marketing worldwide. Farmers value the environment
and their practices are sustainable, using methods that protect
soil and water resources. Agriculture remains an integral part
of the Portage County economy, providing employment opportunities
and living wages.
Key Vision Ideas for Agriculture:
- Sustainable agriculture exists through sensible regulation
and a partnership between farmers, their neighbors and local
units of government.
- Agricultural land is preserved and protected through regulations
and limited development in agricultural areas.
- Local markets provide opportunities for the direct sale of
agricultural commodities.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In 2020, Portage County enjoys a healthy, thriving economy.
It recognizes that economic vitality is the foundation for continued
community progress and livability. The community has developed
a reputation as a highly desirable place to work and do business
because of its well-educated work force and high quality of life.
The University is a valuable resource to the local economy. The
community is supportive of homegrown and small businesses. It
actively targets companies both large and small that offer good
employment prospects, draw from the local labor pool and are
good corporate citizens. Residents have many options to earn
living wages and enjoy rewarding work.
Key Vision Ideas for Economic Development:
- Economic development promotes and maintains locally based
companies.
- Existing businesses are supported through incentive programs,
including state tax relief.
- Downtown Stevens Point is a thriving commercial center.
- Job creation efforts focus primarily on attraction of job
opportunities that provide living wages for families, youth,
and UWSP graduates living in Portage County.
- Design standards for commercial development are established
and enforced.
- New business development is located within existing urbanized
areas and is focused on the re-use of vacant lots and buildings.
Outward growth on the fringes is discouraged.
- New manufacturing or industrial growth is directed toward
existing or planned industrial areas.
- Hospitality and tourism play an important role in the local
economy.
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HOUSING
In 2020, Portage County residents feel connected to their community
through their homes and neighborhoods. An adequate supply of
affordable housing countywide provides opportunities for all
residents, across income levels and age groups, to put down roots
and build a life here. Friendly, active neighborhoods add to
a local sense of belonging.
Key Vision Ideas for Housing:
- A diverse housing stock exists across income levels and within
neighborhoods.
- Adequate and affordable housing is available for the elderly
and disabled.
- Quality rental housing is monitored and maintained through
the enforcement of strict guidelines and codes.
- Residential growth in the urban area is clustered, encourages
mixed use, is within walking or biking distance of everyday
necessities, incorporates green space and other natural resources
into its design, contains a diverse housing stock, is located
near services, and is less reliant on the automobile.
- Growth boundaries are established and maintained in the urban
area to assist zoning in regulating and managing outward growth
and protecting undeveloped land.
- Older homes are preserved through incentives that are offered
to those who revitalize and maintain existing housing within
the urban area.
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INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
In 2020, units of local government cooperate routinely on decisions
related to the provision of services countywide. This cooperation
and collaboration has resulted in a truly integrated community,
where service delivery is based on maximizing efficiency. The
people of Portage County recognize that they have the responsibility
to be active in community decision-making, and units of local
government rely on that participation as an integral part of
their decision processes.
Key Vision Ideas for Intergovernmental Cooperation:
- Local units of government in Portage County cooperate with
each other to coordinate the provision of shared services in
the most cost effective and efficient ways.
- Communication between local units of government is routine
and productive.
- Citizen participation by people of all ages is encouraged
and utilized in community decision-making processes.
- Local units of government work together to develop creative
ways to plan for and share the benefits of growth across municipal
boundaries.
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LAND USE
In 2020, people in Portage County have learned to manage growth
in ways that maintain their high quality of life. Growth is contained
and well-planned. Portage County's thriving, people-oriented
urban area is made up of livable neighborhoods, attractive business
development and protected open spaces. Ample parks and open spaces
within the urbanized area complement the natural beauty surrounding
the community. The County's rural area is also thriving, with
a robust agricultural industry. Development is limited in the
rural area of the County in an effort to preserve rural character
and the high quality natural resources found there.
Key Vision Ideas for Land Use:
- Urban area growth is characterized by its infill development
within accepted growth boundaries, mixed uses, preserved open
spaces, and strong enforcement of plans and regulations.
- Neighborhoods include urban scale residential development,
mixed uses, parks, open spaces, and green spaces, and reuse
and redevelopment of existing buildings.
- Parking ramps reduce the amount of land devoted to parking.
- Minimum design standards provide for enhanced quality development
across the urban area.
- UW-Stevens Point is better integrated into its surrounding
neighborhood, and adjacent commercial development caters to
the needs of the student/resident population.
- Development is controlled along major arterials.
- Old homes and places of cultural significance are preserved.
- Existing residential neighborhoods are buffered and protected
from encroachment by commercial development.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
In 2020, Portage County residents share a common bond in their
enjoyment of the environment. The natural beauty that embodies
the community is more than just a backdrop; it is the heart and
soul of its values. Our natural resources are precious to the
people who live here, and they devote considerable efforts and
attention to enjoying, protecting and enhancing them. From keeping
water clean and abundant to protecting critical ecosystems, residents
are dedicated to maintaining their very special part of the world.
Key Vision Ideas for Natural Resources:
- Preservation and protection of natural resources contributes
to a high quality of life.
- Development occurs in ways that protect the natural resources
we enjoy. We direct growth away from sensitive areas and account
for the protection of our air, land, and water resources.
- Regulations are in place to assure that our air quality is
assessed and maintained.
- Groundwater quality is continually monitored and assessed,
and a set of regulations restricts development in recharge
areas.
- Public access to our natural resources is preferred to private
ownership of these resources.
- Green spaces are created and protected in the urban area.
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PUBLIC FACILITIES
In 2020, Portage County residents enjoy a network of high quality,
efficient public facilities. Through cooperation and collaboration,
local units of government work together to provide services across
municipal boundaries. Sewer and water services are provided within
an established urban growth area, effectively reducing the impacts
of sprawl development into the rural areas of the county. An
exceptional educational system (K-12, the technical college,
and the University) provides opportunities for lifelong learning.
Portage County residents value their youth, families, seniors,
and disadvantaged, and provide them with facilities and activities
aimed at improving community vitality.
Key Vision Ideas for Public Facilities:
- Compact, cost-efficient utilities are available where they
are needed.
- An excellent educational system ensures comprehensive learning
opportunities for residents of all ages.
- Comprehensive emergency services, including law enforcement,
fire, and ambulance protection, ensures equal access and protection
for all citizens.
- Places and activities for the youth of the community are
provided.
- Municipal water and sewer systems are well maintained, with
maximized efficiency and well-defined boundaries that are used
to control the location of new development. The municipal well
fields are protected from negative impacts.
- Private sewer and water systems are protected and maintained.
- The number of parks has grown, with small, neighborhood-scale
parks emphasized as much as larger parks. Former institutional
sites are reborn as park and playground sites. Parks are also
connected where possible, and the Green Circle Trail is expanding
to include as wide an area as possible.
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QUALITY OF LIFE
In 2020, residents of Portage County have much to celebrate.
Their quality of life has never been better; the urban and rural
areas are thriving; the economy is healthy; and the sense of
community is solid and strong. Family life is supported in a
number of ways from accessible health care to lifelong educational
opportunities and recreation. People care about each other. They
work together to sustain and enhance community values, such as
strong families, safe communities, responsible citizenship, participatory
government, and cultural diversity. Volunteerism is supported
and encouraged by individuals, businesses, and community leaders.
The County's communities benefit from a strong sense of identity
and a profound pride in their past, present and future.
Key Vision Ideas for Quality of Life:
- A high quality of life is found in urban Portage County.
The small town atmosphere of the urban area is the foundation
of our quality of life.
- Quality of life is specifically measured by benchmarks that
are regularly updated by citizens, including such factors as:
community safety, volunteerism, availability of health care,
accessible natural resources and open space, quality of schools,
affordable cost of living, and a supportive community.
- Growth is directed primarily to the urban area, where existing
infrastructure can support it.
- Cultural and historic resources are identified and protected.
- Quality of life is enhanced through the coordinated provision
of municipal services.
- Neighborhood parks provide opportunities for family recreation
close to home.
- An excellent educational system provides comprehensive learning
opportunities for residents of all ages.
- Aesthetic considerations are made in development decisions
to address light and sound pollution issues, as well as billboard
and communication tower placement.
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TRANSPORTATION
In 2020, residents of Portage County enjoy a well planned and
maintained transportation system which offers a variety of ways
to get from place to place. An excellent public transit system
provides the general public, students, senior citizens, and the
transportation disadvantaged with travel options. An extensive
network of bicycle and walking trails provides access from urban
neighborhoods and the rural countryside to schools, parks and
businesses. These measures have greatly reduced automobile trips.
They also provide freedom of movement, healthier lifestyles,
and a realistic alternative to the automobile.
Key Vision Ideas for Transportation:
- Public transportation, including bus service, is available
in the urban area, and its use is encouraged as a way to reduce
auto trips, and to provide senior citizens and the transportation
disadvantaged with needed service. Urban communities, along
with the University, work together to provide an integrated
service that provides shorter wait times for users and offers
maximum efficiency.
- Bicycle transportation planning has achieved a greater level
of emphasis within the urban area. Bike lanes are present on
most roads, facilitating bicycle commuting as well as access
to schools, parks and businesses.
- Sidewalks and pedestrian paths/trails are distributed across
the urban area to allow access to commercial, residential and
recreational areas.
- Our road network is well maintained. Emphasis is placed on
use or expansion of existing road facilities before considering
construction of new roads. The public is highly involved in
the decision making process for locating new roads.
- Abandoned railroad right-of-way is maintained for transportation
services, either as bike or hike trails or as future rail.
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Where do we go from here?
The vision statement provides guidance on where we'd like to
be as a community in 20 years. Our next steps are to figure out
how to reach our vision. As you might imagine, there are a number
of alternative ways to achieve this vision.
That's where you come in. Over the coming months, a number of
growth scenarios will be developed that illustrate different
ways to reach our collective vision - we need your input to help
decide which path the community should take. Stay connected with
the planning process - provide input - you have a stake in the
future of your community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Portage County Planning & Zoning
1462 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 715-346-1334
OR
Visit us on the web at:
http://www.co.portage.wi.us
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/portage/compplan/
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