APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE SAUK COUNTY FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN MAP FOR THE TOWN OF EXCELSIOR AND SUNDRY AMENDMENTS TO OTHER TOWN FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN MAPS

APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE SAUK COUNTY

FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN MAP FOR THE TOWN OF EXCELSIOR AND SUNDRY AMENDMENTS TO OTHER TOWN FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN MAPS.

     WHEREAS, The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is an agency responsible for administering Wisconsin’s farmland preservation law pursuant to Wis. Stat. ch. 91; and

         WHEREAS, in order for a county and its residents to participate in the farmland preservation program, a county must have a state-certified farmland preservation plan pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 91.10  which clearly identifies farmland preservation goals, objectives and policies and areas that the county intends to preserve for agricultural use; and

     WHEREAS, the development of the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Plan has had considerable input from persons representing various aspects of the agriculture community; and

     WHEREAS, each town farmland preservation plan map represented in the plan has been formally approved by the respective town board as identifying areas the town wishes to preserve for agricultural uses and areas which may be considered for development within the next 15-years and;

     WHEREAS, the Farmland Preservation Plan map for the Town of Excelsior must be amended to identify areas for agriculture preservation consistent with A proposed rezone of the Town of Excelsior to Exclusive Agriculture under the Sauk County Zoning Ordinance and;

     WHEREAS, Farmland Preservation Plan maps for other towns are being amended to remove publically owned lands from the agricultural preservation area designation to be consistent with the text in the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Plan and;

     WHEREAS, agriculture is a significant economic driver in Sauk County with over 1,900 working farms and 358,900 acres under production or reserved for future production and results in the sale of farm products and valued-added products of over $450 million annually; and

     WHEREAS, adoption of the amended maps for the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Plan by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors and subsequent certification by DATCP will allow participating Sauk County farms and agricultural property owners in towns zoned Exclusive Agriculture or as part of the Fairfield Agriculture Enterprise Area, to continue to qualify for farmland preservation tax credits; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 91.10(2) the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Plan must be included, and be made part of the Sauk County Comprehensive Plan.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors met in regular session, that the Sauk County Farmland Preservation Plan map for the Town of Excelsior, hereby attached as Appendix A, and other sundry amendments to town farmland preservation plan maps, and made part of the Sauk County Comprehensive Plan, is hereby formally and officially adopted as required by Wis. Stat. §§ 91.10 and 66.1001.

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on July 15, 2014.

Respectfully submitted,

CONSERVATION, PLANNING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE