Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
In the fall of 2020 the Town initiated a process to update its 2012 plan. The state planning law – 66.1001 – requires that a comprehensive plan be updated every ten years. A variety of Plan Commission meetings were held over the course of 2020 and 2021 to prepare the plan. A final Plan Commission meeting was held in early 2021 to review the final draft and recommend adoption of the plan by the Town Board.
Juneau County is a county located in central Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,718. The county seat is Mauston. Juneau County was created in 1857 and is named after Solomon Juneau, one of the founders of Milwaukee. The county is known for its rolling hills and valleys, as well as the Lemonweir and Wisconsin rivers. The county is home to the Castle Rock Lake, which is a popular spot for boating and fishing. Agriculture is the main industry in Juneau County, with dairy farming being particularly prevalent. Additionally, the county is home to several small communities and towns, including New Lisbon, Elroy and Necedah.
The City of New Lisbon Comprehensive Plan is a compilation of historical data and community created goals, objectives, policies, and programs that will guide future planning and community decisions for a 20-year period. Comprehensive plans incorporate a twenty-year vision and provide a rational basis for local land use decisions.
The comprehensive plan law (§66.1001 WI Stats.) defines the contents of a local comprehensive plan, which has nine chapters—Issues & Opportunities; Natural, Cultural, & Agricultural Resources; Housing; Transportation; Economic Development; Land Use; Utilities & Community Facilities; Intergovernmental Cooperation; and Implementation. Population, housing, and land use projections are also required in 5-year increments for 20 years. Locally created goals, objectives, and policies are also part of each comprehensive plan chapter.
According to §66.1001 WI Stats., if a town, village, city, or county engages in official mapping, subdivision regulation, or zoning, those actions must be consistent with that community’s comprehensive plan.
This plan was developed by NCWRPC in conjunction with the City of Mauston, Mauston School District, and the Mauston SRTS Task Force as part of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Safe Routes to School Program. This Regional program was made possible in part by a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Additional funding provided by the NCWRPC.
This plan focuses on guidelines for planning bicycle facilities, with general design and funding information included. This plan also examines existing conditions for biking and walking countywide and suggests routes and segments on which to prioritize bicycling and walking improvements.
Juneau County has contracted with the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) to assist with the preparation of a human services transportation needs assessment for the County. The primary purpose of this study is to assess current needs and present transit alternatives and recommendations on how to best achieve personal transportation goals and objectives identified by community members and county representatives.
This study is in response to impacts suffered resulting from this flood event. The area had rainfall totals of 3 to 7 inches, while some localized areas experienced 9 to 11 inches total. At one Adams County location, a three day of total of 8.2 inches of rainfall was reported. The Wisconsin DNR issued warnings to residents and tourists urging them to avoid contact with flood waters, as well as notification to private property owners to be aware of possible well contamination. In Adams County, several homes were damaged. Additionally, numerous local and county road segments were closed due to water over the roads and culvert washouts, causing damages estimated to exceed $108,000. Reports of flooded parking lots impeded customer access to some businesses. Additionally, the County issued a press release to residents living in low lying areas and those living along the Wisconsin River/Castle Rock and Petenwell Flowages. Conditions above and below dams were considered dangerous, and recreationists and residents were urged to take extra precautionary measures and watch for rapidly rising water. In Juneau County, flooding occurred on the Yellow and Baraboo Rivers. Damages to residential and business properties was scattered throughout those basins. Public sector damages were in excess of $160,000. Several Town and county roads were closed due to high water.
Federal transit law requires that any projects selected for funding under the Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (formerly titled Elderly and Disabled Capital Assistance Program) must be derived from a “locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan”. This requirement was implemented as part of the SAFETEA-LU legislation and the requirement continues under the new transportation legislation, FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation). The purpose of the coordinated planning process is to have stakeholder involvement in the assessment of elderly and disabled transportation, and to provide strategies and goals to improve those transportation alternatives. These coordinated plans were last completed in 2013 and are due to be updated for 2019.