North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
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.
A primary reason for a community to prepare a comprehensive plan is to establish a framework for the future, especially as it relates to decisions regarding growth and regulation of development to protect and maintain the health, safety and welfare of the community. A plan also helps to set priorities for public expenditures. Future Land Use Map Amended September 9, 2024
A primary reason for a community to prepare a comprehensive plan is to establish a framework for the future, especially as it relates to decisions regarding growth and regulation of development to protect and maintain the health, safety and welfare of the community. A plan also helps to set priorities for public expenditures.
The Town of Wausau Comprehensive Plan identifies existing conditions in the Town as well as issues and concerns on a number of topics including future development, land use, ransportation, housing, and economic development. Goals and objectives have been developed relative to each of the required nine plan elements. For each of the goals and objectives, specific policies, strategies and/or actions are recommended to enable the community to achieve them. The Implementation Element at the end of this document compiles and prioritizes all the recommended action steps and identifies who is responsible for implementation. This plan is intended to guide Town decision makers on a variety of issues over the next ten years.
Wood County is a county located in central Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 74,207. The county seat is Wisconsin Rapids. Wood County was created in 1856 and is named after Joseph Wood, who was a Wisconsin State Assemblyman. The county is known for its many lakes, rivers and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Wood County Parks, the Wisconsin River and the Ice Age Trail. The county is home to the city of Wisconsin Rapids, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for commerce, industry, healthcare, and education. The county also has several small towns and communities, including Marshfield, Nekoosa, and Port Edwards. The county has a diverse economy, with healthcare, manufacturing and service industries being the main drivers. The county is also known for its paper mills, which have been a staple industry in the area for many years.
Vilas County is a county located in northern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,047. The county seat is Eagle River. Vilas County was created in 1893 and is named after William Freeman Vilas, who was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. The county is known for its many lakes, forests, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Vilas County Parks, the Eagle River Chain of Lakes and the Nicolet National Forest. The county is home to the city of Eagle River, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for tourism and recreation. The county also has several small towns and communities, including St Germain, Conover, and Boulder Junction. The county has a strong tourism industry, with many visitors coming to the county for fishing, hunting, boating and snowmobiling.
Portage County is a county located in central Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377. The county seat is Stevens Point. Portage County was created in 1839 and is named after the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, a historic portage route used by Native Americans and European settlers. The county is known for its many lakes, rivers, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Tomorrow River State Trail, the Wisconsin River and the Ice Age Trail. The county is home to the city of Stevens Point, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for commerce, industry, healthcare, and education. The county also has several small towns and communities, including Plover, Rosholt, and Amherst. The county has a diverse economy, with healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries being the main drivers.
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Portage County Outdoor Recreation Plan 2025-2029 | October 7, 2024 |
| Portage County Comprehensive Plan 2024 | August 14, 2024 |
| EMSI Reports – Economy Overview | July 17, 2024 |
| Portage County Broadband Plan | February 27, 2024 |
| Portage County Economic Profile 2024 | January 22, 2024 |
| Stevens Point Urban Area Sewer Service Area Plan 2040 Update | July 13, 2023 |
| Portage County Economic Profile 2022 | January 1, 2022 |
| Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2019-2023 | August 31, 2018 |
| Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2014-2018 | July 11, 2013 |
| Almond-Bancroft Safe Routes to School Plan 2012-2017 | April 1, 2012 |
| Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2008 | August 12, 2008 |
| Village of Rosholt Comprehensive Plan – 2008 | February 11, 2008 |
Oneida County is a county located in northern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,845. The county seat is Rhinelander. Oneida County was created in 1887 and is named after the Oneida Nation, which is a tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy. The county is known for its many lakes, forests, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Oneida County Forest, the Wisconsin River and the Nicolet National Forest. The county is home to the city of Rhinelander, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for commerce, industry, healthcare, and education. The county also has several small towns and communities, including Three Lakes, Minocqua, and Hazelhurst. The county has a diverse economy, with tourism, manufacturing, and service industries being the main drivers.
Marathon County is a county located in central Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013. The county seat is Wausau. Marathon County was created in 1850 and is named after the Marathon race of ancient Greece. The county is known for its many lakes, rivers, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Marathon County Parks, the Eau Claire River, and the Ice Age Trail. The county is home to the city of Wausau, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for commerce, industry, healthcare, and education. The county also has several small towns and communities, including Mosinee, Rothschild, and Edgar. The county has a diverse economy, with healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries being the main drivers.
Lincoln County is a county located in northern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,415. The county seat is Merrill. Lincoln County was created in 1881 and is named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. The county is known for its many lakes, forests, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Lincoln County Forest, the Wisconsin River and the Ice Age Trail. The county is mostly rural with paper mills and manufacturing being the main industries. The county has several small towns and communities, including Tomahawk, Merrill, and Gleason. The county is also known for its hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.