Town of Saxeville
LAND USE PLANNING
In 1999, Governor Thompson signed the “Smart Growth” legislation into
law. Basically as far as the Town is concerned, it requires that we have a
“Comprehensive Plan” in place by 2010 in order for the Town to have any
say in land use decisions.
It is important to note that this legislation did not develop in the usual
way. Rather than being brought to the floor of the Senate or Assembly as a
separate bill, it was approved as part of the state budget bill. A number
of legislators have indicated it would not have passed as a stand-alone
measure.
For the past two years our Town has had a Land Use Planning Committee
working on putting together a plan. This group is made up of a cross
section of Town citizens…our neighbors, land owners…fellow stakeholders.
Your Town Board appointed Yvonne Feavel as chairperson of this ad hoc
committee as gave her a suggested list of over twenty potential committee
members who were invited to participate along with any other interested
parties. Attendance at the monthly meetings varied with a number of
dedicated folks sticking it out to finish the job and they are to be
commended for their sincere efforts.
The committee was assisted by representatives from the East Central
Regional Planning Commission. Financially, the cost to the Town was $5000
with this amount being matched by the County for a total of $10,000.
The committee’s completed proposed “Land Management Plan” may be viewed
and also down-loaded from this website.
This proposed plan is not an official document at this time. The Town
Board has not adopted it and invites public comments regarding the Goals
set forth in the plan.
Down the road, the Town Board may ask the electors for something known as
‘Village Powers” at our annual Town meeting or at a special meeting called
for this purpose. This will give the Town Board the power to adopt an
ordinance creating a “Plan Commission” which would consist of five
members, at least one of whom must be a citizen member (a non-elected or
appointed official). The Town Board Chairman appoints members to the Plan
Commission.
The Plan Commission will have the job of creating a “Comprehensive Plan”
which would require adoption by the Town Board to be implemented.
Thereafter, the Plan Commission would review all land use issues that come
up and make recommendations to the Town Board for action to be taken.
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