Why did Three Lakes develop a Comprehensive Plan?
In 1999, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed, and former Governor Tommy Thompson signed into law Act 9 Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Planning Law (§66.1001 Wisconsin Statutes). The law required that every municipality in the state that wished to have a say in land use decisions approve and adopt a comprehensive plan prior to January 1, 2010. In late 2008, the Town of Three Lakes hired OMNNI Associates Inc., an Appleton-based consulting firm, to assist the Town in its continuing effort to develop the Town of Three Lakes Comprehensive Plan.
The Plan Commission started reviewing and revising the Comprehensive Plan in 2013, with the updated version being adopted on June 4, 2024.
Town of Three Lakes Comprehensive Plan (adopted June 4, 2024)
Purpose of the Plan
The Town of Three Lakes recognized not only the need to comply with the requirements of Wisconsin Statute 66.1001, but also stated the expressed goal of not having to fall under the jurisdiction of the Oneida County plan by virtue of having a unique and specific plan of its own.
The Town of Three Lakes Comprehensive Plan is intended to assist local and county officials as a guide for making future decisions in each of the nine plan elements. The plan will also assist with development and management issues by addressing long-range needs and concerns regarding growth, development and preservation of the community while simultaneously identifying short-term tactical initiatives that can be undertaken now and which are in concert with the overall goals.
This comprehensive plan has been prepared in accordance with Wisconsin's Comprehensive Planning law contained in Wisconsin Statute 66.1001 and is divided into a series of 12 chapters oriented around the nine required elements defined in the law:
- Issues and Opportunities
- Housing
- Transportation
- Utilities and Community Facilities
- Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources
- Economic Development
- Land Use
- Intergovernmental Cooperation
- Implementation