Land Use

The LWV of Beloit supports:

1. comprehensive development planning at the local, county, and regional levels and zoning policies which implement the planning. (rev. '84)
2. coordination of land use planning by the city, county, and regional agencies. (rev. '83)
3. periodic review and revision of Beloit's Comprehensive Master Plan, taking into consideration rezoning and new growth directions because of annexation. (rev. '80)
4. encouraging the consideration of alternative routes when planning arterials or major collectors so as not to disturb existing residential areas. (rev. '83)
5. consideration of zoning limitations and fully assessing development costs to developers in order to curb urban sprawl.
6. confining development to existing city limits with special emphasis on confining commercial and industrial development to existing zones.
7. curbing urban sprawl by encouraging building upon vacant land parcels on the developing city-side of I-90 before city services are extended to the farmland east of I-90.
8. adoption of an annexation policy by the city of Beloit.
9. a separate agricultural zoning district with a minimum of 35 acres.
10. preservation of large acreages of productive prime agricultural soils, even though annexed to the city, by withholding capital improvements.
11. preservation of agricultural and conservancy land around local urban/suburban centers.
12. purchasing more parkland with emphasis on neighborhood open space needs and the preservation of the Turtle Creek Valley.
13. a comprehensive land asset and natural resources inventory. (rev. '83)
14. uniform county assessments and reaffirming our support for professional county assessors.
15. encouraging local, county, and regional efforts to improve air and water quality with emphasis on Bad Fish Creek.

(Questions have arisen in the past as to whether developers are subsidized by taxpayers for the streets, sewers, and water extensions, erection of new neighborhood school facilities, etc. on city bonding items. Beloit should explore how other communities handle development costs and exercise control over urban sprawl. For example, requiring performance bonds, staging the development based on finances available, and initiating zoning change if the developer does not co-operate, and/or assessing the developer with municipal \improvement costs.) (rev. '83) (1980)

Rock County Parks

 Both Leagues of Women Voters in Rock County, Wisconsin, have an interest in timely planning for parks, outdoor recreation and open spaces.  Conclusions reached in our joint study in 2001-2002 are hereby modified to reflect progress that has occurred that is in alignment with our position.  The heart of the position remains timely, planning, and adequate staffing.

The Beloit and Janesville Leagues of Women Voters support an updated five-year Rock County “Parks and Outdoor Recreation and Open Space Plan”.

• The plan should contain a clear vision and mission for parks, outdoor recreation, and open spaces in Rock County.
• The plan should include site development plans with an inventory of parks, clearly saying how county park improvement priorities are set and how the priorities are monitored.
• The plan should provide mechanisms which intentionally seek public participation at every step of setting and monitoring park priorities.
• The plan should meet national and state standards.
• The plan should identify sources of funding for implementation.
• The plan’s provisions should be achievable.
• The LWV endorses the use of outside consultants, when funds can be secured, to plan for park improvements in order to ease the county staff workload and to benefit from the expertise that consultants could provide.

 The Beloit and Janesville Leagues of Women Voters recommend that the county administrator and supervisors address more effective ways to oversee the administration of Rock County’s parks.

(Note:  The LWV finds the present county “Parks and Outdoor Recreation and Open Space Plan” planning process confusing when the roles of the Planning and Development Committee and the Public Works Department/Parks Division are unclear.)

• The LWV recommends the continuation of the additional staff position, serving under the parks director, to coordinate volunteer efforts in planning, developing, maintaining, promoting, and funding our county parks, recreational facilities, and open spaces.