Lake Mills Zoning Code Rewrite

The zoning code is one of the primary tools the City of Lake Mills uses to regulate development. All existing and new development in the City must be consistent with the requirements of the zoning code. These requirements range from the land uses (e.g. single family home, apartment, neighborhood store, office building) allowed on a property, to building setbacks from the street and adjacent properties, to the amount of parking required on a site. The current zoning code dates from 1969 and it does not always reflect best zoning and community planning practices. Further, the zoning code is often confusing and difficult to use. In addition, it is not always effective in implementing the recommendations of Lake Mills’ adopted Comprehensive Plan, neighborhood and special area plans. The new zoning code will be a much-improved code that is easier to use and understand. Further, it will better enable the City to implement its various plans.

Specifically, the city's desire is to create subdivision and zoning codes that encompass the city’s comprehensive plan, neighborhood plans, public works plans, extra-territorial zoning, facilitate development and redevelopment within the Tax Increment Districts and City, continue the City’s ability to provide adequate administrative review and public hearings, integrate the codes and plans so that they are consistent and cross referenced, and are flexible to accommodate changing economic and technological conditions.

In February, the City retained the services of Dustin Wolff of Mead & Hunt, Inc. The consultant will prepare a new zoning code and map for the City of Lake Mills. The zoning code rewrite project is expected to be a one-year process, starting in April 2009, with completion in December 2009.

Dustin Wolff has had the opportunity to work as the City’s consulting planner, conducted development review, prepared long-range plans, and drafted patch ordinance amendments. He has an established familiarity with the community’s needs and objectives. He has witnessed the growth and development pressures facing the City, and has firsthand knowledge that the current ordinances do not provide the most effective strategy for implementing the desired development patterns and character desired by the City.