Smart Forestry for Smart Growth Issues Elements Data The Division of Forestry’s Smart Forestry for Smart Growth initiative is designed to provide local communities with the information and support they need to draft smart comprehensive plans that sustain their forest resources, strengthen their economies, and improve quality of life in Wisconsin. Issues Urban Forests Forest Fragmentation Firewise Communities Forest Property Taxes Forest Industries Forest Ownership Site Development Here you will find a general discussion of the issues facing forests and forestry in Wisconsin, along with some thoughts about using an issues-based approach to incorporating forest resources and forestry concerns into your local comprehensive plan. Comprehensive Plan Elements Here you will find a general description of Wisconsin’s comprehensive planning law and the important role the 9 required comprehensive plan elements play in it. A disclaimer that issues can be addressed in multiple elements will also be included. Forestry Data and Analysis Here you will find information on downloading and using the data, maps, and mapping systems with relevant forest data which are either currently available or will be made available as part of SF-SG. There will also be information on ways of using said data in your plan Forest Property Taxes The Managed Forest Law is a landowner incentive program to encourage sustainable forestry o private woodlands in Wisconsin. Under MFL an acreage share tax is paid in place of regular (advelorem) property tax. If land is closed there is an additional closed acreage fee. The Land Use Element “A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps, and programs to guide the future development and redevelopment of public and private property” Analysis Maps Here you will find an overview of the purpose of the Smart Forestry for Smart Growth analysis maps and a brief description of the ways in which they can be used to inform a local comprehensive planning process MFL Implementation ToolsLand Use Implementation ToolsCounty MFL Density Map As this map illustrates, the two largest factors driving MFL enrollment are the prevalence of blocks of forest land larger than 10 acres and property tax rates. The enactment of use value assessment in 1997 has led to a significant increase in MFL applications, as most counties now assess forestlands at a rate that is, relatively, higher than farm or open lands. Issues and Opportunities Housing Transportation Utilities and Comm. Facilities Ag. Nat. & Cult. Resources Economic Development Intergovernmental Coop. Land Use Implementation Data Web Mapping (ATRI) Analysis Maps Assessment MFL Data Data Set G County MFL Density Map Elements Housing Ag Nat and Cult Resources Land Use Implementation Tools Assessment Data Set A Data Set G Data Set Y Analysis Map 3 Analysis Map 9 County MFL Density Map Implementation Tools Issues Forest Property Taxes Forest Fragmentation Forest Ownership Analysis Map 1 Analysis Map 2 Analysis Map 3 Analysis Map 4 County MFL Density Map Analysis Map 9 Analysis Map 10 SF-SG Home SAMPLE Issues Forest Property Taxes Forest Fragmentation Forest Ownership Forest Industries Click Here to Download Map Concepts for integrating forest issues into your Land Use element: Forest Fragmentation Describe the trend in forest parcel size for your jurisdiction over at least three decades. Recommend policies and programs that discourage the subdivision of forest parcels to below acres. Firewise Communities Create a map overlaying zones of fire protection with housing density. Consider requiring fire protection mitigation fees from new developments to provide adequate fire protection to those properties Forest Property Taxes Map managed forest law properties in your jurisdiction. Explore historic trends relating development to MFL parcels and include these findings when making projections about the quantity and location of future development. Concepts for integrating consideration of MFL issues into the elements of your comprehensive plan: Transportation Element Consider recommending the consideration of impacts on managed forest lands and other productive forestlands when planning for transportation improvements such as new or expanded roads. Recommend the construction of roads sufficient to accommodate logging vehiclesand other heavy machinery in areas with a high density of MFL properties. Land Use Element Map managed forest law properties in your jurisdiction. Explore historic trends relating development to MFL parcels and include these findings when making projections about the quantity and location of future development. Tool box The Smart Forestry for Smart Growth Webpage Plan