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• Page 2 July 28, 1998 Sable and Virgil soils. Sable and Virgil soils are not Prime Agricultural soils. Contrary to the staff report, both of these soils are well suited for turf grasses, although sable soils often require drainage. Sufficient drainage structures (ditches) are already present on the site, having been constructed decades ago to drain the land for agricultural uses. As evidence to the suitability of sable and vigil soils one need only to visit the existing Door Creek course which has turf grasses on both of these soil types. The site is within an area designated as an agricultural preservation zone in the Town of Cottage G rove Land Use Plan. Within such areas, recreational developments, including golf courses, are limited to less productive farmland. Since the project physically impacts 6.3 acres of prime agricultural land,the remaining prime agricultural soils are steep and erodible, and most of the course is on less productive farmland,we feel that we have met this requirement. The Town of Cottage Grove similarly conduded this by approving our rezoning petition. Since shaping the golf course has only required minor grading, the site could be easily restored to agricultural use in the future. The portion of the site that we are requesting to rezone to A-2 is underlain primarily by Prime Agricultural Soils. This area will remain in passive agricultural use(pasture, hay)with the possibility to convert back to crop fields. The staff report also states that the course "could pose an environmental hazard with unregulated herbicide and pesticide use." We would argue that there is no such thing as unregulated pesticide use. There are sufficient state and federal laws in place to regulate the use of pesticides and herbicides. In addition, application of restricted use pesticides requires training, testing and licensing through the Department of Agriculture,Trade, and Consumer Protection. Experienced and licensed professionals will maintain the proposed course. The Bradrs have operated Door Creek Golf Course for several years near the headwaters of Door Creek and there is no indication that the golf course operation has had an adverse environmental impact. The Town of Cottage Grove Plan Commission investigated this issue with University of Wisconsin staff prior to approval of our petition at the Town level. Based on their investigation,they concluded that the course will not likely impact surface or groundwater quality and approved the petition. A-2 VS.CO-1 CO-1 Conservancy District does not allow field crops, therefore Bradt Farms Inc. are not interest in conservancy zoning. Bradt Farms Inc.may wish to plant corn or hay in the future on that parcel of land. 'Therefore Bradt Farms Inc. prefers to zone it A-2 with deed restrictions to eliminate single family detached residence if that's what the Zoning Natural Resource committee desires. Bradt Farms Inc. are in the farming business and plans to continued involvement with agricultural in the future. .REGIONAL PLANNING QUESTIONS The regional planning questions were addressed in the letter that was provided to the committee on June 23, 1998. We will address these again and possible elaborate on some of the items. a.) Those areas having less productive farmland. b.) Those areas with minimal impact on fanning operations. c.) Those uses with minimal construction,development, thus allowing future reuse as farmland. d.) Those uses and locations having a minimal effect on existing nearby uses. e.) Location which have direct access to state or county highways. If Town roads are involved,the applicant must demonstrate minimal impact on neighbors. If the Town road requires improvements, the applicant will be asked to pay for their share of such improvement. f.) A size of area and magnitude of operation which protects the rural atmosphere and scenic beauty of the Town.