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Lakes&Watersheds Sue Jones,Lakes and Watersheds Coordinator,notes that based on current trends,the Dane County Regional Hydrologic Study forecasts water table declines in the Pheasant Branch Creek/StIrerritiVetP014(, (u L i< Watershed. Additional impervious urban areas and increased groundwater withdrawals would exacerbate this trend,posing serious implications for streams and wetlands. In order to completely analyze ground and surface water impacts, Sue suggests that additional information on long-range plans for future development would be needed from both the applicant and the Town of Westport. Specific questions include: • Is the school service area the immediate area, or are target enrollment numbers and grade levels dependent on planned or anticipated nearby residential development? • What plans are there for future residential development in the area? How many homes at what densities are envisioned? • What is the timeframe/phasing for future residential/other development on lands adjacent to the Country Day School parcel? VIII. SITE AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ISSUES Direct impacts There is insufficient information in the application to determine the direct impact of the proposed school. Discrepancies noted earlier between the site plan and the legal descriptions should be resolved. In order to adequately analyze the request,the following information should also be provided: • the number and grade level of the students to be served; • details about the nature and extent of"future expansion"mentioned in the application; • descriptions and/or sketches of proposed signage and lighting; • the location of any drainageways,wetlands or steep slopes on the property; • landscaping and other measures to be taken to buffer the school from surrounding agricultural operations, and; • design and location of proposed stormwater and erosion controls. Cumulative Impacts In addition to the immediate and direct impact of the school and its grounds,the committee should also consider how the presence of a typically suburban use will affect the character and influence the development of this predominately rural area. Parents usually prefer to live near their children's school. In fact,the current Madison Country Day School was relocated to the City of Madison from Martinsville because parents were unwilling to commute that far. Even though the proposed Oncken Road location is more centrally located than Martinsville, it is reasonable to expect the presence of the school to increase pressure for residential development in what is now a rural farming community. As residential development increases,property values typically go up and conflicts between farmers and non-farmers occur more frequently. These trends can lead to disinvestment in farms, and can ultimately drive farming out of the area. Over time,the cumulative impact of such incremental changes can lead to traffic congestion, environmental degradation and conflicts with other uses,with repercussions that affect a broad geographic area. These cumulative impacts would seem to run counter to the Town of Westport's stated intention to preserve farming in this area,as described in the Town of Westport Land Use Plan. If the Town now believes that this area is better suited for development than agricultural preservation,then the plan should be amended to reflect this. Appropriate measures should be included in the town plan to avoid, or at least mitigate,the impacts described above. RPC staff report that the town is working on a revised plan,but to date,the county has not received any proposed amendments or drafts. 5