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Dane County Zoning Page 2 What is the environmental impact? What if chemical spraying were done for weed/insect control? Would there be run off and contamination of surrounding wetlands? What is the potential impact on the nearby trout stream. The DNR has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on nearby lands. What is the potential impact on water and wildlife? The environmental impact is unclear. Public Comfort and General Welfare: There is an issue of trust and fairness here—There has been a lot of partial/misinformation. An example is the application for the CUP,there are several discrepancies including: Total acres in parcel before rezoning--34.6+ Dane Co.tax roll lists the parcel as 31.9 acres Distance from city/village boundary?--2.5 listed Parcel is 6-6.5 miles from Oregon Is land w/in sanitary district--Yes Correct answer is No Is land w/in planning transition area--Yes Correct answer is No--Agricultural Preservation according to Land Use Maps Another issue leading to mistrust is that the petitioning group states the retreat is for 24 persons. The proposed meeting room is approximately 2100 sq.feet. This is larger than the average size family home--this seems disproportional. Even a group of 24 people would double the population on the 1.25 mile stretch of Tipperary Rd.from Hwy. A-Bellbrook Rd. (where the proposed retreat would be located). 12 retreats/yr.for up to 1 wk/each=double the population in this rural area for approximately 25% (or a quarter)of the year. Based on the size of the building proposed one would really need to question the true number of persons intended. I really must question a fairness issue also. This is a building equivalent in size to an 8 unit apartment complex,or 5-6 family homes. This proposed land use is in clear violation of the zoning, land use plan and surrounding uses. If this was proposed by any one person or other organization,there would be no question of its'denial. The Reformed Congregation has received moneys as part of the Wetland Reserve Program. This doesn't appear to be a separation of church and state? Additionally as a tax exempt organization they receive government benefit #2. Some would call that"double dipping"? Additionally,there seems to be a real effort to debate this issue in the news media rather than at the local level were it belongs. This is strictly an issue of land use and public health and safety as outlined in the Oregon Land Use Plan,Dane County Code of Ordinances and the Vision 20/20. Nearly 80%of respondents to a public opinion survey agreed that current regulations should be upheld on developments near environmentally sensitive areas. This parcel of land by all county documents meets the criteria for"environmentally sensitive area". Vision 20/20 specifically states that no new development be allowed within areas such as this parcel(which is defined as including streams, floodplains,wetlands, and woodlands). Reference page 18--Land Use Plan Concepts In summary,the fire/hunting safety issues will always exist regardless of what is done with the existing drive. An Environmental Assessment(as was done for the UW radio tower in Montrose Township)would assist with answering/addressing the environmental impact,and issues relating to,comfort and general welfare of the area. The assessment should be as inclusive and include: Existing Land Use/Zoning,Population,Fire/Police Protection, Solid Waste Disposal,Impact on Land Values and Property Tax,Farmland, Aesthetics(and should include photographs from different vantage points)in addition to Noise issues(Curfew for evening hours--Singing/chanting has been heard after dark on summer nights). (Reference attached Table of Contents from Tower Assessment). I challenge you as members of the zoning committee to evaluate the information before you and make a difference. The environment is our future. The decisions we make today regarding land use and the environment have to be the right decisions for generations to come! It's extremely expensive and often impossible to fix things after the damage has been done. I encourage you as our representatives and supporters of Vision 20/20,to have the courage to uphold the local/county land use plans and deny this CUP. Thank you, -r- Bruce and Ellen Smith 418 Tipperary Rd. Brooklyn, WI 53521 (608)455-4600