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February 13, 1995 <br /> Page 11 <br /> (b) Farmland Preservation Plan. Opponents argue that <br /> rezoning the parcel violates the Dane County <br /> Farmland Preservation Plan. This is also not a <br /> good basis for denying the petition for several <br /> reasons. First, the Ordinances require that town <br /> plans be used as the basis for making zoning <br /> amendments. The Farmland Preservation Plan is not <br /> intended as a basis for making zoning amendments; <br /> it is not an ordinance. The Farmland Preservation <br /> Plan specifically recognizes the role of the town <br /> plan and policies as the proper basis for making <br /> zoning amendments. The Farmland Preservation Plan <br /> has not been adopted by the Town of Cross Plains as <br /> a policy guide. Here, the proposed rezoning <br /> complies with and is consistent with Town land use <br /> policies. <br /> Second, the policies of the Farmland <br /> Preservation Plan are intended to be flexible, not <br /> rigid. The Farmland Preservation Plan recognizes <br /> the possibility that farmland preservation policies <br /> may be inappropriate for certain land parcels in <br /> agricultural areas because of the way A-1 Exclusive <br /> Agriculture zoning was implemented. The Farmland <br /> Preservation Plan specifically recognizes that land <br /> parcels of less than 35 acres in size are least <br /> likely to remain in agriculture and will not be <br /> eligible for tax credits under the Wisconsin <br /> Farmland Preservation Law. The Farmland <br /> Preservation Plan recognizes that rezoning to allow <br /> rural development in agricultural areas will occur, <br /> stating that rezoning to allow low-density, non- <br /> farm uses in agricultural areas should be permitted <br /> if the land meets the following criteria: <br /> * It has not had a history of economically viable <br /> farming activity. <br /> * It is too small to be economically used for <br /> agricultural purposes or is inaccessible to farm <br /> machinery needed to produce agricultural <br /> products. <br /> * It is located such that conflict with <br /> surrounding agricultural uses is minimal. <br /> * It is divided such that the minimum lot size and <br /> density requirements for nonfarm parcels are <br /> consistent with policies in the local town. <br />