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COMPOSITE REPORT - Page 2 AP'..LICATION NO. Cu P //G.? , . STAFF COMMENTS REGIONAL PLANNING CUP 1167. This is a resubmission of CUP 1029 from the public hearing of October 13, 1992. The CUP has expired and, thus, the reapplication is required. This proposed elementary school site is in an Agricultural Land Preservation Area of the Town of Middleton. While the county plan for this area does not have specific policies related to schools, there is a general policy on public lands which states: "To insure that such land acquisitions and subsequent use conform to the goals and policies of the town plan." The goals are: • To preserve the productive agricultural lands for long-term farm use. • To maintain open space provided by agriculture to provide an extensive separation between urban development and the rural non-farm areas. • To prevent potential conflict between farm operations with incompatible development. • To maintain the rural character of the town. The site is currently used as cropland with a corn crop this year. The area proposed for the school building has Capability Class II e-1 soils, which are rated as statewide important by the USDA definition. Soils to the north of the building site have a Capability Class II or prime soils per USDA. The building and parking facilities are proposed on a few acres near Airport Road, while the balance of the area to the north is proposed for playfields and future growth. The site is surrounded by rural subdivisions on three sides, with houses on virtually every lot shown on the map. There is also an extensive area of rural subdivisions to the west and some to the north in the Town of Springfield. This concentration of several hundred homes is the primary rationale for this school site. School sites are traditionally in residential neighborhoods. There are no farm buildings on this parcel, and the land has been used as cropland. Therefore the school should not provide a use conflict, such as a livestock operation would next to a school. Since the building site will be occupying a small portion of the 40-acre parcel, some cropland can continue to be used, and the rural character can be maintained. Since this public use is proposing to acquire more than 5 acres of farmland, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has prepared an Agricultural Impact Statement, published August 28, 1992. The following are the conclusions and recommendations of that report: VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Middleton-Cross Plains School District proposed to purchase a 40-acre site in the town of Middleton for the construction of new elementary school and other facilities. The 40 acres is the entire parcel owned by Ralph and Florence Davis and leased to Regie Ziegler for crop production. Approximately 20 acres is needed for the new facilities, and the remaining acreage may continue to be rented to Mr. Ziegler if acceptable terms can be worked out between the School Board and Mr. Ziegler.