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Dane County Planning and Development Department <br />Room 116, City- County Building, Madison, Wisconsin 53703 <br />Fax (608) 267 -1540 <br />Community Development <br />(608)261 -9781, Rm. 421 <br />Planning <br />(608)266 -4251, Rm. 116 <br />Records & Support <br />(608)266 -4251, Rm. 116 <br />What is a Density Study Report? <br />zot,itg <br />(608)266 -4266, Rm. 116 <br />Dane County towns that participate in the state Farmland Preservation Program have adopted <br />comprehensive plans that include land use policies establishing a limitation on the amount of <br />residential and, in some cases commercial, development that can be created in designated <br />agricultural preservation areas. These policies are commonly called "density policies," since they <br />limit the total density of new development permitted in particular areas of the town. Density policies <br />vary from town to town, and may be changed over time by amendments to the respective town's <br />comprehensive plan. The county adopts each town plan as a component of the Dane County <br />Comprehensive Plan and assists towns in administering their density and other land use policies. <br />Density policies establish the total number of potential residential or commercial <br />development opportunities based on acreage owned at a certain point in time, rather than the acreage <br />currently owned. A density study report will therefore show farm acreage owned at the time the <br />particular town adopted it's density policy, or some other date specified in the town plan. The report <br />will calculate the total number of potential density units, or lots (a/k/a, "development rights" or <br />"splits ") permitted under the town density policy, and the number of dwelling units or lots created <br />to date since the policy went into effect. Density study reports should be considered working drafts <br />that do not guarantee town or county approval of a particular land division, rezone, or development <br />proposal. In some cases, additional information, or interpretation by town or county officials and staff <br />may be necessary. <br />Determination of original ownership boundaries and acreage values depends on historic and current <br />records located at the Dane County Department of Planning and Development (such as the county <br />Geographic Information System, archived plat books, tax records, zoning permit data and recorded <br />Certified Survey Maps). All acreage shown is net of public rights -of -way, unless otherwise specified, <br />and is derived from the county's digital parcel database, which is usually more accurate than acreage <br />amounts reported in tax assessment rolls. If you have information that the original farm boundaries, <br />acreage or number of lot splits taken so far shown in the density report is incorrect, please call the <br />Planning Division at 266 -4251 to schedule an appointment to review your information. <br />Density study applications that are speculative in nature (i.e., not associated with a pending rezone <br />petition) will only be accepted if submitted by the landowner(s), an authorized agent of the <br />owner(s) (e.g., realtor, attorney), or with the landowner(s) written consent. <br />The cost for a density study report is $120. Checks should be made payable to Dane County <br />Planning and Development. Mailed applications and payment should be sent to the address <br />above (room 116 of city-county building). Please allow 3 -6 weeks to process your request. A <br />copy of the report will be mailed to the landowner, the applicant (if different from the <br />landowner) and the town clerk. <br />REV 01/01/2019 <br />