The Dane County Regional Planning Commission (DCRPC) introduced the concept of urban service areas in the first Dane County Land Use Plan in 1973. Urban service areas are those areas in and around existing communities which are most suitable for urban development and capable of being provided with a full range of urban services, including but not limited to, public water supply and distribution systems, sanitary sewerage systems, police and fire protection, solid waste collection, storm drainage systems, street lighting, neighborhood facilities, and transportation facilities. However, following the dissolution of DCRPC in 2004 and changes to state statutes in 2015, the Capital Area RPC manages land use primarily through sewer service area planning.
Urban service area planning (including sewer service area) planning helps communities develop cost-effective and environmentally sound wastewater collection and treatment systems and identifies the best management practices needed to protect groundwater and surface water from the adverse impacts of urbanization, including nonpoint source pollution.
Urban Service Area Amendments
The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approve sewer extensions and sewage treatment facilities based on USA boundaries. USAs are also included in area plans so that local, regional, and state agency decisions can be coordinated, consistent and capable of achieving desired growth and development patterns. Learn more about recent urban service area amendments.
Environmental Corridors
Environmental corridors are continuous systems of open space in urban and urbanizing areas. These corridors include environmentally sensitive lands, natural resources requiring protection from disturbance and development, and lands needed for open space and recreational use.
Environmental corridors have been mapped for all urban and limited service areas in the county. Corridor delineation is based mainly on drainage ways and stream channels, floodplains, wetlands, steep slopes, and other natural features. CARPC staff works with local units of government to delineate the corridors, which are then used to decide where to locate urban development and major facilities. Learn more about environmental corridors.