Planning and Zoning

Educational publications and resources are available to assist in understanding a variety of land use planning and zoning functions.

Community Planning

A collection of comprehensive planning and zoning resources.

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Plan Implementation

A collection of regulatory, design-based, financial, and incentive-based implementation resources.

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Public Engagement

A collection of public participation methods and ethical consideration resources.

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research

Realtor Interviews

Migration Trends in Northern Wisconsin

Through realtor interviews this study examined why people are purchasing property, from where they are coming, and what prompted them to ​​purchase property and/or move​.

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Phase II

Small Cities Response to Public Emergencies

The main goal of this research is to assess the capacity/preparedness of small cities in Wisconsin (including Michigan and Minnesota) to respond to future public emergencies, in particular pandemics. Phase II of the research involves a qualitative analysis of data interviews conducted with public health and emergency management personnel.

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2023 Report

An Analysis of Wisconsin Planning Positions

The Analysis of Wisconsin Planning Positions is intended to inform undergraduate and graduate planning curriculum, planning employers, and students about the current needs that are reflected in planning job descriptions.

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Conditional Use Survey – 2020

The Zoning and Conditional Use Permit Survey was conducted by the Center for Land Use Education in October 2020. The survey responses include towns, villages, cities, counties and others includings airport, regional planning commission, and consultant representing mulitple levels of governement.​

Survey Results

Handbooks

Handbooks are available for download in pdf format free of charge, or black and white print for $25.00 (includes shipping) by completing the handbook order form and forwarding it to landcenter@uwsp.edu.

Click the image to download the associated handbook.

Plan Commission Handbook


The Plan Commission Handbook is designed to assist the plan commission, local government officials and citizens in understanding the roles and responsibilities of the plan commission and related decision-making standards.

The plan commission performs a wide variety of functions related to community planning and land use development. Formal roles are outlined in state statutes and local ordinances while informal roles evolve as a result of the nature of the plan commission’s work.

Zoning Board Handbook

The Zoning Board Handbook is intended to assist zoning board members, local government officials and citizens in understanding the role of the zoning board and the procedures and standards with which their decisions must comply.

The primary role of a zoning board of adjustment/appeals is to review and decide cases where there is an alleged error in a zoning decision or where a relaxation of the ordinance is sought.