Debora SielskiCommunity Development Director

Community Development Department

Phone:262-335-4445Email: Community Development Department

Days Available:Monday - FridayHours Available:8:00am - 4:30pm

The Washington County Planning and Parks Department has finalized the planning process for updating the Washington County Park and Open Space Plan. A seven member advisory commission, guiding the progress of the plan update, consists of representatives of local governments, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Metropolitan Builders Assn. On April 21st, 2020 the Park and Open Space Plan was approved by the Washington County Board of Supervisors. 

The updated plan identifies long-term needs for park and open space acquisition and development and proposes recommendations to satisfy those needs extending to the year 2035. Chapter 2 of the Park and Open Space Plan was updated and approved by the Washington County Board of Supervisors on March 12th, 2025. The past 2020 plan was adopted by the Washington County Board of Supervisors on March 9, 2004. The 2035 plan also allows the County to remain eligible to apply for State and Federal park grants.

The acquisition and development of parks and recreational facilities in Washington County provide a variety of private and public benefits to all residents. The cost of park acquisition and development is an investment in the future well being of individuals and contributes to the viability of communities in Washington County. Park and Open Space sites have a number of important individual, community, environmental and economic benefits.

Community Benefits

• Provides opportunities to interact with other individuals in the community.
• Recreation opportunities, facilities and the quality of the local environment are the foundations of community pride.

Section 66.1001(2)(i) of the State's comprehensive planning law requires that comprehensive plans be updated no less than once every 10 years. Plan updates are considered plan amendments. Washington County entered into a contract with SEWRPC in mid-2016 to update the Multi-Jurisdictional Plan adopted by the County Board in 2008, which serves as the County's Comprehensive Plan. The Multi-jurisdictional Comprehensive Plan for Washington County: 2050 was adopted April 10th, 2019.

Wisconsin Statute Section 66.1001(4)(f) requires that county and local governments maintain a list of people who want to be informed of Comprehensive Plan changes. If you would like to be added to this list, please email [email protected] or call (262)-335-4445.

Comprehensive Plan amendments include changes to the text or any of the maps included in the Comprehensive Plan. Text amendments may include changing, adding, or modifying a goal, objective, policy ,or program in any of the element chapters in response to changing conditions or new information. Text amendments can also include adding or changing the land use plan categories in the Land Use Element to provide for a category of development that is not incorporated into the current set of categories, or updating inventory information.

In addition to text amendments, the land use plan map (Map 12.1) may be amended to change the designation, and therefore the allowable uses, on a parcel or parcels of land. Other maps in the plan may be amended or updated to reflect updated information, such as updated floodplain mapping or inventories of natural resources or community facilities.

View the Washington County (Chapter 12) Land Use Plan: 2050

A plan amendment can be initiated by:

• County Board
• County Board committee
• City Common Council/ Village Board/ Town Board
• Developer/owner regarding subdivision plat proposal

There are three separate applications for Comprehensive Plan amendments and can be submitted to the Planning and Parks Department. Review each description below and select the proper form.

#1 Land Use Map Amendment due to Subdivision Plat Request
This application includes map amendment requests to the County Comprehensive Plan due to subdivision plat proposals. Land Use and Planning Committee approval and County Board approval are required.

Application #1

#2 Concurrent Review of Land Use Map Amendment due to Subdivision Plat Request and Preliminary Plat Review Process
If a concurrent review of map amendments to the Comprehensive Plan are initiated by a Subdivision Plat proposal and the Preliminary Plat Review Process for Land Division, application #2 must be submitted to the Planning and Parks Department. Both Land Use and Planning Committee approval and County Board approval are required.

Application #2

#3 General Text and Land Use Map Amendment Request
This application includes map amendments to the County Comprehensive Plan requested by a Town. These requests should not be related to a subdivision plat proposal. Both Land Use and Planning Committee approval and County Board approval are required.

Application #3

Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Amendment 2025-1 Farmland Preservation Plan 

Amendment 2025-2 Land Use Plan Update

Wisconsin Statute Section 66.1001(4)(f) requires that county and local governments maintain a list of people who want to be informed of Comprehensive Plan changes. If you would like to be added to this list, please email [email protected] or call (262)-335-4445.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced the award of the 2016-2020 Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) to the Washington County Planning and Parks Department for the development of a Bike & Pedestrian Plan for Washington County. The Plan was developed in an effort to increase opportunities for non-motorized vehicle transportation. The Public Works Committee adopted this plan on May 22, 2019. The Plan makes recommendations to develop a countywide network of trails and routes as alternate modes of transportation that can be integrated into a user's daily routine. The Plan focuses on creating trails and routes that provide accessibility to essential services, such as schools, commercial centers and major employment centers as well as creating a trail network that provides varied recreational opportunities that are enjoyable for all residents.

The Plan promotes recommendations for policies, programs and ordinances that will support development of a safe and accessible network of trails which encourage active lifestyles in a way that is safe, comfortable and enjoyable for all users which considering connections between existing trails throughout the County and in adjoining counties. By providing connections to existing trails, Washington County residents will have access to a greater variety of opportunities and destinations.

The Farmland Preservation Plan:

Washington County is currently updating the Farmland Preservation Plan. This plan provides the regulatory foundation for the implementation of farmland preservation methods through the State Farmland Preservation Program. The methods are farmland preservation districts, agricultural enterprise areas, and farmland preservation agreements. Each method is intended to either provide regulatory protections for farmland or to encourage the continued investment in farms and therefore the continued viability and existence of a strong agricultural base. The plan update is currently going through the final approval process.

The Washington County Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Plan is a long-range planning document intended to guide the activities of the Land and Water Conservation Division in its efforts to protect and improve local land and water resources for the next 10 years. This plan represents the next generation of resource management strategies and is an improved and updated guide that builds upon past work in order to help carry out our overall conservation mission.

Quaas Creek Watershed Protection Plan (2004)

The goal of the Quaas Creek Watershed Protection Plan is the preservation and enhancement of the quality and function of the natural resources of the Quaas Creek Watershed. This plan is designed to assist municipalities in developing strategies that will benefit Quaas Creek's natural assets and protect sensitive habitats within the watershed.

The Menomonee River Watershed Updated Implementation Plan (2021)

The Menomonee River Watershed is one of three watersheds that discharge into Lake Michigan via the Milwaukee River and Harbor Estuary. At 136 miles, it is the second most urbanized of the watersheds and, in some areas, is projected to experience a population growth of 30 to 35 percent by the year 2050 due to increased urban development and suburban sprawl. This plan lays out a comprehensive and strategic approach to watershed restoration.

Milwaukee River Basin TMDL United States EPA Report (2018)

The Milwaukee River is comprised of the Menomonee River, Kinnickinnic River, and Milwaukee River watersheds, and the Milwaukee River Estuary. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) regulations and the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waterbodies that do not meet established water quality standards and to develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for those impaired waters. This report describes the overall TMDL development process and impairments, and provides water quality targets and management practices for regulating TMDL.

Cedar, Pigeon, Ulao, and Mole Creeks Watershed Restoration Plan (2020)

The Cedar, Pigeon, Ulao, Mole Creeks Plan covers each of the six contiguous HUC 12 sub-watersheds in the geographic center of the Milwaukee River Watershed. These sub-watersheds are on the state's impaired waters 303(d) list because they do not meet their designated uses. The Plan follows nine key elements recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for watershed restoration plans.

Fredonia-Newburg Area Watershed-Based Plan Final Report (2019)

The Fredonia-Newburg Area Watersheds planning area encompasses three HUC 12 watersheds: Town of Fredonia-Milwaukee River, Milwaukee River North Branch, and the Village of Newburg-Milwaukee River. The mission of this plan is: The communities of the Fredonia-Newburg Area Watersheds are dedicated to the protection, preservation, and improvement of our area watersheds through planning, implementation, education and stewardship for shared health and wellbeing.

In August of 2010, Washington County received an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Control Grant through the WI Department of Natural Resources. The grant required Washington County to develop a countywide strategic plan for AIS prevention and control. The strategic plan describes how AIS can be detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and pin points where AIS have been identified. The plan also recommends goals and strategies for combating AIS and engaging in AIS education and outreach as well as identifying entities responsible for plan implementation.