A comprehensive plan is a formal document that is intended to guide the physical, social and economic development of a local governmental unit. The plan is an official document, meaning that it is designed to be adopted by the local governing body. The plan identifies a vision for the future with realistic goals, objectives, policies, and programs that provide direction and rational basis for local decisions over the next 10 to 20 years. Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Planning Law is outlined in Section 66.1001 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

These plans are comprehensive in that they address many components or elements of a community. There are (9) nine elements that a comprehensive plan shall address as defined by the comprehensive planning law:

• Issues and Opportunities
• Housing
• Transportation
• Utilities and Community Facilities
• Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources
• Economic Development
• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Land-Use
• Implementation

Furthermore, the comprehensive planning law identifies consistency requirements. Beginning on January 1, 2010, if a town, village, city, or county “enacts or amends” any of the following ordinances, the ordinances shall be consistent with that local government’s comprehensive plan:

• Official Mapping
• Zoning
• Land-Subdivision
• Shorelands or Wetlands

The Wood County Comprehensive Plan

The Wood County Board of Supervisors adopted the Wood County Comprehensive Plan 2009 - 2029. Individual plan elements can be accessed by clicking on the links below:

• Element 1 - Issues & Opportunities
• Element 2 - Housing
• Element 3 - Transportation
• Element 4 - Utilities & Community Facilities
• Element 5 - Agricultural, Natural & Cultural Resources
• Element 6 - Economic Development
• Element 7 - Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Element 8 - Land Use
• Element 9 - Implementation

Town Comprehensive Plans

Wood County has (22) Towns/Townships within its boundary. Below are links to several town comprehensive plans:

• Town of Cameron Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Grand Rapids Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Lincoln Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Marshfield Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Port Edwards Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Saratoga Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Seneca Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Sigel Comprehensive Plan
• Town of Rudolph Comprehensive Plan

Regional Comprehensive Plan

In 2003, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission adopted a regional comprehensive plan titled “A Framework for the Future, 2000-2020”. Even though the plan is only advisory it serves as a useful resource in planning efforts throughout the region. Contact the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to obtain a copy of the comprehensive plan and learn more about NCWRPC.

North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
210 McClellan Street
Suite 210
Wausau, WI 54403
Phone: 715-849-5510
Fax: 715-849-5110
Email: [email protected]

Comprehensive Plan Drafts

DRAFT - City of Nekoosa Land Use Planning and Zoning Update – 2023

Wood County Planning Assistance

Planning and Zoning Department staff are happy to share what they know about the requirements of the comprehensive planning law, and resources available for completing comprehensive plans.