This is from our department website - "What We Do"
The Planning Department promotes both the careful development of land, and the preservation of Muskego’s natural resources. To accomplish this, the Department is involved a variety of programs, including current and long range planning, geographic information systems, economic development, zoning administration, lake management, urban forestry, and conservation management. The Department’s role also includes the dissemination of this information to the public, and coordination with county, regional, state, and federal officials.
Current Planning
Staff reviews development plans and conducts site visits to determine compliance with local regulations. During this time Planning Staff works closely with the applicant to address potential conflicts with zoning codes, land division codes, or the Comprehensive Plan, and prepares Development Agreements as needed. In this program area, Staff also compiles a Case Supplement which accompanies the agenda to each Plan Commission member.
Long Range Planning
Also referred to as Comprehensive Planning, this program area deals with the long-term aspects of community planning. It includes master planning, code writing, housing, road and transit planning, resource protection, economic development, policy planning, strategic planning, budgeting, coordination with capital improvement budgeting, statistical forecasting, social welfare, advanced mapping, base mapping, feasibility studies, report writing, grant writing and grant administration, and intergovernmental cooperation. A key task of this program area is to bring the city's current Comprehensive Plan into compliance with the State's “Smart Growth” planning legislation. The Planning Department staffs the ad-hoc Comprehensive Plan Committee, formed every several years to update the Plan.
Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been part of the Planning Department since its inception, but came into maturity in 2001 with the addition of a full-time Coordinator. The goal of GIS is to provide cost-effective spatial information to assist decision-making processes. Much of what GIS produces are maps and graphics in paper and digital form. Planning staff participates in a County Users Group, a coalition of municipal and County interests formed to enhance land records management at a regional, intergovernmental level.
Economic Development
This program area assists the Mayor’s Office with fostering activities intended to retain, pursue, enhance, and attract investment in the community to ensure a stable or growing tax base along with job retention and creation. More specifically, this program area is responsible for grant writing and administration to support economic development initiatives, and maintaining the Economic Development Strategic Plan, Community Fact Book, Industrial Park Directory, and related data for the City. Planning staff provides direct support to the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development.
Zoning
The Zoning program area is responsible for the review and administration of permits which do not require Plan Commission or Common Council approval, providing customer service and assistance through the permit process, enforcement of zoning code provisions, and staffing the Board of Appeals.
Lake Management
This program area is charged with administration of Priority Lakes Watershed grants, assisting the Building and Engineering Department with erosion control administration to reduce non-point source pollution, educating to riparian land owners. This program area maintains an annual work program which implements best management practices for riparian lands. The Planning Department provides staff liaisons to the various Lake Associations and Lake Districts on an as-needed basis.
Urban Forestry
The Forestry program area is responsible for Strategic Planning and development of five-year Management Plans to maintain and enhance Muskego’s urban and rural forests. The Department implements annual tree planting, pruning, and removal programs, and hosts quarterly public education workshops. The Department provides staff to the Urban Forestry Committee.
Conservation
With the completion of the City’s first Conservation Plan, this program area is responsible for implementing best management practices associated with physical projects such as restoring and maintaining native prairies and remnant oak savannahs. The Planning Department also assists the Mayor’s office with land acquisitions consistent with the recommendations of the Conservation Plan and the Department of Natural Resources’ Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area plans.
