Sample Goals, Objectives, and Policies by Comprehensive Planning Element

The model implementation language presented in the Toolbox provides guidance for considering how to incorporate forests and forestry into your comprehensive plan. The next step is to develop more specific goals, objectives, and policies for each of the planning elements that address forest issues.

Goals, objectives, and policies help frame the vision of the comprehensive plan.

• Goals highlight what the plan hopes to achieve
• Objectives specify actions to achieve the stated goal
• Policies influence the actions required to achieve the goal.

The following samples have been modeled after existing goals, objectives and policies from completed comprehensive plans, as well as developed to meet the needs of forests and forestry in communities. They should be tailored to clearly describe the forest based goals and objectives of your individual community or planning region. They are only meant to serve as sample options to incorporate into your comprehensive plan.

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ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Overall Goal:

To protect and enhance forests to ensure its present and future use in ways which are economically, ecologically, and socially desirable in an attempt to improve the quality of life.

HOUSING

Sample Goal #1:

To promote housing developments that avoid or limit forest fragmentation and isolation of forested land and that minimize environmental impacts or mitigate environmental impacts to forests when impacts cannot be avoided.

Sample Objective A:

Preserve natural, cultural, historic, and scenic forests in new residential developments and subdivisions.

Sample Policies A:

• Amend ordinances, such as zoning and subdivision regulations, to promote conservation design principles to preserve the continuity of forestland by designating a minimum of 50% of open space to obtain full density on the land to be developed.
• Conserve forests of local significance, such as productive forests, forests that provide wildlife habitat and corridors, recreational opportunities, historical or cultural significance, and scenic vistas when developing site plans.
• Require that development proposals consider surrounding land areas to connect open spaces and forested land.
• Direct development away from productive forestland to areas that already have substantial amounts of existing residential development with utilities and services established.
• Develop a forest fire protection program to guard against the danger of fire in developments adjacent to forests, while recognizing that fire can also be used as a means of managing forest fire hazards.

Sample Objective B:

Encourage the preservation and use of native vegetation and trees in new developments and subdivisions.

Sample Policies B:

• Adopt a tree protection ordinance to regulate the removal or destruction of trees, alteration of the area near trees, the replacement of trees, and incorporate landscaping standards that support the natural ecosystem.
• Require the developer to conduct a tree survey of the property and replace trees injured or removed, and if it is impractical to replace the trees on the property, require the developer to replace the trees on public property.

Sample Objective C:

Minimize adverse environmental impacts of development on forests by setting design and construction standards that protect forests for subdivisions and residential developments.

Sample Policies C:

• Require the developer to write a soil erosion plan that contains measures to prevent damage to surrounding bodies of water and waterways, forests, and surrounding land, to minimize runoff and erosion, and to restore damage caused by soil erosion and sedimentation.
• Require buffers and/or setbacks from forests to protect them from the impacts of development.
• Set population density standards for development in and around productive forestlands.

Sample Goal #2:

To limit or restrict residential development in fire prone areas.

Sample Objective A:

Prevent fire damage to residential areas along the wildland urban interface.

Sample Policies A:

• Prohibit residential developments within areas that have been identified as high risk for fires.
• Apply for Forest Fire Prevention Grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to plan and manage for forest fires near to or within residential areas.
• Develop fire education programs for residential communities within and close to the wildland urban interface.

TRANSPORTATION

Sample Goal:

Sample Objective A:

Ensure that roads are sufficiently maintained, well drained, and planned for to support and accommodate forest industry transportation needs as it correlates to the needs of local economy and that of the community.

Sample Policies A:

• Determine where logging practices are occurring and accommodate logger vehicles on roads that can support their loads.
• Maintain an open relationship with transporters of forest based goods to address transportation issues as they arise.

Sample Objective B:

Minimize the impacts of transportation networks on surrounding forestland.

Sample Policies B:

• Use native vegetation along roadsides to better infiltrate runoff, stabilize roadsides, decrease erosion, and minimize the impact from invasive plant species.
• Plant trees and shrubs along roadsides where necessary to buffer noise, air pollution, and runoff.
• Protect the visual quality of scenic roadways by maintaining a forested landscape.

UTILITIES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Sample Goal:

To promote a variety of forest based recreational opportunities within the community.

Sample Objective:

Offer a range of recreational opportunities in forest environments for local residents and tourists.

Sample Policies:

• Develop an outdoor recreation plan by collaborating with the parks and natural resources/forestry departments to coordinate a public vision for forest based recreational opportunities.
• Develop a trail system that provides links between communities and forested or open space recreational areas.
• Provide for mixed-use forest recreational opportunities and sufficient public access.
• Continue to work with, support and cooperate with service clubs and organizations related to the maintenance and development of forest based recreational facilities and activities.

AGRICULTURE, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Sample Goal #1:

To preserve, enhance, and promote the sustainable use of forest resources.

Sample Objective A:

Conserve productive forestland by expanding the use of conservation easements, incentives, and voluntary, long-term stewardship of forestlands.

Sample Policies A:

• Conserve forestlands that are susceptible to development, have the potential to connect to other parcels of forestland, have public importance, and provide critical ecological functions.
• Work with the appropriate individuals and organizations to prohibit development on critical forestland by acquiring conservation easements, purchase of development rights or transfer of development rights on those lands.
• Develop a fund for high priority forestland acquisitions, productive forestlands, or to expand the county forest where reasonable.
• Protect lands identified as Wisconsin Forest Legacy Areas and areas identified in the Land Legacy Report if they fall within the community's jurisdiction.
• Set minimum forest coverage standards along streams and riverbanks to ensure bank stabilization, manage stormwater runoff, and maintain the proper environmental conditions for stream and river habitats. The minimum standard may be varied based on features such as percent slope and density of surrounding land uses.
• Create a wildfire control plan that reduces risk to uncontrolled wildfire.

Sample Objective B:

Encourage multiple uses of forest resources.

Sample Policies B:

• Engage all forest users in the development of forest management policy to identify and prevent use conflicts.
• Prepare appropriate rules for the compatible use of forest land by non-motorized and motorized users.

Sample Objective C:

Promote the sustainable use of forest resources.

Sample Policies C:

• Use forestry "best management practices" as minimum standards for logging.
• Encourage forest landowners to enroll in Wisconsin's Managed Forest Law program and other tax programs.
• Establish an urban forestry program to inventory and assess the urban forest, its social and economic benefits to the community, as well as establish a management plan.
• Recognize the importance of ecosystem services from working forests and support innovative approaches

Sample Goal #2:

To promote healthy vigorous forests to minimize losses from pests and wildlfire.

Sample Objective A:

Discourage forest parcelization and isolation to minimize the ability for pests and wildfire to negatively impact forest health.

Sample Policies B:

• Require adequate buffers, based on surrounding land use and density and other natural features, such as percent slope, between developments and sensitive forest resources to prevent edge effects.
• Require the use of native species in plantings and implement control measures to prevent the spread of invasive exotic species that can have negative ecological, economic, and social impacts to forests.
• Begin reforestation efforts in woodland areas with gaps in forest cover to increase the connectivity of these forest patches.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sample Goal:

Encourage a variety of economic opportunities related to forests, forestry, and forest based products.

Sample Objective:

Plan for the expansion of current forest based industries and business and the possibility of recruiting new forest based industries and businesses.

Sample Policies:

• Develop a map identifying locations that can sustain the expansion of forest based industries.
• Classify and designate forest resource lands for the long-term commercial production of timber products.
• Explore new markets for forestry products.
• Encourage efforts to keep forestry-related jobs in and adjacent to the community, such as working with schools, colleges, and training programs to recruit and retain workers within the community.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION

Sample Goal:

To establish a working relationship with surrounding governments and the state to coordinate forest conservation efforts and to address forestry related issues.

Sample Objective:

Work with local governments, state agencies, regional planning commissions, and school districts on forestry related issues held in common.

Sample Policies:

• Identify existing forestry related conflicts with surrounding communities and work to resolve these conflicts.
• Coordinate on forest management and planning issues with surrounding communities and local government.
• Address issues identified in the Statewide Forest Plan that are relevant to the community.

LAND USE

Sample Overall Goal:

Preserve forests as a major land use and forested land for forestry practices and forest based activities.

Sample Objective:

Maintain the integrity and viability of forestry and forests to ensure forestry practices and forest based activities can occur without creating conflicts with non-forest related land uses.

Sample Policies:

• Before approving the change of forestland to another land use, determine the impacts on the community, ecological systems, and the local economy.
• Retain large, contiguous tracts of forests.
• Use existing land designated for urban uses before permitting development within or adjacent to forested lands in order to restrict urban encroachment into forested areas.
• Provide for the long-term utilization of productive forestland by providing forest landowners with incentives to keep their forest based land use and by encouraging their enrollment in Wisconsin's Managed Forest Law program.