6820 Balsam, Eau Claire, WI 54701

Agricultural Preservation District

The A-P district is established to: Preserve and protect those areas best suited for agricultural, forestry, or open-space uses by minimizing fragmentation of contiguous agricultural or forest lands for the benefit and use of current and future generations; Provide for a wide range of agricultural uses typically associated with the continued production of food and fiber while recognizing that such uses may involve noise, dust, odor, or operation of heavy equipment for long periods of time; Strengthen and diversify a predominately agricultural and forestry-based economy by providing for a range of economic opportunities for property owners which are generally compatible with and supportive of agriculture or forestry operations as either permitted or conditional uses; Comply with standards contained in Wis. Stat. ch. 91 to permit eligible landowners to receive tax credits under Wis. Stat. § 71.09, in conjunction with their agricultural operations; Preserve rural character and promote the efficient use of public infrastructure and utilities by minimizing the adverse effects of urban sprawl along with its associated expense; Promote environmental quality through the use of conservation practices designed to minimize erosion of productive soils and deter the delivery of sediment and nutrients to the waters of our state; Minimize land use conflicts which occur when agricultural and non-agricultural uses are intermixed or not adequately separated; and Provide for carefully regulated extraction of nonmetallic mineral resources through Eau Claire County’s permitting processes to ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses, minimize impacts to natural resources, and to restore lands to productive agricultural use consistent with locally approved reclamation plans.