The Prescott Plan Commission held a public hearing on the proposed City of Prescott Comprehensive Plan for 2026–2046 during their meeting on June 1. This marks a pivotal step in the ongoing process of updating the city's comprehensive plan, which has been under review since February 2025, in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes § 66.1001(2).

To facilitate this comprehensive update, the City of Prescott enlisted the assistance of Cedar Corporation, which has engaged in regular meetings with the Plan Commission over the past year to review the necessary texts and maps. Ken Jaworski, senior consultant at Cedar Corporation, provided an overview of the motivations behind the update.

“The State of Wisconsin requires the plan to be updated every 10 years and requires public participation,” he explained.

The Plan Commission has been diligently reviewing nine elements of the plan, including issues and opportunities, housing, transportation, utilities and community facilities, agricultural, natural, and cultural resources, economic development, intergovernmental cooperation, land use, and implementation.

“Well, you want to make sure that you update the older provisions of it,” Jaworski noted, highlighting the importance of incorporating newer demographic data and emerging trends.

In compliance with state statutes, community input has been actively sought. In Spring 2025, the Plan Commission conducted a survey to gather public opinions and preferences regarding the comprehensive plan update. A DRAFT plan update has also been made available on the city website for public review. The commission held the public hearing on June 1 as part of this engagement effort.

Feedback from the community survey earlier in the year indicated several priority areas identified by residents.

“Residents deeply value the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, the accessibility to outdoor recreation, and the close-knit, welcoming atmosphere that defines the town,” Jaworski stated.

He noted requests for improved infrastructure, increased recreational opportunities especially for youth and families, and more affordable housing options for seniors and those in assisted living.

The future land use map is a crucial aspect of the comprehensive plan, according to Jaworski. He reiterated the state's expectations regarding land use and rezoning, stating, “So this map should be the precursor to all your rezoning decisions, help guide those decisions.”

He pointed out that while the City of Prescott is primarily residential, with a need for expanding its industrial and commercial sectors.

“One thing that I kind of noticed is that there is a need for some expansion of industrial and commercial base,” Jaworski said. “Those are the uses that typically pay the bills in communities.”

He explained that they typically provide that higher tax rate and the City of Prescott’s ratios of commercial to residential land use is “a little on the lighter side” compared to other similar communities.

“But you seem to have addressed that in this map,” he said of the future land use map. He also shared that conditional use permits don’t always have to necessarily be consistent with the comprehensive plan map.

After concluding the public hearing with no comments from citizens, the Plan Commission proceeded to vote on the adoption of Resolution No. 02-26, which recommends that the City Council accept the Comprehensive Plan for 2026–2046. This resolution will be presented to the Prescott City Council during their meeting on June 8.

Continuing with their agenda, the Commission reviewed conditional uses within zoning districts. City Planner Luke Wiese highlighted specific conditional uses that require updates or further clarification, including potential additions to R5 zoning to permit accessory dwellings and the introduction of large-scale solar farms. The discussion also included possible removal of conditional uses related to airports and railroads in Heavy Industrial zones.