TOWN OF RIVER FALLS – The River Falls Town Board and Plan Commission on Aug. 5 reviewed a proposed 20-year Comprehensive Plan that aims to preserve the town’s rural, agricultural character but leaves the door open for limited development.

The board and commission reviewed the plan at a joint public hearing. The board postponed adopting the plan to a later meeting so a vision statement can be included, and other edits made.

The proposed plan lists goals for the 2024-2044 period that cover housing, transportation, utilities and community facilities, agricultural, natural and cultural resources, economic development, intergovernmental cooperation and land use.

Ken Harwood, a planner for the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission who worked with the town to draft the proposal, said managing extraterritorial zoning issues with the city of River Falls will be “huge” in maintaining the town’s rural character.

Harwood said the town should make it clear to the city that development in the ETZ should be limited to areas where there are city-provided water and sewer services. The proposed plan says, “In exchange, we will ask that the city respect our decision to protect farmlands and control development in the town.”

“You are still in the driver’s seat,” Harwood said, adding, “Remember to smile.”

On housing development, Harwood said, “we’re going to grow as a rural community” and there is a middle ground the town could pursue.

“There is an opportunity to be creative,” he noted, suggesting as an example considering a small development that supports a land conservancy. He praised the town’s policies that restrict housing development on agricultural land, based on soil type.

Town Supervisor Brad Mogen and Plan Commissioner Mary Foster raised concerns about the town’s relationship with the city on land development issues. Foster noted that under state law, growth cannot be forced onto the town.

Harwood suggested a border agreement might help in managing development issues with the city, but acknowledged negotiating a satisfactory accord can be “very difficult.”

In public testimony, town resident David Johnson urged planning for non-motorized recreation trails, adding he no longer bicycles on roads because of the increasing danger of distracted motorists.

In response, Harwood said the proposed plan’s transportation goal acknowledges the need for bicycle trails for utilitarian uses and recreation. He added that strong advocacy from organized recreation groups is key to getting trails built and maintained.

Town Supervisor Siri Smith urged Johnson to work with the town on non-motorized transportation planning.