§ 8.7. Land Use Trends and Outlook

Changes in land use are not isolated. They are related to changes in population, housing, transportation, community services, agriculture, natural resources, and economic development. The Clark County Inventory and Trends Report lists anticipated trends over the planning period. Those county trends likely to impact the City of Greenwood more directly are as follows:

Housing, Population, and Land Use

• The Clark County population will continue to grow, but at a rate slower than the state of Wisconsin as a whole.

• The number of persons per household will continue to decrease requiring more housing units and more land to accommodate the county's growing population.

• The number of housing units in Clark County will continue to grow, but at a rate slower than the State Wisconsin as a whole.

• The county's river fronts, woodlands, and highland areas will be desired as residential and seasonal use building sites and subdivisions.

Transportation and Land Use

• STH 29 will continue to be a significant force in attracting additional commercial development.

• Major highway intersections will continue to be targeted for commercial and industrial development.

Community Services and Land Use

• County and local government administration of land use regulations will increase in response to a growing population and the need to provide this service at a lower cost and higher level of efficiency.

Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Land Use

• The sale of forested, open, and agricultural lands for conversion to private recreational use will continue.

• Agriculture will maintain a strong presence in Clark County. There will likely be a decreasing number of total farms, but increasing numbers of large farms.

• The Amish and Mennonite cultures will maintain a strong presence in Clark County and continue to keep small to medium size farms in productive use.

• Productive land uses like forestry and grazing will increase in order to take advantage of property tax breaks.

• Cash cropping and specialty farming will increase.

• Nonmetallic mine sites will continue to be developed to meet demands for sand, gravel, and other resources.

Economic Development and Land Use

• The types of businesses and industry attracted to the county will continue to be agriculturally based or related.

• Residential and highway corridor development will continue in order to accommodate those who commute to employment centers in Wood, Marathon, Eau Claire, and Chippewa Counties.