4-2-26 Planning Commission FULL PACKET

Please note that, upon reasonable notice, at least 24 hours in advance, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through appropriate aids and services, or provide a video link for meetings. For additional information to request this service, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 715-479-8682 ext. 224, 525 E. Maple Street, P.O. Box 1269, Eagle River WI 54521. AGENDA NOTICE (3/31/2026) THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF EAGLE RIVER WILL HOLD A MEETING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026, AT 5:00 P.M. AT CITY HALL, 525 E. MAPLE STREET IN EAGLE RIVER. Notice is hereby given that a majority of the City Council of the City of Eagle River may be attending scheduled Planning Commission meetings either in person or via zoom. This constitutes a meeting of the City Council pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Bd., 173 Wis. 2d 553, 494 N.W.2d 409 (1993), and must be noticed as such, although the Council will not take any formal action at these meetings. This meeting will be available by Zoom at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85111695208?pwd=x5pMv8crrbsPuYwefObTYbJG0m83b3.1 Meeting ID: 851 1169 5208 Passcode: 963936 1) Call to Order. 2) Roll Call. 3) Approval of minutes. 4) Public Hearings, discussion and possible action on the following agenda item(s): a) Public Hearing: Request by the Eagle River Historical Society to place historic interpretive signs in Rotary Square, Silver Lake Beach Park and Riverview Park b) Public Hearing: Ordinance #603 to Amend Chapter 106 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code of the City of Eagle River, Wisconsin, by Adding a Definition of "Excavation" to Section 106-1 c) Comprehensive Plan update with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Review and discussion of the following chapters of the draft plan: i) Review of chapters discussed at March 5, 2026 Planning Commission meeting: Chapters 1-3 (Demographics, Natural Resources, and Housing) and related maps ii) Chapter 4 - Utilities & Community Facilities iii) Chapter 5 - Transportation iv) Chapter 8 - Intergovernmental Cooperation 5) Adjournment. Robin Ginner, City Administrator March 5, 2026 A meeting of the Plan Commission of the City of Eagle River was called to order at 5:00pm by Mayor Deb Brown. Roll Call: Adam Grassl, John Hletko, Kim Schaffer, Mary Horant, Alex Forer and Deb Brown. Also in attendance Robin Ginner and Becky Bolte Absent: Brad Adamovich Motion by Forer, 2 nd by Hletko to approve the minutes of the 2-5-2026 meeting. Carried, Ayes: Forer, Hletko, Grassl, Schaffer Abstained: Horant a) Lions Club request for final approval for municipal bathrooms at Gremban Park: Mike Sanborn of the Eagle River Lions Club presents plans for bathrooms at Gremban Park behind City Hall. Sanborn reported the following deviations from the presented plan: Gable ends will have siding – not block, Venting may change, Lions have received a request for possibly clear block for visibility to the PD when someone has tripped the motions sensors to turn on the lights with use, bathrooms will have magnetic locking doors with locking timers, the orientation of the restrooms would have the doors facing east as recommended by Police Chief Salvinski so doors would be visible by cameras located on the existing garage, Stainless steel fixtures. Council has previously approved water and electric service direct from city hall, sewer would come from 3rd street at the expense of the Lions Club. Commissioners confirmed this is plan is very similar to the public restrooms at Riverview Park. Motion by Horant, 2nd by Grassl to recommend to City Council approval of the Lions Club plan for bathroom construction at Gremban Park behind City Hall. Carried on a roll call vote, Ayes: Horant, Grassl, Schaffer, Forer Abstained: Hletko citing he was a long term Lions Club member. b) Comprehensive Plan Update – Initial meeting with North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission: North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Planner (NCWRPC) Eric Sonnleitner was present. Sonnleitner stated a comprehensive plan is a local government’s guide to community physical, social and economic developments. Sonnleitner reported Council has passed Resolution 1073 adopting a Public Participation Plan for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Comprehensive plans are not meant to serve as land use regulations in themselves; instead, they provide a rational basis for local use decisions with a twenty-year vision for future planning and community decisions. The nine elements that must be included in a comprehensive plan according to the Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law are: Demographics / Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources / Housing / Transportation / Utilities and Community Facilities / Economic Development / Land Use / Intergovernmental Cooperation / Implementation. These nine elements are divided into nine corresponding chapters by the NCWRPC draft of the comprehensive plan. Packets including NCWRPC Comprehensive Plan draft of Chapter 1 - Introduction & Demographics, Chapter 2 – Natural, Cultural, & Agricultural Resources, and Chapter 3 – Housing, were made available to the audience. Chapters 1 through 3 were presented by Sonnleitner and reviewed with the Commissioners, with updates to city information provided to Sonnleitner. Discussion on the process itself, goals, and objectives. Comprehensive Plan Update will be included on April 2, 2026, Planning Commission agenda. Motion by Grassl, 2 nd by Hletko to adjourn at 6:18PM. Becky J Bolte – Clerk Application for a Hearing before Planning Commission Applicant MUST provide the following information: Name Phone Mailing Address Interest in the Property Name of Property Owner Mailing Address The above signed applicant does petition the City Council as follows: Amend the Zoning Classification or Boundaries of a District Change may only be initiated by the City Council, Plan Commission or a petition by one or more of the owners or lessees of the property proposed to be changed. Present Zoning Classification Requested Zoning Classification Applicant must provide the following information  Legal description and address of the property in question.  A sketch drawn to a scale of not less than 100 feet to the inch, showing area to be changed, its location, the location of the existing boundaries and the uses within 300 feet of the property proposed to be changed.  Property owners names, mailing address of all property within 300 feet of the property in question.  Present use of the property in question.  Proposed use of the property in question. Zoning Ordinance Amendment Change initiated, must be initiated by Zoning Administrator. Requested Amendment to section: Conditional Use Permit Zoning Classification of Property List the requested conditional use, Applicant must provide the following information:  A legal description and address of the property where the use will take place.  The names and mailing addresses of the abutting property owners.  Present uses of the abutting properties.  A site plan of the property showing distances of structures to property lines, parking areas, landscaping, lighting, traffic line of sight visibilities and any other information which will assist the Planning Commission to make a decision. Additional information may be requested by the Eagle River Plan Commission or the Eagle River City Council to evaluate your application. The lack of information may in itself be sufficient cause to deny a petition. Failure to provide the above required information may result in additional public hearings, which additional costs will be borne by the applicant. The completed application must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator’s office no less than 30 days before the date of the Planning Commission meeting, 525 E. Maple Street, PO Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521. Applicant or Owner of the property or Agent shall appear before the Planning Commission. Dated this _____day of _____________, 20____ Respectfully submitted by For Office Use Only: Permit distribution:  Treasurer (w/check)  File  Planning Commission Payment: $  Cash  Check #_________ Date:_________ Admin: ________ Date: _________ AMERICAN 250th ANNIVERSARY | EAGLE RIVER SIGN PLAN PROPOSAL Introduction : In 2026, the United States will be celebrating its 250th Anniversary and while other communities across the nation are planning their own, unique celebrations, the Eagle River Historical Society is seeking to do the same. The plan is simple, to install three signs on strategic properties and locations in Eagle River, discussing local history and our town’s overall development. These signs would be available for viewing all year round, weather proof and cover broad strokes of local history. While Eagle River was founded 141 years ago in 1885, the 250th Anniversary is a perfect way to share our history with the nation. Sect. No.I : Sign Locations & Topics - Riverview Park Sign | Discussing logging, trade, local industries, first utilities and recreation. - Rotary Square Sign | Discussing the “Edge of Town” viz. Churches, farms, schools, nationalities etc and the formal divide between the historic business and the residential areas of Eagle River. - Silver Lake Sign | Discussing local & tourist recreation, Ice Castle History, Lake View neighborhood development, Boat Racing on Yellow Birch Lake, & Mitchell’s Point/ Gagen Hill. Sect. No.II : Development, Responsibilities, & Installation Timeline - Phase No.I: City Council approves plan to install permanent/ temporary signs in selected locations, upon approval the Eagle River Historical Society will design and research the following signs. Target Completion - February-April - Phase No.II: Sign frames are constructed by Boy Scout Troop 601 (E.R.H.S. can do it, if need be) and materials to build signs are acquired. Upon the design and research being completed, the signs can be ordered and printed. Target Completion - February-May - Phase No.III: Sign frames completed and collectively revealed at City Hall for public viewing at some point in July (preferably before the 4th or right after) and then are installed at their respective locations. Target Completion - Mid-July - Mid-August Sect. No.III : Costs, Fundraising, & Sponsorships - Possible Donors & Sponsors: - Local Lumber Companies for sign frames - Local businesses viz. Banks, Realtors, etc to sponsor sign printing - Costs to Print Signs: - Signs would be full color, preferably 36in x 24in, all-season quality and have a 3 yr minimum before replacement. Donor Recognition plaques will also be made & installed. - Research to be conducted by sign companies who are affordable, preferably keeping costs below $500 per sign. Conclusion : While this project is somewhat ambitious in such a short amount of time, however lots of this information is readily available in our archives as these are well travelled places in Eagle River’s History. A project of this nature will allow people to experience and be informed of our local heritage all year and yet still beautify and compliment surrounding parks and green spaces. Front with Riverview Park Sign Front without Sign Rear without Sign 3ft 8in Wide 6ft Tall EAGLE RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 250 ANNIV. SIGN PROGRAMth This infographic is to show a general layout and approach to constructing the signs for the Eagle River Historical Society’s public sign program, with the goal to celebrate Eagle River’s history within the national celebrations of America’s 250 Anniversary. The style of the signs is a blend of Adirondack & Mission Style architecture, imitating the early 20 Century styles that were present in Eagle River at that time. The style of the signs will compliment the locations chosen & outlined in the original proposal, allowing them to have a consistent and recognizable theme across the city. Signs will be made of untreated lumber (which can be stained) and will be made consistently of 4x6 posts & 2x4 boards. th th *Feet & Braces 2 f t 8 i n W i d e 6 f t T a l l 2 f t W i d e 3 f t T a l l 4 i n 2 i n 2 f t 8 i n T a l l Non-Permanent Option No.1 *Box filled with weights (likely sand bags) Non-Permanent Option No.2 Permanent Option No.1 *Posts are lengthened to 8ft & cemented into ground 250 ANNIV. SIGN PROGRAM Schematics & Base Designs th The following “blueprints” are not exactly to scale, however they are intended to give perspective to the size of the signs and the work necessary to construct them. As for the bases, the goal of this project is to have these signs permanent as to limit the hassle of storing them or having to constantly adjust and re-orientate them due to wind or manipulations from the public. INDIAN AGENCY HOUSE SIGN PROGRAM in PORTAGE WISC. Office of Administration  525 E. Maple Street, PO Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521  715-479-8682 https://eagleriverwi.gov/ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF EAGLE RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION The Eagle River Historical Society has submitted a request for approval to install three interpretive signs on City property as part of the American 250th Anniversary Sign Program. The proposed approximately 36-inch by 24-inch signs will be mounted on wood-framed structures approximately 6 feet in height and installed at Riverview Park, Rotary Square and Silver Lake Beach Park. The signs will highlight local history including logging, early utilities, recreation and neighborhood development. The City of Eagle River Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 5 pm, located in the Eagle River Common Council Chambers, 525 E. Maple Street, Eagle River, WI 54521. Comments can be made in person at the public hearing or by mail to City Administrator, PO. Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521; by phone (715) 479- 8682 x227 or email rcginner@eagleriverwi.gov . Documents will be available for review at City Hall. PETITIONERS, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, SHALL BE PRESENT. Legal Notice Publish twice, beginning March 16, 2026 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF EAGLE RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION The Eagle River Historical Society has submitted a request for approval to install three interpretive signs on City property as part of the American 250th Anniversary Sign Program. The proposed approximately 36-inch by 24-inch signs will be mounted on wood-framed structures approximately 6 feet in height and installed at Riverview Park, Rotary Square and Silver Lake Beach Park. The signs will highlight local history including logging, early utilities, recreation and neighborhood development. The City of Eagle River Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 5 pm, located in the Eagle River Common Council Chambers, 525 E. Maple Street, Eagle River, WI 54521. Comments can be made in person at the public hearing or by mail to City Administrator, PO. Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521; by phone (715) 479-8682 x227 or email rcginner@eagleriverwi.gov. Documents will be available for review at City Hall. PETITIONERS, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, SHALL BE PRESENT. Office of Administration & Zoning  525 E. Maple Street, PO Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521  715-479-8682 https://eagleriverwi.gov/ ORDINANCE NO. # 603 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 106 (ZONING) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN, BY ADDING A DEFINITION OF "EXCAVATION" TO SECTION 106-1 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN, ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: FINDINGS AND PURPOSE WHEREAS, Chapter 106 of the Municipal Code of the City of Eagle River regulates zoning within the city limits to promote public health, safety, morals, prosperity, aesthetics and general welfare pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 62.23 and related statutes; and WHEREAS, excavation activities are fundamental to construction, site preparation, utility installation and other development within the city, and clear definitions aid in consistent administration and enforcement of zoning regulations, permitting requirements, and related provisions; and WHEREAS, the addition of a specific definition for "Excavation" in Sec. 106-1 will provide clarity for property owners, developers, the Zoning Administrator and the public, reducing potential ambiguity in interpreting zoning standards related to land disturbance, grading, site preparation, and associated uses or permits; and WHEREAS, a public hearing on this proposed amendment was duly noticed and held in accordance with applicable law, with opportunity for public comment provided; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council hereby finds that the amendment set forth herein is in the public interest. SECTION 2: AMENDMENT Chapter 106 (Zoning), Article I (In General), Section 106-1 (Definitions) of the Municipal Code of the City of Eagle River, Wisconsin, is hereby amended by adding the following definition in alphabetical order (or as otherwise appropriate within the existing list of definitions): Office of Administration & Zoning  525 E. Maple Street, PO Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521  715-479-8682 https://eagleriverwi.gov/ Excavation. Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, depression, hole, or open pit in the earth's surface formed by the removal of soil, rock, earth, sand, gravel, or other materials, whether by mechanical equipment, hand tools, blasting, or other means. Excavation includes, but is not limited to, activities for foundations, basements, footings, trenches for utilities, grading for site preparation, or removal of unsuitable materials. This term does not include minor landscaping grading that does not exceed 12 inches in depth or 500 cubic yards in volume, or routine maintenance activities exempted under other provisions of this Code. SECTION 3: SEVERABILITY If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each part or provision thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more parts or provisions be declared invalid. SECTION 4: EFFECTIVE DATE This ordinance shall take effect and be in force after its passage and publication as provided by law. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Common Council of the City of Eagle River, Wisconsin, this _____ day of ___________, 2026. _________________________________________________ Debra A Brown, Mayor ATTEST: __________________________________________________ Becky Bolte, City Clerk Published: _______________________ Advertisement – Public Hearing, Amendment to Chapter 106-1 Publish twice beginning the week of March 16, 2026 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF EAGLE RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION The Planning Commission of the City of Eagle River, Wisconsin, will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed amendment to Chapter 106 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code of the City of Eagle River. The proposed ordinance would amend Article I (In General), Section 106-1 (Definitions) by adding the following definition (in alphabetical order or as appropriate within the existing list): Excavation. Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, depression, hole, or open pit in the earth's surface formed by the removal of soil, rock, earth, sand, gravel, or other materials, whether by mechanical equipment, hand tools, blasting, or other means. Excavation includes, but is not limited to, activities for foundations, basements, footings, trenches for utilities, grading for site preparation or removal of unsuitable materials. This term does not include minor landscaping grading that does not exceed 12 inches in depth or 500 cubic yards in volume or routine maintenance activities exempted under other provisions of this Code. The purpose of the amendment is to provide clear, consistent guidance for the interpretation and enforcement of zoning regulations related to land disturbance, site preparation, construction activities, permitting and related uses within the city, thereby promoting public health, safety, and orderly development. The public hearing to review the proposal is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the Eagle River City Hall, 525 E. Maple Street, Eagle River WI 54521. Comments can be made at the public hearing or by mail to City Administrator, PO. Box 1269, Eagle River, WI 54521; by phone (715) 479-8682 x227; or email rcginner@eagleriverwi.gov. This notice is published pursuant to Wis. Stats. §§ 62.23 and Ch. 985 (Class 2 notice). NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION 210 McClellan Street, Suite 210, Wausau, Wisconsin 54403 Telephone: 715-849-5510, ext. 306 Fax: 715-849-5110 Web Page: www.ncwrpc.org Email: esonnleitner@ncwrpc.org SERVING ADAMS, FOREST, JUNEAU, LANGLADE, LINCOLN, MARATHON, ONEIDA, PORTAGE, VILAS AND WOOD COUNTIES PROVIDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION, LAND USE PLANNING, AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE SINCE 1973. MEMORANDUM: To: City of Eagle River Plan Commission From: Eric Sonnleitner Re: Eagle River Comprehensive Plan First Meeting Date: March 25, 2026 ______________________________________________________________________________ Tasks for us at the April 2, 2026 Comprehensive Plan Meeting: 1. Review from Previous Meeting 2. Review of Chapter 4, 5, 8 (Utilities & Community Facilities, Transportation, Intergovernmental Cooperation) 3. Discussion of Chapter Goals, Objectives, and Policies. 4. Review Maps 3, 4, & 5. 5. Set date for Meeting 3. Please review the attached chapters and maps. Especially consider potential issues for each chapter; the goals, objectives, and policies of each chapters; and the attached maps. We will discuss any potential issues facing the community. Review the maps for accuracy and think about any additional mapping information that would be useful to the community or the planning effort. Carefully review the maps and highlight any potential changes that you would like to see. Please contact me if you have any questions prior to the meeting. 1 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Chapter 4 Utilities & Community Facilities Utilities and community facilities play an important role in the livability of a community. This is because utilities and community facilities, provided by either public or private entities, are critical for community development. Utilities include things such as electrical service, natural gas, telephone, and cable communications. Community facilities include local government buildings, libraries, educational facilities, and maintenance and storage facilities, as well as services like police, fire protection, and emergency medical services. Previous Plans and Studies Vilas County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2024 This document is required for local governments to be eligible for certain disaster mitigation programs. The report looks at general conditions in Vilas County, including population, transportation, land use, and economics. An inventory of utilities, community facilities and emergency services form the background for understanding how the County might respond to a disaster. Risk assessment is at the heart of the All- Hazards Mitigation program. To mitigate the risks, it’s necessary to assess their relative i mportance. Examples of hazards include floods, tornadoes, winter storms, drought, fire, and hazardous materials accidents. The likelihood of any given hazard occurring is estimated based on historical data, and the impact of these hazards is evaluated. The plan seeks to recommend how County government should respond to such occurrences and suggests mitigation measures to reduce the risk caused by identified hazards. Inventory Utilities and community facilities provided by the City of Eagle River or by other public or private entities are inventoried and evaluated as to their present condition and adequacy to meet the current and future needs of the City. Many of the major facilities are identified on Map 4: Utilities and Community Facilities. Water and Wastewater Facilities The City of Eagle River has a municipal water and sewer system that serves residents, commercial, and industrial customers . The City ’s sewer system consists of both sanitary collection and stormwater collection. Maps depicting the extents of the City’s sanitary sewer system and storm sewer system are available here: https://eagleriverwi.gov/departments/department-of-public-works/. 2 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Public Works The City of Eagle River Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining and repairing the City’s streets, sidewalks, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and curb & gutter systems. The Department of Public Works also conducts snow & ice removal on the City’s streets, street sweeping, and mowing of right-of- ways. The Department of Public works also maintains the City’s parks and beach. Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facilities The City of Eagle River contracts with Republic Services for residential garbage and recycling disposal . Alternatively, residents have the ability to u tilize the Vilas County Landfill (located on County Highway G) and private haulers for garbage and recycling purposes. Power and Telecommunication Facilities Eagle River Light and Water services the City of Eagle River and the immediate surrounding area via power purchased through Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (WPPI). The City also has a second transformer in its City Substation, which routinely supplies power to some of the Utility’s customers. Having two transformers creates redundancy in the power supply and allows switching in emergency and planned maintenance power outages. Landline telephone service within the City is provided by Spectrum Voice, AT&T, Frontier, Norvado, and Nsight teleservices, while various companies provide access to cellular service. Internet service continues to expand as an economic development necessity, and access to internet service is continuing to improve throughout Eagle River and the rest of Vilas County. According to data from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, there are 95 8 broadband serviceable locations located within the City of Eagle River. Of these 958 locations, only four are considered to be unserved by broadband, meaning that they lack access to broadband meeting current standards. Fiber and cable internet service providers in the area include Spectrum, Norvado, and Frontier. Satellite providers serving the area include Starlink, Bug Tussel Wireless, Hughes Net, and ViaSat. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) maintains maps showing the current provision of broadband and also maintains a broadband almanac which shows data on availability, affordability, and current broadband adoption rates. Maps and the broadband almanac can be accessed at PSC’s Wisconsin Broadband Office website: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ServiceType/Broadband/ BroadbandMaps.aspx. 3 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Recreation The City of Eagle River provides a wide variety of recreational facilities. The City maintains five parks with an assortment of amenities as well as other recreational facilities, while Vilas County manages several other parks and recreational facilities both within and nearby the City. The locations of parks and other recreational facilities located within the City are shown in Map 5 : Recreation. Nearby parks and recreational facilities are described below: • Riverview Park is a 3.9 -acre City-owned park located on Division Street along Eagle River. Riverview Park contains a recently updated ADA- compliant playground, pickleball courts, picnic tables, benches, restrooms, band shelter, pavilion, and boat docking facility. • Riverside Park is a County-owned park nestled between W Division St and Eagle River. The Vilas County Fairgrounds are located across W. Division Street. • Forrest Street Boat Landing is located at the end of Forrest Street adjacent to Riverside Park and provides access to the Eagle River. Boat docking and fishing access is also available via a dock that parallels the shore. Limited parking is available along the river while more parking is available in and around Riverside Park. Across the stree t from this boat landing are the tennis courts at Forrest and Division Streets. • Silver Lake Beach is a 2.1-acre park located on Silver Lake Road. It has a swimming beach with a beach house, playground, picnic area, restrooms, and fishing pier. • T-Docs & Dyer Park is a 1.25-acre park on Hirzel Street that is located along the Eagle River. The T-Dock is used for fishing, sitting, docking and launching a boat to the Eagle River Chain of Lakes. A picnic area, boat landing, fishing pier, and restrooms all exist here. Picnic and restroom facilities are ADA-accessible. • Kiwanis Miller Memorial Park is a 1.2-acre park located on Minnesota Stret. Facilities include playground equipment and basketball courts. This park experiences flooding stemming from drainage issues when significant rain events occur. • Gremban Park is a 2.2-acre park that is fully ADA-accessible located at City Hall. Park amenities include a T-ball area, skateboard rink, picnic tables, playground, and football field. Restrooms are available during business hours in City Hall. • Eagle River Municipal Golf Course is a four-star rated 18-hole golf course providing premier golfing to the Northwoods. The course is owned and operated by the City of Eagle River with approximately 110 acres. • Cross Country Ski Trails – During the winter months the Nordmarka Ski Club grooms approximately 4 miles of cross -country ski trails throughout the Eagle River Golf Course and behind the Northland Pines School Campus. 4 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan • Trees for Tomorrow – Trees for Tomorrow is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) natural resources specialty school accredited to place people of all ages in direct contact with the natural resources that humans depend on. Trees for Tomorrow’s Interpretive Trail is on the west side of campus almost directly across from the Education Hall and is open to the public and free to visit. • Rotary Square – The City of Eagle River, in conjunction with Eagle River Revitalization Program and the Eagle River Rotary Club, transformed a previously vacant large corner lot in the downtown area into an inviting and vibrant community gathering and green space. The Rotary Square has been enhanced with artificial turf and offers shaded picnic tables, benches, a pet waste station, ashtrays, trash/recycling containers, portable planters, and seasonal decorations. The site is also available for special events on occasion. • Dr. Oldfield Memorial Park is approximately one acre in size. It is located next to the Wisconsin River on County Highway G. Park amenities include a picnic area with tables and grills, along with a pathway and boat dock that meet ADA standards. • Vilas County Fairgrounds – The Vilas County Fairgrounds are located across Division Street from Riverside Park and host the annual Vilas County Fair. The County Fairgrounds contain four restrooms, two pavilions, three exhibit buildings, a band stand, and four tennis courts. • Oldenburg Sports Park – Oldenburg Sports Park is a 54 -acre sports complex located three miles west of Highway 45 on County Highway G. This complex is on County land. There are three baseball fields that are leased to and maintained by Eagle River Baseball. There are al so eleven U10 to U14 soccer fields that are leased to and maintained by the Eagle River Club of Headwaters Youth Soccer Association. The complex contains a shared pavilion, concession stand and restrooms. • Eagle Lake Park is approximately 16.5 acres in size and is located on the north shore of Eagle Lake, just off of Chain O’ Lakes Road. Park facilities include a swimming beach , a boat landing, restrooms, picnic tables, grills, a fire ring, and a pavilion. Sports Eagle River is recognized as the Snowmobile Capital of the World due to its rich history of snowmobiling, the area’s extensive snowmobile trail system, and the annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby . Eagle River has close proximity to 500 -600 miles of groomed and well- marked snowmobile trails that connect to larger regional systems. Eagle River is also recognized as the ATV/UTV & Hockey Capitals of Wisconsin. The World Championship Derby Complex is located east of State Highway 32 and is home to the annual World S nowmobile Derby world championships. Snowmobile, ATV/UTV, and other recreational trails are shown in Map 5 Recreation. 5 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan The Eagle River Recreation Association provides excellent youth hockey and figure skating programs and their hockey and figure skating schools rank among the best in the Midwest. The Eagle River Recreation Association hosts a summer hockey school, the Crazy 8 Hockey Camp, and has an assortment of youth teams. The Historic Eagle River Sports Arena located just east of the City Limits on State Highway 70 hosts hockey and figure skating and is home to the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame. The Eagle River Pickleball Association (ERPA) is an active group of adults who enjoy playing pickleball year-round. The ERPA promotes provides free clinics and lessons, and hosts scheduled social play and tournaments. The outdoor play schedule starts May 1 and ends October 15, while the indoor play schedule starts Oct 15 and ends April 30. Other sports that play an important role in the City ’s history include fishing and other water sports , cross-country skiing, golfing, biking, hunting and other team sports such as baseball and soccer. Eagle River Chain of Lakes Eagle River is home to the World’s Largest Chain of Freshwater Lakes. This Chain of Lakes consists of 28 connected lakes between Eagle River and Three Lakes and offers abundant recreational opportunities . The Chain is a major source of tourism as it is one of the most desirable systems in northern Wisconsin among anglers and recreational users. Popular activities on the Chain include fishing, boating, jet skiing, kayaking, water skiing, paddling, and swimming. Events As mentioned earlier in Chapter 2 , Eagle River hosts a significant number of community events throughout the year. Notable events include Cranberry Fest, a 4th of July Parade, the annual Vilas County Fair, the Performing Arts Concert Series, weekly Farmer’s Markets in the summer, the annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby, the annual USA Hockey Long Drink Pond National Championships, and an annual Winter Driving Experience ( currently sponsored by Subaru) . A full l isting of events is available in Appendix D. Education The City of Eagle River is in the Northland Pines School District, but the Wisconsin Open Enrollment program allows children to attend other nearby school districts, provided that the district has the necessary space to accept the student. The Northland Pines School district has satellite elementary schools located in Eagle River, Land O’ Lakes, and St Germain that serve students located throughout the district. Additionally, Northland Pines Middle and High School is located in Eagle River. In addition to public schools there are several private K-8 schools located within the Eagle River area. 6 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Libraries The City of Eagle River is home to Olson Memorial Library where visitors and residents can borrow books and other media as well as checkout other books and reference materials from other libraries through the interlibrary loan program. The library also has many local, regional, and national newspapers and magazines that visitors to the library can read or just browse through too. The library can also be used by residents and visitors who need access to the library's conference rooms. Cemeteries There are two cemeteries located within the City, Saint Peter the Fisherman Cemetery and Eagle River Cemetery. The Eagle River Cemetery Association is a 501(c)(13) nonprofit organization that oversees the maintenance and operations of the Eagle River Cemetery, while St. Peter’s Church oversees maintenance and operations for the Saint Peter the Fisherman Cemetery . Minimum acreage requirements exist for cemeteries established on or after November 1, 1991, unless the cemetery is owned by a religious association, or the City enacts an ordinance allowing new cemeteries of less than 20 acres to be constructed. Emergency Services Police protection in the City of Eagle River is provided by the Eagle River Police Department. The Eagle River Police Department had five full -time police officers, a police chief, and an office manager in 2025. Additionally, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department is located within the City, and they patrol all county roads and respond to 911 calls. In addition, the Wisconsin State Patrol has statewide jurisdiction on all public roads. The Eagle River Area Fire Department is operated by a joint municipal fire commission which is comprised of the City of Eagle River and the Towns of Cloverland, Washington and Lincoln. There is one representative from each municipality and one representative from the fire department who serves as the chairperson. The Eagle River Area Fire Department and St Germain Volunteer Fire Department have a joint service agreement in place. Ambulance service is primarily provided by Aspirus Med Evac in Eagle River, with Conover, St. Germain and Plum Lake also providing service. The nearest medical facility is Aspirus Eagle River Hospital located within the City. The nearest full service medical facilities are Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, Marshfield Medical Center in Minocqua, and Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital in Rhinelander. 7 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Other Government Facilities The local road system is the most significant public facility maintained by the City and is covered in the Transportation Chapter. Both the Eagle River Police Department and City Hall are located at 525 E. Maple Street. The Vilas County Courthouse and the County’s main offices are located at 330 Court Street. Utilities and Public Facilities Programs Providing public infrastructure – roads, sewer and water service, schools, police and fire protection – is one of the major functions of local government. In addition to these public services, both public and private entities provide electricity and telephone service as well as such specialized services as child-care, health-care and solid-waste disposal. Taken together these constitute the utilities and community facilities that represent much of the backbone of modern life. Beyond what these facilities do for us, they also represent a huge investment of public and private resources. The efficient utilization of these resources is one of the basic principles of comprehensive planning. Already in-place infrastructure is a public asset that must be safeguarded for the future, both to conserve and protect environmental values and to maxim ize the benefits of economic growth. Development that bypasses or ignores existing infrastructure resources is wasteful of the public investment that they represent. Both the state and federal governments offer programs that assist communities with the development of critical infrastructure and facilities. These programs are listed in more detail in the Economic Development Chapter of this plan. 8 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives, and Policies Goal: Guide future development of infrastructure, utilities and community facilities in accordance with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Objectives: 1. Develop overall comprehensive facility planning documents that will be updated and reviewed on an ongoing basis to meet the overall infrastructure needs of the community for current and future service and economic development purposes. a. Capacity, Management, Operations & Maintenance (CMOM) Comprehensive Plan for the Sanitary Sewer Plant, Lift Stations and conveyance system. b. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Public Streets and right -of-way to safely and efficiently move traffic and economic activity throughout the community and connecting the community to the region. c. Stormwater Management Plan for the community to manage and control storm water runoff issues for Eagle River’s neighborhoods and environment. d. Water Facility Plan to provide safe and reliable potable drinking water to Eagle River homes and businesses within the community. The plan also addresses maintaining proper water pressures throughout the community to ensure Fire Flow demand is met for Fire protection purposes. e. Electric Facility Plan to provide reliable electricity needs to the residents and businesses within the City of Eagle River including future load growth as the community grows. 2. Explore potential expansion of the City’s sewer and water treatment facilities. 3. Develop associated cost estimates for the planning documents and seek grants/funding to assist with implementing the plans. 9 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Goal: Enhance and develop year-round recreational opportunities in the City of Eagle River while minimizing user conflicts. Objectives: 1. Promote common sense regulations to coordinate the use, access, and opportunity of land or water recreational vehicles. 2. Consider enhancing recreational facilities that provide multi-use recreation opportunities. 3. Maintain participation in the Vilas County Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan to direct improvement projects and maintain eligibility for WI DNR recreational program and facility grants. 4. Support existing work and work toward providing additional snowmobile, hiking, skiing and biking trails. 5. Explore opportunities to develop integrated, multi-use trail systems. 6. Encourage connection of multi-use trails to other Vilas County communities, if possible. 7. Pursue state and federal funding programs which can aid in the development and acquis ition of parks, trails, scenic and environmentally significant areas. 8. Recognize the need to accommodate all age groups and abilities in recreational pursuits. 9. Evaluate the need, conditions, and maintenance requirements of public access to waterways. 10. Continue to work with, support and cooperate with service clubs and organizations related to the maintenance and development of recreational facilities and activities. Map 4City of Eagle River - Vilas County 210 McClellan St., Suite 210, Wausau, WI 54403 715-849-5510 - staff@ncwrpc.org - www.ncwrpc.org North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Prepared By: This map is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This drawing is a compilation of records, information and data used for reference purposes only. NCWRPC is not responsible for any inaccuracies herein contained. Source: WisDOT, WI DNR, NCWRPC, Vilas Co ² DRAFT 0 0.65 1.30.33 Miles Minor Civil Division U.S. Highway State Highway County Highway Local Roads Private Roads High Voltage Powerline Communication T ower Dams Cemetery City Garage / T own Garage City Hall Community Center Court House Emergency Operation Center Fire Station Hospital Industrial Park Library Non-Metallic Mines Nursing Home Police Department Post Office Recycling Center / Transfer Station School Sheriff Department Municipal Water Supply Wastewater Treatement Plant Substations Water "·32 ¡¢45 "·70 "·70 "ÿG "ÿH N Railroad St E Hospital Rd HiPinesLn PleasureIsland Rd E Spruce St W Illinois St W Mill St CapichDr E Wall StPark St ESilver Lake Rd E Pine St N Sixth St E Tamarack St N Hirzel St E Sheridan St N First St E Division St N Seventh St N W isconsin St E MapleSt Bridge St AgofRd Illinois Rd N Silver Lake RdN Third St S First St N BirchSt S Third StS Second StS Fourth St Loon Lake Rd S Fifth St S Main St S Sixth St S Seventh St S RailroadSt WDivision St N Eighth St N M ichigan St N M innesotaSt N Main St NicoletSt W Sherburn St N Adam sRd S Aquila Ct N Red Fox Ln W Jack Frost St W Recycling Way S Willow St E Walnut St N Aquila Ct E Mckinley N Bond St S Forrest St Oak Dr E Tuss St W Pine St N Indiana St NDyerPark N Bluebird Rd Elm Dr LostRiverRd BolteRd TreesS t Lynx Lake Duck Lake Otter Lake Eagle Lake Yellow Birch Lake Silver Lake Dollar Lake Taylor Lake Watersmeet Lake Catfish Lake Rice Creek Eagle River Wisconsin River Mud Creek Oneida County Town of Washington Town of Cloverland Town of Lincoln Town of Lincoln Utilities & Community Facilities WINCHESTER PRESQUE ISLE LAND O'LAKES BOULDER JUNCTION PHELPS MANITOWISH WATERS CONOVER PLUM LAKE LAC DU FLAMBEAU ARBOR VITAE CLOVERLAND WASHINGTON LINCOLN Eagle River ST. GERMAIN W Division St S Seventh St W Pine St S Sixth St E Spruce St S Fifth St S Fourth St S Third St S R a i l r o a d S t S Second St S First St E Wall St Court St Trees St W W a l l S t E Pine St N S i x t h S t E Maple St E Sheridan St N First St E Division St N S e v e n t h S tN Railroad St B r i d g e S t N Silver Lake Rd N Third St N Fourth St N Main St N Second St N Birch St Mcfaul Ln S Main St S Silver Lake Rd N E i g h t h S t N M i c h i g a n S t N R i v e r S t E Walnut St S W i l l o w S t W R i v e r v i e w D r 1 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5 Transportation Transportation is necessary for the effective movement of people and goods within the community. It is also essential to connect those within Eagle River with connections outside of the City. Transportation is also critical to development and land use. This chapter provides an inventory of the existing transportation facilities and services within the City of Eagle River . The Transportation Map identifies the transportation infrastructure within the City of Eagle River. Transportation is a crucial component of livability and provides a basis for the formulation of policy to coordinate transportation facilities within a sustainable pattern of development. The existing network, from roads to rails needs to be coordinated to maximize efficiency for the overall system. The connection between home and work is an important part of any transportation system. A range of transportation alternatives should be supported, including walkability whenever possible. Previous Plans and Studies Regional Comprehensive Plan, 2025 The 2025 Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP), written by the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, addresses issues of livability in the areas of housing, transportation, economic development, and land use. The RCP identifies the following issues facing transportation within the Region: • A need for bicycle and pedestrian improvements • Dispersed population in rural areas • Weight limits on roads • Rail and roadway conflicts • Funding transportation maintenance and improvements • An aging populations’s ability to continue depending on driving • Transporting students as school enrollment declines and school facilities consolidate Connections 2030 This is Wisconsin's latest long -range, statewide, multimodal transportation plan. It identifies a series of system-level priority corridors that are critical to Wisconsin's travel patterns and the state economy. 2 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan This 2018 plan is a region-wide effort to improve bicycling and walking across the communities. The plan assesses existing conditions related to bicycling and walking, identifying other potential trail and route user groups, identifying routes and describi ng policies and programs to assist local governments in improving bicycling and walking to promote connectivity between communities and destinations throughout north central Wisconsin. State Trails Network Plan The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) created this plan in 2001, to identify a statewide network of trails and to provide guidance to the DNR for land acquisition and development. Many existing trails are developed and operated in partnership with counties. By agreement the DNR acquires the corridor and the county government(s) develop, operate, and maintain the trail. Vilas County Countywide Bike/Ped Route and Trail Plan, 2011 This plan is intended to guide the development of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, recommendations, and policy that will create a safe and accessible network across Vilas County’s various communities. It was prepared by the Vilas Area Silent Sports Association (VASSA) along with the NCWRPC. Vilas County Countywide Shared Use Route & Trail Study, 2018 This study provides guidance to assist governmental entities, route & trail interest groups and individual trail users within Vilas County in working together to plan, develop and maintain a comprehensive and sustainable route and trail network for diverse outdoor recreation. Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit – Human Service Transportation Plan, 2024-2028 Oneida and Vilas Counties developed this five -year plan that was facilitated by the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The plan analyzes service gaps and needs in public transit and human services transportation and proposes strategies to address the gaps and needs. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) This current federal transportation program authorizes up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs, including $91 billion in guaranteed funding. It also reauthorizes surface transportation programs for FY 2022 -2026 and provides adv ance appropriations for certain programs. Major goals include improving safety, modernizing aging transit infrastructure and fleets, investing in cleaner transportation, and improving equity in communities with limited transportation access. These funds will be distributed via formulas and grants to the states. Local units will be able to access the funds through various grant programs. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will likely be the agency administering these funds. 3 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Road Network The road network provides for the movement of people and products within the City with connections to county, state and federal highways. US Highway 45 and State Highways 17 & 70 are the primary roads in the City, along with the numerous City streets. The jurisdictional and functional breakdown of the City of Eagle River road network is shown in Table 16. Table 16: Road Mileage by Jurisdictional and Functional Class Jurisdiction Functional Classification Totals Arterial Collector Local State* 3.33 0.00 0.00 3.33 County 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.17 City 0.00 5.92 18.76 24.68 Totals 3.33 6.09 18.76 28.18 Source: WisDOT & NCWRPC. * WisDOT has jurisdiction over interstate and federal highways. Functional Classification A functionally classified road system is one in which streets and highways are grouped into classes according to the character of the services they provide, ranging from a high degree of travel mobility to land access functions. At the upper limit of the system (principal arterials, for example), are those facilities that emphasize traffic mobility (long, uninterrupted travel), whereas at the lower limits are those local roads and streets that emphasize access. The functional classifications are generally defined as: • Principal Arterials serve corridor movements having trip length and travel density characteristics of an interstate or interregional nature. These routes generally serve all urban areas with populations greater than 5,000 or connect major centers of activity. They carry the highest traffic volumes and are designed to accommodate longer trips. • Minor Arterials, like principal arterials, minor arterials also serve cities, large communities, and other major traffic generators, providing intra -community continuity and service for trips of moderate length, with more emphasis on land access than principal arterials. • Collectors provide both land access service and traffic circulation, within residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial areas. The collector system distributes trips from the arterials through the area to the local streets. The collectors also collect traffic from the local streets and channel it into the arterial system. • Local streets comprise all facilities not on one of the higher systems. They serve primarily to provide direct access to abutting land and access to higher order systems. Local streets offer the lowest level of mobility and high volume through -traffic movement on these streets is usually discouraged. 4 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Jurisdiction Roads are commonly classified in one of two ways: by ownership or by purpose. Jurisdictional responsibility refers to ownership of a particular road, while functional classification, as described above, identified the road by the level of service it provides. Jurisdiction refers to governmental ownership, not necessarily responsibility. For example, some State - owned roads are maintained by local jurisdictions. Additionally, the designation of a public road as a “Federal-aid highway” does not alter its ownership or jurisdiction as a State or local road, only that its service value and importance have made that road eligible for Federal-aid construction and rehabilitation funds. As previously noted, these functional classifications are generally equated with the jurisdictional divisions. In the more developed larger urban communities, this relationship may not be as rigid, whereas the local community constructs and maintains all classes of the roadway system. However, in the typical rural transportation system the jurisdictional and the functional classifications maintain a closer relationship. The greatest emphasis of traffic in rural areas is generally on non-local efficient movement, whereas local access is secondary due to relatively low population densities. Functional classification and jurisdiction are summarized below for all major roads within the City of Eagle River. • US Highway 45 is classified as a Primary Arterial • State Highways 17 and 70 are classified as Minor Arterials • County Highway G is classified as a Major Collector • S Loon Lake Rd, Silver Lake Rd, and Illinois St are classified as Minor Collectors • All other roads within the City are classified as local roads. Road Maintenance The City of Eagle River uses the Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating (PASER) system, which was designed by the Transportation Information Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The PASER system is the rating system used by most Wisconsin communities. The PASER system rates road surfaces on a scale of 1 to 10. This scale is broken down as follows: • “1” and “2” = very poor condition • “3” = poor condition • “4” and “5” = fair condition • “6” and “7” = good condition • “8” = very good condition • “9” and “10” = excellent condition 5 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Table 17 shows a summary of pavement conditions in the City of Eagle River. Roads exhibiting a surface condition rating at or below “fair” must be examined to determine what type of reconstruction or strengthening is necessary. The roads that display a surface rating of “good” or better will only require minimal preventative maintenance to promote safe travel conditions. About eight miles of local roadways within the City are currently in need of improvement. Less than a mile of roadways in the City are gravel or unimproved roads. Asphalt roads account for the vast majority of roadways within the City. Table 17: Summary of Pavement Conditions, 2025 Miles Percent of Total Mileage Very Poor 3.39 13.8% Poor 0.76 3.1% Fair 3.88 15.8% Good 7.52 30.6% Very Good 5.02 20.5% Excellent 3.99 16.2% Total 24.55 100.0% S ou rce : Wi s DOT 2 0 25 Other Modes of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian All roads except freeways are available for bicycle and pedestrian travel. The Wisconsin DOT has determined bicycling conditions on all county and state highways. Under current conditions, the entire length of US Highway 45 and State Highways 17 & 70 are considered undesirable for biking. County Highway G was identified as containing best conditions for bicycling. Additionally, the City has a sidewalk network providing better walking conditions for pedestrians. There are some trails that have been developed in the Eagle River area, with efforts underway to create a trail segment that would connect the City to the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System. As part of these efforts, the City of Eagle River and Towns of Cloverland and St. Germain have formed a multi- jurisdictional commission to head up development of the River Trail, a proposed 10- mile-long trail connecting to the nationally recognized Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail System. This new trail would provide a safe alternative for those currently walking and riding along Highway 70. Closeup view of the planned route for the River Trail, which would run parallel to Highwa y 70 . Source: GHTF 6 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Airport Air passenger services available to Eagle River residents include the facilities in Eagle River, Land O’Lakes, and Rhinelander. The Eagle River Regional Airport is located approximately in the northwest portion of the City . This facility provides charter services, and facilities for private and corporate air transportation. This facility is an “all-weather” facility and has a commuter service to Chicagoland Airport in Illinois. The King's Land O' Lakes Airport (LNL) in Land O' Lakes is a general utility (GU) airport that is designed to accommodate virtually all small general aviation aircraft. Typically, these aircraft are used for business and charter flying, or for personal use. Scheduled passenger service is available nearby from one airport located in Rhinelander, WI. This airport serves scheduled, nonstop, airline markets and routes of less than 500 miles. Delta Connection Airline now provides two daily flights between the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and a third flight from Minneapolis -St. Paul in the evening in route to Ford Airport in Iron Mountain Michigan. United Express Airline offers summer seasonal service to Chica go O’Hare International Airport. Public Transportation Northwoods Transit Connections provides public transportation in Oneida and Vilas Counties with on - demand service 5 days per week from 8:00am - 5:00pm. The Vilas County Department on Aging coordinates volunteer driver -escort service to residents of Vilas County, which includes Eagle River . Escort drivers provide transportation to elderly and disabled residents of Vilas County that qualify as a priority trip purpose such as medical appointments and grocery shopping. For rides or other info call the Vilas County Department on Aging. Vilas County also has a local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) that coordinates free transportation services for veterans in the area, offering free rides for veterans to the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Trucking US Highway 45 and State Highways 17 & 70 are long truck routes designated by WisDOT that serve the City. This corresponds with their role as Corridors 2030 connecting route s, linking to the Backbone highway system, and facilitating the movement of goods between Vilas County and the rest of the state/nation. Local truck routes often branch out from these major corridors to link local industry with the main truck routes as well as for the distribution of commodities with the local area. Mapping these local routes is beyond the scope of this study, and local issues such as safety, weight restrictions, and noise impacts play significant roles in the designation of local truck routes. 7 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Transportation Programs Below is a listing of programs that may be of assistance to the City with regard to the development of the local transportation system. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is the primary provider of programs to assist local transportation systems. A wide variety of programs are available to serve the gamut of jurisdictions from county down to the smallest town. The programs most likely to be utilized by communities such as Eagle River include: • Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) • Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) • General Transportation Aids • Surface Transportation Program – Local (STP-L) • Surface Transportation Program – Rural (STP-R) • Surface Transportation Program – Urban (STP-U) • Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) • Connecting Highway Aids • Disaster Damage Aids • Transportation Economic Assistance Program (TEA) • Airport Improvement Program (AIP) • Local Bridge Improvement Assistance • Local Small Structure Improvement Program (LSSIP) • Signals and ITS Standalone Program (SISP) More information on these programs can be obtained by contacting the WisDOT region office in Rhinelander or at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/local-gov/astnce-pgms/default.aspx. 8 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives, and Policies Goal: Provide and maintain a safe, reliable transportation network. Objectives: 1. Utilize road standards for public and private roads in accordance with existing City standards. 2. Consider access controls in accordance with specific planned uses along roadways. 3. Develop and maintain a road plan to address long-term needs for road upgrades and new roads, including where possible parallel pathways for alternative forms of transportation, e.g., bicycle, pedestrian, snowmobile, slow moving vehicles, and transportation for the disabled. 4. Promote the development of multi -use trails, trail linkages, and sidewalks or wide shoulders on roads as part of new developments or road projects. 5. Reserve adequate right-of-way for future road linkage. 6. Identify roads and highways by function. 7. Assess and integrate local, state, and regional road or transportation plans. 8. Participate in the review for public transportation with on-going regional efforts. 9. Maintain airport safety standards in accordance with Federal Airport Administration and Department of Transportation regulations. Map 3City of Eagle River - Vilas County 210 McClellan St., Suite 210, Wausau, WI 54403 715-849-5510 - staff@ncwrpc.org - www.ncwrpc.org North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Prepared By: This map is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This drawing is a compilation of records, information and data used for reference purposes only. NCWRPC is not responsible for any inaccuracies herein contained. Source: WisDOT, WI DNR, NCWRPC, Vilas Co ² DRAFT 0 0.65 1.30.33 Miles Minor Civil Division U.S. Highway State Highway County Highway Local Roads Private Roads Eagle River Union Airport Traffic Counts Recreation Trails ATV/UTV County Forest Hike/Bike Snowmobile Water "·32 ¡¢45 "·70 "·70 "ÿG "ÿH N Railroad St E Hospital Rd HiPinesLn PleasureIsland Rd E Spruce St W Illinois St W Mill St CapichDr E Wall StPark St ESilver Lake Rd E Pine St N Sixth St E Tamarack St N Hirzel St E Sheridan St N First St E Division St N Seventh St N W isconsin St E MapleSt Bridge St AgofRd Illinois Rd N Silver Lake RdN Third St S First St N BirchSt S Third StS Second StS Fourth St Loon Lake Rd S Fifth St S Main St S Sixth St S Seventh St S RailroadSt WDivision St N Eighth St N M ichigan St N M innesotaSt N Main St NicoletSt W Sherburn St N Adam sRd S Aquila Ct N Red Fox Ln W Jack Frost St W Recycling Way S Willow St E Walnut St N Aquila Ct E Mckinley N Bond St S Forrest St Oak Dr E Tuss St W Pine St N Indiana St NDyerPark N Bluebird Rd Elm Dr LostRiverRd BolteRd TreesS t Lynx Lake Duck Lake Otter Lake Eagle Lake Yellow Birch Lake Silver Lake Dollar Lake Taylor Lake Watersmeet Lake Catfish Lake Rice Creek Eagle River Wisconsin River Mud Creek 1800 10100 5900 10200 5900 5400 9000 980 13200 1400 2400 9600 660 6100 7000 Oneida County Town of Washington Town of Cloverland Town of Lincoln Town of Lincoln Transportation WINCHESTER PRESQUE ISLE LAND O'LAKES BOULDER JUNCTION PHELPS MANITOWISH WATERS CONOVER PLUM LAKE LAC DU FLAMBEAU ARBOR VITAE CLOVERLAND WASHINGTON LINCOLN Eagle River ST. GERMAIN N Railroad St N M i c h ig a n S t E Spruce St Cranberry St W D i v i s i o n S t N M i n n e s o t a S t E Wall St S Seventh St Court St Trees St W W a l l S t S Sixth St S Fifth St E P i n e S t N Sixth St S Fourth St S Third St E Maple St S Second St S First St E S h e r i d a n S t N First St E Division St N S e v e n t h S t N E i g h t h S t N Silver Lake Rd N Third St N Fourth St N Main St N Second St N B i r c h S t M c f a u l L n W S h e r b u r n S t S Silver Lake Rd S R a i l r o a d S t N R i v e r S t E Walnut St S W i l l o w S t W Pine St 14400 1100 4400 4400 2100 2500 7900 3000 740 1700 1300 1000 3800 2300 740 2100 2000 1100 5000 9000 9400 5900 9600 9400 4600 710 660 11800 10600 1 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Chapter 8 Intergovernmental Cooperation The issue of intergovernmental cooperation is increasingly important; since many issues cross over political boundaries, such as watersheds, labor force, commuter patterns, and housing. Communities are not independent of each other, but rather dependent on each other. The effects from growth and change on one spill over to all surrounding communities and impact the region as a whole. Wisconsin Statute s.66.30, entitled “Intergovernmental Cooperation”, does enable local governments to jointly do together whatever one can do alone. Unfortunately, there is little public policy in Wisconsin law that encourages, let alone requires, horizontal governmental relationships. The result is that towns, villages, cities, and counties often act more as adversaries than as partners. Background Overview As mentioned earlier, Eagle River is the only City within Vilas County and serves as the county seat. The City of Eagle River is encompassed by the Town of Lincoln. Other nearby municipalities include the Towns of Washington, Cloverland, and Conover within Vilas County, as well as the Town s of Sugar Camp and Three Lakes in Oneida County. These are important intergovernmental relationships for the City. Efforts should be made to maintain good working relationships with the surrounding towns and the County. Statewide, Wisconsin has over 2,500 units of government and special purpose districts. Having so many governmental units allows for local representation, but also adds more players to the decision making process. In general terms, intergovernmental cooperation is any arrangement by which officials of two or more jurisdictions coordinate plans, policies, and programs to address and resolve issues of mutual interest. It can be as simple as communication and information sharing, or it can involve entering into formal intergovernmental agreements and sharing resources such as equipment, buildings, staff, and revenue. Benefits There are many reasons intergovernmental cooperation makes sense. Some examples include: • Trust: Cooperation can lead to positive experiences and results that build trust between jurisdictions. As jurisdictions communicate and collaborate on issues of mutual interest, they become more aware of one another's needs and priorities. They can better anticipate problems and work to avoid them. 2 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan • Cost Savings: Cooperation can save money by increasing efficiency and avoiding unnecessary duplication. Cooperation can enable some communities to provide their residents with services that would otherwise be too costly. • Consistency: Cooperation can lead to consistency of the goals, objectives, plans, policies, and actions of neighboring communities and other jurisdictions. • Address Regional Issues: Communicating and coordinating their actions, and working with regional and state jurisdictions, local communities are able to address and resolve issues, which are regional in nature. The major beneficiary of intergovernmental cooperation is the local resident. They may not understand, or even care about, the details of a particular intergovernmental issue, but residents can appreciate their benefits, such as costs savings, provision of needed services, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. Tools Shared Service Agreements Wisconsin Statute s.66.0301 enables local governments to jointly do together whatever one can do alone. Intergovernmental agreements prepared using this statute, are the most common form of agreement and have been used by communities for years, often in the context of sharing public services such as police, fire, or rescue. This type of agreement can also be used to provide for revenue sharing, determine future land use within a subject area, and to set temporary municipal boundaries. Shared service agreements are utilized to allow this type of cooperation. Boundary Agreements Under Section 66.0307 of the Wisconsin Statutes, municipalities may prepare cooperative boundary plans or agreements. Cooperative boundary plans or agreements involve decisions regarding the maintenance or change of municipal boundaries for a period of 10 years or more. The cooperative plan must include a plan for the physical development of the territory covered by the plan; a schedule for changes to the boundary; plans for the delivery of services; an evaluation of environmental features and a description of any adverse environmental consequences that may result; and the need for safe and affordable housing. Upon adoption by the participating communities and approval by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the cooperative plan has the force and effect of a contract. Extra-territorial Jurisdiction Zoning Any city that has a plan commission may exercise extraterritorial zoning power in the unincorporated areas surrounding the city, under Wisconsin Statute 62.23. The extraterritorial zoning power may be exercised in the unincorporated areas located within 1 ½ miles of a fourth-class city (Eagle River). Using this tool involves lengthy process and requires strong communication with the surrounding towns. 3 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Extraterritorial Subdivision Review Wisconsin Statute, 236.10, allows a city or village to exercise its extraterritorial plat review authority in the same geographic area as defined within the extraterritorial zoning statute. The purpose of extraterritorial plat approval jurisdiction is to h elp cities and villages influence the development pattern of areas outside their boundaries that will likely be annexed to the city or village. This helps cities and villages protect land use near its boundaries from conflicting uses outside its limits. Intergovernmental Relationships Surrounding Towns The City of Eagle River has joint service agreements with the St. Germain Volunteer Fire Departments via the Eagle River Area F ire Department. The Eagle River Area Fire Department is operated by a joint municipal fire commission, which is comprised of the City of Eagle River and the Towns of Cloverland, Washington, and Lincoln. Additionally, t he City of Eagle River and the Towns of Cloverland and St. Germain have formed a multi -jurisdictional commission to head up development of the River Trail, a proposed 10-mile-long trail that would connect to the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail system. County As the county seat, Eagle River is the hub of County government. The Courthouse, as well as a variety of other County assets are located in the City, including the Vilas County Sheriff's Office. These all require ongoing communication between the City and County to provide residents of the City and County the best service. In many cases where state and federal agencies require area -wide planning for various programs or regulations, the County sponsors a county-wide planning effort to complete these plans and include each individual local unit in the process and resulting final plan. Examples of this include the County Outdoor Recreation plan which maintains the eligibility for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources administered park and recreation development funding of each local unit that adopts it, and All Hazard Mitigation Plans which are required by Federal Emergency Management Agency in order for individual local units of government to qualify for certain types of disaster assistance funding. North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission The North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) was formed under §60.0309 Wis. Statutes as a voluntary association of governments serving a ten -county area. Vilas County is a member of the NCWRPC, which includes all of its local units of government. 4 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan NCWRPC provides both regional and local planning assistance. Typical functions of the NCWRPC include (but are not limited to) land use, transportation, economic development, intergovernmental and geographic information systems (GIS) planning and services. State and Federal Government The Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources and Transportation are the primary agencies the City might deal with regarding development activities. Many of the goals and objectives of this plan will require continued cooperation and coordination with these agencies. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources takes a lead role in wildlife protection and sustainable management of woodlands, wetland s, lakes, rivers, and other wildlife habitat areas, while Wisconsin Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning and development of state highways, railways, airports, and other transportation systems. State agencies make a number of grant and aid programs available to local units of government like the City of Eagle River . Examples include local road aids, the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) and the Priority Watershed Program. There are also a number of mandates passed down from the state that the City must comply with, such as the biannual pavement rating submission for the Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads (WISLR). School District The City of Eagle River is in the Northland Pines School District, but the Wisconsin Open Enrollment program allows children to attend other nearby school districts, provided that the district has the necessary space to accept the student. The Northland Pines School district has satellite elementary schools located in Eagle River, Land O’ Lakes, and St Germain that serve students located throughout the district. Additionally, Northland Pines Middle and High School is located in Eagle River. In addition to public schools there are several private K-8 schools located within the Eagle River area. 5 City of Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives Goal: Strengthen local control of land use decisions. Objectives: 1. Encourage Vilas County to create sewer only zones in areas that have sanitary sewer available to the property within the Eagle River extraterritorial planning area. 2. Cooperate with the Town of Lincoln to develop a mutually beneficial boundary agreement with the City of Eagle River to encourage sustained growth in the border areas. 3. Seek and establish mutually beneficial intergovernmental relations. 4. Continue to cooperatively provide services for the library, airport, fire, landfill, combating Aquatic Invasive Species, old landfill, buoy placement, etc. Map 5City of Eagle River - Vilas County 210 McClellan St., Suite 210, Wausau, WI 54403 715-849-5510 - staff@ncwrpc.org - www.ncwrpc.org North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Prepared By: This map is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This drawing is a compilation of records, information and data used for reference purposes only. NCWRPC is not responsible for any inaccuracies herein contained. Source: WisDOT, WI DNR, NCWRPC, Vilas Co ² DRAFT 0 0.65 1.30.33 Miles Minor Civil Division U.S. Highway State Highway County Highway Local Roads Private Roads Boat Launch Parks Park Boundary Recreation Trails ATV/UTV County Forest Cross Country Ski Trails Snowmobile Water "·32 ¡¢45 "·70 "·70 "ÿG "ÿH N Railroad St E Hospital Rd HiPinesLn PleasureIsland Rd E Spruce St W Illinois St W Mill St CapichDr E Wall StPark St ESilver Lake Rd E Pine St N Sixth St E Tamarack St N Hirzel St E Sheridan St N First St E Division St N Seventh St N W isconsin St E MapleSt Bridge St AgofRd Illinois Rd N Silver Lake RdN Third St S First St N BirchSt S Third StS Second StS Fourth St Loon Lake Rd S Fifth St S Main St S Sixth St S Seventh St S RailroadSt WDivision St N Eighth St N M ichigan St N M innesotaSt N Main St NicoletSt W Sherburn St N Adam sRd S Aquila Ct N Red Fox Ln W Jack Frost St W Recycling Way S Willow St E Walnut St N Aquila Ct E Mckinley N Bond St S Forrest St Oak Dr E Tuss St W Pine St N Indiana St NDyerPark N Bluebird Rd Elm Dr LostRiverRd BolteRd TreesS t Lynx Lake Duck Lake Otter Lake Eagle Lake Yellow Birch Lake Silver Lake Dollar Lake Taylor Lake Watersmeet Lake Catfish Lake Rice Creek Eagle River Wisconsin River Mud Creek 5 12 14 1 4 12 2 15 13 3 8 9 6 7 10 16 Oneida County Town of Washington Town of Cloverland Town of Lincoln Town of Lincoln Recreation WINCHESTER PRESQUE ISLE LAND O'LAKES BOULDER JUNCTION PHELPS MANITOWISH WATERS CONOVER PLUM LAKE LAC DU FLAMBEAU ARBOR VITAE CLOVERLAND WASHINGTON LINCOLN Eagle River ST. GERMAIN