1. (1) Certification expiration. The certification of a farmland preservation plan expires on the date provided in the most recent certification of the plan or its amendment, or, if the certification does not provide an expiration date, on the date provided under s. 91.14, Stats. If a county with an expired plan does not obtain certification of a farmland preservation plan by December 31 of the year following the certification expiration date of the plan, the department may withdraw certification of any zoning ordinances within the county under the procedures in s. ATCP 49.29, effective on December 31 of the year following the year of plan expiration.

   Note: If a county plan expires on December 31, 2014, the county has until December 31, 2015, to obtain certification of the plan by the department. If the plan is not certified by the department by December 31, 2015, the department may withdraw certification of any zoning ordinances in the county, effective December 31, 2015. Under s. 71.613 (1) (h) 2., Stats., the landowners with land in these farmland preservation zoning districts could not claim tax credits on those lands for the tax year 2015, since certification must be in effect on the last day of the calendar year in order for a plan to be considered certified. The county is not precluded from seeking future certification of its farmland preservation plan.

2. (2) Certification expiration extension. The secretary may delay the expiration date of the certification of a county’s farmland preservation plan for up to 2 years upon a written request from the county demonstrating to the secretary’s satisfaction that a delay would allow the county to coordinate the farmland preservation planning process with other planning or zoning efforts in the county.

3. (3) Amendments and certification. If, after July 1, 2009, a county amends a farmland preservation plan in accordance with s. 66.1001 (4), Stats., the amendment shall be submitted to the department for certification.

   Note: Under s. 91.16 (8), Stats., amendments are not effective unless certified by the department.

History

History: CR 13-003: cr. Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 1-1-14.