Town of Westport seeks to incorporate as a village

In an effort to stave off future annexations and protect the Lake Mendota watershed, the Westport Town Board voted Monday to file a petition to incorporate as a village.

The petition, first published as a legal notice in the Sept. 20 Waunakee Tribune, begins a 12- to 18-month municipal incorporation process as stipulated in Wisconsin Statutes. After a number of steps and reviews by Dane County Circuit Court and the state Incorporation Review Board, Westport residents will vote on the petition at a referendum, which will likely be held during a special election, according to Town Chair Grosskopf.

The filing of the petition halts any further annexation, and if the town successfully incorporates, no further land annexation would be possible.

Initially, the petitioners were Dean Grosskopf, the town administrator, and John Cuccia, town chair. Monday, the town board met to support it, and at that time joined Grosskopf and Cuccia as petitioners. Fifty signatures are needed to file the petition with the Circuit Court.

According to Grosskopf, meetings have been held with all town commissioners, committees and spouses to discuss the incorporation and no one “seemed to have a problem with it,” he said.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while, but we always felt the time wasn’t right,” Grosskopf said.

Earlier this year, the board entered more serious discussions, then hired counsel and consultants with expertise to evaluate the viability and benefits of becoming a village, according to information prepared for the Tribune.

The goal is to incorporate all areas of the town currently within Westport’s jurisdiction to prevent annexation indefinitely.

Grosskopf called Westport “very unique,” saying it is much less rural than other towns. Also, it is the only unincorporated municipality on the Madison lakes and is an “island” bordered by Madison and Middleton and the villages of Waunakee and DeForest, according to information prepared by the town’s communications consultant.

While Westport has joint planning agreements in place with Waunakee and Middleton, those are not permanent, Grosskopf pointed out, and town officials feel they lack control of the town’s land use.

A news release issued after Monday’s vote notes that currently town residents cannot elect the officials who decide how a majority of the town’s land is used. The cities of Madison and Middleton control land use within three miles of their borders, and the villages of Waunakee and DeForest control the town’s land use within one and half miles of their borders. This means that most of the Town of Westport’s land use decisions are made by elected officials in the surrounding municipalities —elected by their residents—who may have little or no understanding of the needs and interests of the Town of Westport.

One recent annexation — the Cherokee Country Club and Golf Course — came to the town from out of the blue and “smarted,” Grosskopf said.

“The main reason for this is, we want to be in charge of our destiny, and we don’t think it’s fair that Westport residents don’t make their own decisions,” Grosskopf added, noting that officials in surrounding villages make zoning decisions.

Situated on Lake Mendota’s north shore, Westport includes wetlands and creeks, and town officials view incorporation as a means of protecting the watershed.

In a press release, Cuccia also expressed a commitment to protecting Westport, noting its 175-year history.

“We are focused on preserving the nature and character of our community and having a greater ability to control growth and change in a way that keeps the town’s essence long into the future,” Cuccia said. “As a village, the residents will have direct control over how we grow.”

Recently, the Village of DeForest approached the town seeking to annex 742 acres of land. That’s 5.7% of the town’s territory.

Westport officials don’t envision many changes in services with the incorporation.

Grosskopf noted that the town currently has sewer, water and other municipal services in place, and its contract with the sheriff’s office for public safety and protection meets all standards. The town has no control over whether a Westport post office would be built, he said, adding that’s a federal decision.

Westport currently is within the Waunakee and Middleton fire district’s and the Waunakee EMS district.

In the press release, Cuccia expressed his desire to continue the town’s collaboration with neighboring municipalities as it seeks to incorporate.

“Now is the time to incorporate to ensure Westport moves forward in a way that maintains its unique character, community and dedication to open spaces and environmental preservation that the entire region enjoys,” Cuccia said.

According to a newsletter being prepared for residents, Westport officials have calculated the tax rates for both fire districts and anticipate a small increase — from $3.183 to $3.201 per $1,000 in valuation — if the incorporation were to happen in 2024. That’s an increase of $4.20 on a $200,000 home or $9 on a $500,000 home.

Consultants note that the town meets the standards set by Wisconsin statutes for incorporation, exceeding the standard for square miles, population and town core density. Currently, the town is 19.88 square miles, has a population of 4,408 and has a density of 2,300 in the Yahara/Mendota waterfront area, the commercial area and adjacent subdivisions.

Residents looking to learn more about the process can attend two informational meetings next week Oct. 2 and 3. Both will take place at the Town Hall. Those supporting the petition can sign it then. More information will also be available at https://www.townofwestport.org/westport-incorporation

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