MADISON, Wis. – Lafayette County’s approval of a license that would allow for a new livestock facility within the county has been appealed by a neighboring landowner.

The new facility site is located at 14274 Fort Defiance Road, Mineral Point, in the town of Willow Springs. Lafayette County approved a livestock license for the new facility but received an appeal from a neighboring resident. The appeal will now come before Wisconsin’s Livestock Facility Siting Review Board. Access the appeal submission and additional documentation on DATCP’s website.

The landowner who filed the appeal believes the county incorrectly applied setback requirements for a new livestock facility, that the facility presented an inaccurate odor score calculation in its application, and that the application incorrectly calculated manure generation and storage volumes.

Under Wisconsin law, residents and landowners within two miles of the proposed expansion may add their comments in the form of a “statement of position” until October 30. The review board will consider the statements as part of its decision-making to uphold or overturn the local government’s decision.

Statements of position must address specific issues presented in the appeal; no new arguments or evidence will be accepted unless the board deems it necessary. For a copy of the appeal, contact review board attorney Jackie Cuellar at (608) 224-5030 or jackie.cuellar1@wisconsin.gov. The county’s decision-making record is available by contacting Lafayette County Land Conservation and Planning & Zoning Department at 700 Main Street, Darlington, WI 53530, by calling (608) 776-3836, or by emailing lcpz@lafayettecountywi.org.

Statements of position must:

  • Be limited to the issues outlined in the request for review submitted to the review board
  • Be 10 pages or less, in type no smaller than 12 points for typed documents
  • Include the docket number for this appeal (26-LFSRB-01)

Email submissions are preferred. If submitted in paper form, include seven copies along with the original.

Statements must be received by October 30. Email statements to DATCPSitingBoard@wisconsin.gov or mail paper copies to Livestock Facility Siting Review Board, ATTN Attorney Jackie Cuellar, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911.

Under the Livestock Facility Siting Review Board law, the board is the citizen group that reviews appeals when a local government grants or denies a request for a new or expanded livestock facility and an aggrieved party files an appeal within the timeframe authorized by s. 93.90(5), Wis. Stats. The appeal process is open only to the applicant and property owners or residents within a two-mile radius of the proposed operation. The review board last met to review an appeal on July 12, 2019.

The review board has 60 days to make a decision after receiving certified documents from the local government. The review board will meet to discuss the issue and reach a decision, but there will be no additional opportunity for public comments or parties to testify at the meeting.