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Town of Washington - Good Neighbors
If you are considering purchasing property for a residence in our township please keep the following in consideration in order to help us all be good helpful neighbors.
The Town of Washington, as our Vision Statement on the Home Page attests, is a rural township. Most all potential residential properties will be located in or adjacent to lands primarily used for agricultural purposes. While many find that living in or near a rural setting to be an attractive alternative to an urban environment, you are advised that the Town of Washington and the State of Wisconsin have established goals of preserving agricultural land and the business of farming.
While farming practices can sometimes be in direct conflict with residential uses, Wisconsin has "right to farm" statutes which find as a matter of public policy that the laws of the state "...should not hamper agricultural production or the use of modern agricultural technology." See 814.04 (9) and 823.08 Stats.
As a prospective resident in a predominantly "rural" farm area you should know about some of the farm practices that could impact your use:
NOISE Farm equipment can be noisy and it may be operated at night and even round-the- clock. Farm animals also create noise at all hours.
SLOW TRAFFIC Farmers must move animals and equipment
between over and along local roads at very slow speeds. This equipment is often
of such size that passing is difficult causing traffic delays.
ODOR Manure is generated by livestock. It is often
spread on fields as fertilizer. It may smell bad for a time and it may attract
insects.
DUST The
cultivation of fields at different times of the year can generate large amounts
of dust which may drift onto adjoining properties.
CHEMICALS Commercial
chemicals and fertilizers may be used at different times of the year which,
because of wind conditions, may drift to adjoining lands.
QUARRIES While
the opening of a new mineral extraction site requires government conditional -
use approvals, existing quarries may remain in operation for many years which
may
generate noise, dust, vibration, and extensive large vehicle tmffic. Also, existing quarries may be entitled to expand. It is suggested that you contact the county zoning/planning and local government units to determine the location of nearby existing and planned mineral extraction activities.