March 2026

DeForest Rejects Data Center Annexation

Dane County Advisory Committee Begins Work

The proposal by QTS Data Centers to build a hyperscale data center campus in DeForest came to a halt in early February after the Village Board voted 7–0 to reject a petition for “direct annexation by one-half approval” for the roughly 1,600-acre project area in the Town of Vienna. Village staff recommended denial after pre-annexation talks with QTS stalled over several village requirements, including that the development be powered by at least 70% renewable energy sources. More background and information is available on the DeForest public engagement site for the project: https://www.engagedeforest.com/QTS

The annexation decision followed months of intensive public debate over the land‑use and infrastructure implications of the proposal—particularly the scale of the campus and concerns about energy demand, water use, farmland conversion, and community character. The proposal has underscored the fact that large data centers present countywide planning questions that extend beyond a single jurisdiction.

In response to these emerging issues, Dane County established an Advisory Committee on Data Centers through 2025 RES‑205 to conduct impartial fact‑finding, research, and analyses and develop policy recommendations. The committee held its first meeting on February 10, electing County Board Chair Patrick Miles as chair and Supervisor Don Postler as vice‑chair, and setting a regular monthly meeting schedule (second Tuesday), and beginning to scope a work program investigating land use, environmental, and farmland preservation issues, energy and water impacts, community and quality of life concerns, emergency services, transparency, and decommissioning considerations.

At its second meeting on March 10, the committee learned about the basics of data centers and the regulatory authorities and policy options available to local government with presentations from subject matter experts. Agendas and materials are posted on the County’s Legistar site, and the committee is accepting written public input via email (ACDC@danecounty.gov), or a comment form available on the committee’s website, www.danecountyplanning.com/ACDC.

Learn More

Fifty-one (51) data centers, most smaller than the QTS proposal, operate in Wisconsin. Source: datacentermap.com

Zoning Administrator Roger Lane Retires after almost 20 years

By Todd Violante, Planning and Developme Director

After 19 years as the Dane County Zoning Administrator, Roger Lane is retiring. His last official day with Dane County will be Friday, April 3, 2026.

He has capably served as the premier land use official in the county, presiding over and administering multiple chapters of the Dane County Code of Ordinances, mostly applicable to the rural lands of Dane County.

As Zoning Administrator, Roger also served as the supervisor of the Zoning Division, overseeing the equivalent of eight full-time employees.

Roger has served under four county executives, across nine full county board terms and Zoning and Land Regulation Committees, and overseen the administration of over 15,000 land division, zoning permits, several thousand rezone and conditional use permit (CUPs) applications, and several more thousand zoning violation enforcement actions.

This is no small job, given that Dane County is 1,200 square miles—the eighth largest of 72 counties in land area in the state—and growing by more people per year than anywhere else in the state. During Roger’s tenure, Dane County grew by approximately 127,000 people , accounting for a quarter to a third of the state’s entire population growth.

Roger was the primary contact for all 26 rural towns and their constituents, forging relationships with countless town clerks, town chairs, town board and plan commission members, surveyors, attorneys, contractors, and property owners.

Roger’s hallmark traits included a strong and dedicated work ethic; emphasis on public service; decisiveness in decision making; quick responsiveness in communication; firmness in enforcing the codes, yet flexible in working constructively thru issues; and an always rousing combination of joviality and surliness.

Following his retirement, Assistant Zoning Administrator Hans Hilbert will serve as the Interim Zoning Administrator until the position is filled in the coming months.

Roger will be greatly missed, and we wish him and his family all the very best in their future endeavors. Thank you, Roger, take care and be well!

ZA Roger Lane circa 2011 documenting a zoning violation.

Historic Marker Program Names First Site

One of the goals of the recently created Dane County Heritage Preservation Commission is to develop a Dane County signage program to identify sites and locations important to county and local history. These markers will highlight and celebrate the unique and diverse communities that are underrepresented in the historical record.

The Commission hopes to start installing markers later this year. One such marker would recognize Robert Taylor Valentine (pictured to the right), a free Black man from North Carolina, who moved to the Town of Oregon with his family of six to buy federal land. Notably, when the United Brethren decided to erect a new church in Rutland in 1852, Robert was one of three trustees whose names appeared on the deed. Over time, Robert purchased more land patents from the federal government, eventually settling in Iowa where he served as a minister. Robert’s sons, younger brother, and son-in-law all enlisted in the Civil War. His son, Shadrack, died in a Union military camp and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Commission is recruiting for two vacancies. One member must be a resident of an unincorporated area of Dane County, and the other member must have expertise in the cultural demographics of Dane County. If you are interested in serving on this Commission, please fill out an application form at exec.danecounty.gov/boards-and-commissions and choose the Board option for Dane County Heritage Preservation Commission.

Extension of Dane County Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Pilot

Additional funds remain after the initial phase of the County’s new Pilot Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The pilot is being extended for another round of funding. These easements will also play a key role in the County’s ongoing commitment to improving and maintaining water quality, by ensuring that protected lands meet nutrient management and erosion control standards.

Financial assistance is available to local units of government and qualified non-profits for 25% of the acquisition cost of the easement. The deadline for this new application round is July 17, 2026. The program website with more information, including application materials can be found here: https://danecountyplanning.com/ACEP.

Questions? Please contact Ben at Kollenbroich.benjamin@danecounty.gov or 608-266-9108. We are hoping this will become a successful pilot and that we can help protect vital farmland in Dane County!

Bridgit snaps a picture of the Unjust Deeds presentation with Rick Bernstein, Executive Director, Dane County Historical Society, while she helps property owners fill out discriminatory deed denouncements.

Discriminatory Deed Postcards Move Property Owners to Action

More than 130 property owners have filed discriminatory deed discharges since June 2025. The property owners took advantage of fill and file events or in office service and the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) commitment to cover the $30 processing fee. P&D staff have engaged in many thoughtful and provocative conversations, as these property owners often start thinking of ways to recruit their neighbors to do the same.

The property owners jumped to action after the Realtors Association of South-Central Wisconsin (RASCW) sent a postcard to approximately 4,000 property owners informing them of the deed language and 3 ways to denounce it. We knew we met the primary goal of the project, education, based on the significant feedback we received via email, phone, and even a sub-Reddit calling the project a hoax. And, RASCW was inundated with requests for online notary services and form filing completion. This surge in denouncement filing fees is supported by a continuing grant from the WRA.

Since the last newsletter, Bridgit, P&D staff and Rick, Executive Director of the Dane County Historic Society, have presented at the Middleton Public, First Unitarian Society, McFarland Public Library, and the Madison Central Library. Bridgit also presented to a student interest group at UW-Madison.

The next Unjust Deeds presentation and deed discharging event is April 4, 2026, at 2:00 at the Pinney Library, Madison, WI. Bring you I.D. For more events and information visit Prejudice in Places | Dane County Planning & Development.

If you would like to set-up an event contact Bridgit Van Belleghem, vanbelleghem.bridgit@danecounty.gov.

Announcements

RHS releases Accessory Dwelling Unit Fact Sheet, find it here.
Dane County Equity and Inclusion Plans

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Madison, WI 53703

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