Town hopes to reach border agreement with City of Port

The Town of Belgium is rural and would like to stay that way.

But a proposal that would have the City of Port Washington annex as many as 2,000 acres of land in the Town of Port for a data center that would stretch to the Town of Belgium’s southern border has residents and officials concerned.

As a result, Town Chairman Tom Winker is trying to work with Port Mayor Ted Neitzke to develop a border agreement. The two hadn’t connected as of March 3.

“I just don’t want that stuff in our town. I just don’t. I’m happy to see lakefront, cows and agriculture,” Winker said at this month’s Town Board meeting.

Winker sought advice on forging such an agreement from Wisconsin Towns Association Attorney Joe Ruth.

“He said you can try to get one but the chance of getting one are slim to none,” Winker said.

The town, however, may have some leverage.

“One of the best things we have is that we’re state-certified Farmland Preservation, and those ordinances are very effective in protecting our prime farmland,” Zoning Administrator Charlie Parks said.

The state program includes land-use tools and conservation standards that ensures participating properties continue to be farmed and not developed.

“Those statutes carry weight,” Parks said. “It’s conjecture, but it’s the best thing we have in our corner right now.”

The Town of Belgium is the only municipality in the county to have Farmland Preservation, “and I’m very proud of that,” Winker said.

“We feel ag is the best use of the land. And I think the town agreed years ago when they did their survey, the best use of this land is agriculture.”

Parks, however, said proposals for things like data centers and solar farms — one is in the adjacent Town of Holland — are so new that there’s no legal history.

“There’s no relevant case law that you can look at where it’s been litigated somewhere in the state,” he said.

Winker said he also wants to talk with the Village of Belgium about a border agreement after the April election, when a new village president takes office. Pete Anzia isn’t seeking re-election and Trustee Roseann Geib is the only candidate on the ballot for the post.

“I feel more comfortable there than the city because you never know what happens when you get these big developers in. The Village of Belgium grows pretty slowly and periodically. That doesn’t concern me as much as the City of Port,” Winker said.