Baraboo – The “Smart Growth” map available at the city of Baraboo’s website lays out a plan for the city’s future expansion.  One portion of the plan has already been put into action with the annexing of agricultural land to the east of the city on Highway 33.  The annexation seeks to extend business zones out along the highway and into the fertile valley while channeling residential growth onto the hills to the north.

Vacationers know this proposed growth area because it is in the gateway corridor from the interstate highway (I90/94) into the city of Baraboo. Once off the interstate at exit 106, Hwy 33 passes Cascade Mountain Ski Resort and soon enters the Baraboo river valley through the landmark “Narrows”. Once through the narrows, drivers enjoy an amazing scenic drive (see image below) along the spine of the Baraboo hills until reaching the city some 12 miles west.

View west from the top of the lower narrows

Now, we could certainly spend time debating the wisdom of paving over prime agricultural land in a river valley for the sake of more fast food joints and quick marts when there is other less fertile land available (In fact, I’m sure we will in time. ) We could ask how much additional water will be diverted from our watershed while along the way increasing the damaging floods which are already a problem in our area. We could talk about the wildlife that will ultimately be displaced including sandhill cranes and even Bald Eagles that have recently been wintering along the river.

From a tourism and branding stand point we could talk about simply keeping the main gateway route to a community famous for its natural beauty, well, beautiful. We could talk of preserving an unobstructed view of Devil’s Lake’s east bluff which, along with the southern spine of the Baraboo range are the signatures of our community and more. But for the moment there seems to be an even more obvious and practical question….

Former Premo's Auto Dealership - Closed for years, now used as storage.

How do city planners foresee keeping sustainable businesses in this corridor in the first place?  3 buildings that have been on the corridor for years stand mostly empty now.  In fact they were either empty or on their way down even during the good economic years not long ago.  You have to wonder if planning business zoning expansions beyond a section of town that is struggling to sustain business now, is really all that “smart” in the first place.  If we can’t fill the buildings we have standing empty today, then to hopscotch them for greener pastures (in more ways than one) risks creating nothing but unsightly urban sprawl.

* Image Above: Isenberg’s hardware store closed this year.  The building beyond stands mostly empty as Pierce’s Marketplace “East” closed after only a short existence, having moved into the building left empty previously by Darrow’s supermarket.

Related Articles

1. Mind The Potholes!
2. Art & Craft, Music & Beer
3. Waiting for the Flood
4. All Quiet (For Now)
5. Bridge Out