This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off
NOE GOLDHABER
Updated
When he first proposed a plan to purchase development rights to preserve land, former town of Dunn Sup. Calvin DeWitt told members of the Town Board they would object to it for the first hour, “but once you study it, you'll want to do it." The program, established in 1997, has been embraced by residents, who say it has helped preserve the town they love.
TOWN OF DUNN — Concerned about suburban sprawl creeping outward from Madison and larger-scale development, a group of passionate neighbors in rural Dane County gathered just eight miles southwest of the state Capitol.
While other towns in the area have grown and developed over the past 50 years, Calvin DeWitt wished for the town of Dunn to remain rural. “And that's what happened,” he said.
The Parisi Family Farm sits on 90 acres in the town of Dunn. "It's just like a storybook out here," first-generation farmer Terry Parisi said of the farm that grows organic nuts along with fruits, vegetables and grazing cattle.
Terry Parisi moves fencing for her beef cattle on her 90-acre Parisi Family Farm, which can never be developed. "Whether I'm owning it or after I sell it to someone else, it'll just always stay this beautiful piece of property,” she said.
Terry Parisi harvests garlic on her 90-acre Parisi Family Farm in the town of Dunn. Under the town’s purchase of development rights program, the farm is protected from ever being developed, even after it’s sold to someone else.
Terry Parisi harvests garlic on her 90-acre Parisi Family Farm in the town of Dunn. Under the town’s purchase of development rights program, the farm is protected from ever being developed, even after it’s sold to someone else.
When he first proposed a plan to purchase development rights to preserve land, former town of Dunn Sup. Calvin DeWitt told members of the Town Board they would object to it for the first hour, “but once you study it, you'll want to do it." The program, established in 1997, has been embraced by residents, who say it has helped preserve the town they love.
Terry Parisi moves fencing for her beef cattle on her 90-acre Parisi Family Farm, which can never be developed. "Whether I'm owning it or after I sell it to someone else, it'll just always stay this beautiful piece of property,” she said.
The Parisi Family Farm sits on 90 acres in the town of Dunn. "It's just like a storybook out here," first-generation farmer Terry Parisi said of the farm that grows organic nuts along with fruits, vegetables and grazing cattle.
While other towns in the area have grown and developed over the past 50 years, Calvin DeWitt wished for the town of Dunn to remain rural. “And that's what happened,” he said.
