In 2002, the Racine County Economic Development Corp., together with our development partners, completed the Racine County Economic Development Plan. Over the next few weeks, and with the help of The Journal Times, we will be reviewing the plan's challenges.

Today we focus on Challenge 4: taking advantage of the development opportunities that exist as a result of the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and properly linking land use with future business development countywide. While Challenge 4 has 11 strategies, the focus here will be on a few from that list.

Racine County is completing a three-year process for countywide comprehensive planning. Racine County is the only county in the state with 100 percent participation of its cities, towns and villages in this planning process. There are nine elements of the comprehensive plan required to be in compliance with the Jan. 1, 2010, deadline set by the state.

This was an invaluable process in that Racine County has some of the only remaining large tracts of vacant land that will eventually be available for urban development along the Interstate 94 corridor.

And much of the future urban development in the county is envisioned to occur along the I-94 and Highway 36 corridors.

Speaking of transportation corridors, another strategy of Challenge 4 is to address the adequacy of public transportation, especially for meeting the needs of low- and moderate-income persons to access job opportunities in Racine County and throughout southeastern Wisconsin. A work group for the Racine County Public Transit Plan 2010-2014 is focusing on identification of how to move people in and around Racine County and to jobs, retail shopping, medical services, and other destinations.

Racine County's geography features growing urban areas separated by substantial rural areas. This plan seeks to provide various solutions for the complex issue of transit in Racine County as urban development continues to spread to I-94 and along the Highway 36 corridors, as well as to places like Union Grove that lie between those major highways. Other transportation systems are being researched to help determine how Racine County can best meet its needs for public transit.

When the original I-94 route was established in Racine County, it allowed commerce to grow along the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor. An unintended consequence was that the interstate also seemed to build a wall between communities, leading to what some residents and officials in Racine County see as an issue of "east versus west." One of the strategies in Challenge 4 seeks to facilitate cooperation between eastern and western Racine County on comprehensive planning.

Intergovernmental cooperation is one of the elements of the comprehensive plan, and Racine County has many great examples of this effort, which save money by streamlining or merging services. There have been historic sewer and water agreements put into place that promise a continuous water supply from the plentiful, freshwater Lake Michigan source to feed development on much of the eastern half of Racine County. As water resources and supply become more of an issue in other parts of the country and world, southeastern Wisconsin will become a more attractive location for business and industrial development and expansion.

Racine County and its municipalities continue various initiatives to streamline the private sector land development process. Ordinances are being reviewed and updated continuously to stay as current as practicable with changing conditions and technologies. For instance, Racine County's zoning ordinance was updated in 2008 to allow conversion of billboards along I-94 from static to digital display.

Many Racine County municipalities have worked to adopt policies and ordinances to ensure quality developments along the major corridors in Racine County. Over time, the resulting quality development will attract competitive and high-value business and industrial centers.

With support and participation from all municipalities, Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce, and Racine County Economic Development Corp., Racine County is well positioned for attractive and high-value future growth and urban development. Planning efforts have been ongoing for over 40 years in southeastern Wisconsin, and with plans in place Racine County stands to benefit from better economic times ahead.

The Racine County Economic Development Plan's challenges and strategies provide roadmaps that can be followed take advantage of the development opportunities that exist as a result of the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and to properly link land use with future business development countywide.

Julie Anderson is the director of the Racine County Planning & Development Department.