In the State of Wisconsin, landowners can petition for an incorporated city or village to transfer (“annex”) land from unincorporated towns. When land is annexed, it becomes part of the annexing city or village, is added to the property tax levy and gains access to that jurisdiction’s services.

QTS seeks to purchase land in the Town of Vienna. The Village of DeForest has received a Notice of Intention to Circulate an Annexation Petition on October 31, 2025 and anticipates receiving the Annexation Petition in the coming days. At that point, additional information about the Petition will be added to this webpage and shared with the community.

Before the Village Board reviews and considers an Annexation Petition, the State Department of Administration (DOA) must review and determine if annexation is “In the Public Interest” or “Against the Public Interest.” DOA has 20 days from the date a valid petition is filed to make that determination.

The Village will not consider action to move forward with a petition to annex unless and until the Village and QTS establish a Pre-Annexation Agreement that has been made public, finalized and approved during an open session of a Village Board meeting.

QTS has shared publicly their promises to be good neighbors by incorporating noise mitigation, providing buffers protecting viewsheds, funding additional energy generation and pledging $50 million to community investments.

In order to consider and formalize those promises and establish clear expectations for the protection of and investment in our community in the event the Village would consider Annexation, the Village of DeForest plans to first negotiate a Pre-Annexation Agreement with QTS.

As governed by state statutes and local ordinances, negotiations on such an agreement may occur with Village Trustees in closed session. Closed session negotiations may occur as part of the December 16, 2025, January 6, 2026 and January 20, 2026 Village Board meetings. QTS would not be present in those closed session discussions.

Growth, development and preservation in the Village of DeForest are driven by the community’s vision as outlined in our Comprehensive Plan. Annexed territory would need to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan through a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to account for and guide planning within that area.

To establish the necessary land use designation and control the type of uses permitted within the property, a Zoning Review and Zoning Map Amendment (“re-zoning”) would be required.

The Village anticipates QTS may file requests for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment. Those requests would first go to Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings. If the Commission recommends moving forward with the amendments, the Village Board could consider taking action.

The Village of DeForest is located within the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission’s (CARPC) Northern Urban Service Area (NUSA). CARPC and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) review requested sewer extensions based on USA boundaries.

In order to consider infrastructure extensions to sewer service, the Village is required to send an Urban Service Area Amendment Application to CARPC for review and consideration.

Additionally, to extend sanitary sewer infrastructure and service, the Village is required to send an Annexation Petition to MMSD for review by the Board of Commissioners.

Before building could be permitted, a Land Division Application (commonly a Certified Survey Map (CSM) or plat) and Conditional Use Permit would need to be submitted to the Village.

A Land Division Application would be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and would need to be recommended to, and approved by, the Village Board. Following a public hearing, Conditional Use Permits are reviewed and decided on by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Required by Village ordinance prior to approval of a Land Division Application, a Subdivider’s (Infrastructure) Development Agreement is required to set parameters around public infrastructure construction.

A Subdivider’s (Infrastructure) Development Agreement would be reviewed and considered by the Village Board.

Prior to consideration of building permits, QTS would be required to submit a Site Plan outlining details of the construction project, operations and site layout, among other details. Site Plans are reviewed and considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Additional public processes and approvals would be required to permit construction (grading, stormwater management and erosion control, vertical construction, etc).