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 received two Annexation Petitions, and on December 4, 2025, the Village Board voted as a formality to reject the petitions in favor of a consolidated Annexation Petition that covers both tracts of land. Read more about that decision here.

The Village anticipates that QTS will file a new Notice of Intention to Circulate an Annexation Petition, followed by a new, consolidated Annexation Petition, for all parcels of land they wish DeForest to annex.

The Wisconsin 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 is committed to ensuring baseline commitments and protections in place before we take any action related to QTS request.

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 binding 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.

The Village anticipates presenting a high-level overview of what the Pre-Annexation Agreement might address to the Village Trustees on December 16, 2025.

Growth, development and preservation in the Village of DeForest are driven by the community’s vision as outlined in our Comprehensive Plan and Strategic 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.

In addition to Village Comprehensive Plan amendments, the annexed territory would also have to be assigned an appropriate zoning district(s) through a Zoning Map Amendment or “rezoning” process.

QTS has filed requests for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment. Those requests will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2026. If the Commission recommends moving forward with the amendments, the Village Board could consider taking action.

If the above public processes result in approvals, additional considerations and approvals would be necessary before any construction could occur, potentially including:

Urban service areas are established around places with sanitary sewer systems and govern where sewer lines may be extended. The Village of DeForest is located within the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) designed Northern Urban Service Area (NUSA). CARPC and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) review requested sewer extensions based on USA boundaries.

If the Village moves forward with annexation, Comprehensive Plan amendments and re-zoning, a next step would be for the Village to send an Urban Service Area Amendment Application to CARPC for review and consideration before infrastructure extensions for sewer service could occur.

Sewage from DeForest developments makes its way to major sewer lines and a wastewater treatment plant operated by Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD).

Following the addition of land to the NUSA, the Village must apply to MMSD for that land to be added to its service territory. To do so, the Village would need 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.

Land division or subdivision proposals seek to re-define parcels into updated lots.

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.

Village ordinances require a Subdivider’s (Infrastructure) Development Agreement to set parameters around public infrastructure (road, utility) 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 plan approval from the Village’s Planning and Zoning Commission would be required via a process in which detailed site, grading, utility, lighting, landscape, architectural, and other detailed plans would be reviewed.

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