Agreement paves way for subdivision project

A development that would bring dozens of homes to Saukville, as well as new commercial and industrial lots, has cleared the first hurdle — paving the way for what would be the village’s first new subdivisions in more than a decade. 

The Village Board on June 8 approved a memorandum of understanding with Pewaukee-based Neumann Developments for the company to secure land and build 54 single-family homes and 10 two-family dwellings. 

The memorandum also approves the development of six commercial lots and 10 industrial lots that will be deeded back to the village for $1 each and then developed. 

The project will be northwest of the downtown area along Highway 33, west of the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, on what is currently a farm field. The 120-acre lot is being sold by Point Real Estate with an asking price of $1.4 million.

Under the memorandum, the village will reimburse Neumann Developments for land acquisition, building infrastructure and establishing utilities through a tax-incremental financing district encompassing the future development. 

Steve DeCleene, president of Neumann Developments, said while the agreement has been approved, his corporation will need to work with the village on rezoning the land before installing infrastructure. 

“There are a lot of additional steps,” he said. “We’re in the first inning of a nine-inning game so we’ve got a long way to go.” 

DeCleene said he hopes the property will be ready for construction before winter. If rezoning moves quickly, crews  may even begin underground infrastructure work this winter. 

Under a concept plan, the Hine’s Meadows subdivision, north of Highway 33, would  contain 10 duplexes on lots that are between 104,000 square feet and 195,000 square feet. The houses are each expected to sell for about $400,000. 

South of Highway 33, the Emerald Ridge subdivision would contain 54 single-family homes, each selling for about $300,000 each. The square footage of the single-family homes was not included in the memorandum. 

The development would provide the first subdivisions in the village in 14 years — since the site of the proposed development was first platted. 

DeCleene said that in addition to bringing sought-after sites for new industrial and commercial businesses to the area, the development would create needed housing opportunities for the village and county. 

“One thing we are woefully short on in Ozaukee County is housing,” he said. “It brings the houses, it brings the people and it brings the people to work at the businesses across the street.” 

DeCleene said considering the new jobs and housing the development will create in Saukville, the mutually beneficial deal was an easy one to make. 

“The things we want line up really well for both parties on this site,” he said. “We’re natural partners on this site in really a win-win transaction.”