Emerald Ridge put back on the table

Considerations for the proposed Emerald Ridge subdivision and industrial park have renewed in the Village of Saukville and trustees support early plans for the development. 

The project was first brought to the village about 15 years ago but never materialized. Neumann Developments approached the village again in June to renew talks on the development. 

Neumann Developments President Steve DeCleene presented updated plans on the development during a Nov. 8 Finance Committee meeting. 

New plans for the subdivision include 63 single-family homes and nine two-story, multifamily housing buildings making up 108 units. The proposed subdivision is located south of Highway 33, just east of Living Hope Lutheran Church on what is now a farm field. 

The multifamily portion of the project would sit on about 15 acres and the single family homes would sit on about 24 acres, with each of the 63 lots ranging from one-fifth to half an acre. 

Units in the multifamily homes will be about 1,150 square feet with two bedrooms and two baths. The units will have attached garages, patios or balconies and in-unit laundry.

Single-family homes are expected to consist of both ranch and two-story houses ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 square feet. The homes will have three to four bedrooms, two to three baths and two to three car garages. 

Development plans presented to the village in June included new retail spaces along Highway 33 but were left out of the most recent proposal. 

DeCleene said he believes retail locations are more successful when gathered together, rather than spread out throughout a municipality. 

“Rather than trying to find some retail users for this site, we redeveloped this piece into multifamily,” he said. 

Also included in former plans were a series of large lots making up an industrial park north of the new subdivision. While Neumann is still planning to develop an industrial park in the location, it has opted for larger lots suited for manufacturing operations rather than smaller industrial lots. 

“Right now we’re thinking about three large lots,” DeCleene said.

Lot sizes under the proposal are 8.25 acres, 8.64 acres and 13.95 acres. 

DeCleene said new manufacturing businesses will offer jobs to families interested in the new homes located just south of the companies, and that the new subdivision will offer a work force to manufacturers who may be experiencing staff shortages. 

While no action was taken on the development, Finance Committee members unanimously expressed support of the preliminary plans.