Panel supports subdivision plan despite protests

Plans are moving forward for the Village of Grafton to annex 84 acres of farmland from the Town of Cedarburg to develop a subdivision, but the proposal has sparked protests from residents living in the nearby Cedarton Estates subdivision.

This week, the village’s Plan Commission recommended approval of several project-related items for the Village Board, including annexation, rezoning the land from agriculture to residential and a certified survey map.

“Similar to the commercial development on the east side of the interstate, this feels very similar in that the Planning Commission is working out of process and frankly getting ahead of themselves with this development,” Cedarton Estates resident Chris Cotton said during a Tuesday meeting attended by more than 30 subdivision residents. 

“I am hopeful that the Village Board will exercise proper due diligence and responsibility when evaluating this development. I trust they will hear what we all heard tonight.

“The overwhelming consensus from the community is that nobody wants this development in its current form.”

The proposed Stonewall Reserve subdivision is to have 141 homes comprised of 91 single-family lots and 25 duplexes on the northeast corner of Keup Road and Highway 60. The project is being developed by Towne Realty, which is working on several other area subdivisions.

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, about a dozen residents voiced concerns about excessive traffic, construction and environmental hazards.

“The plan doesn’t recognize the limitations of the area,” said Tim Schmitzer, an attorney hired by Cedarton Estates residents. 

“The developer has sought the highest possible amount of density to put up the most houses on the property at the lowest cost.”

Schmitzer said the residents’ primary concern is a potential increase in traffic at the intersection of Highway 60 and Keup Road, which is the only access point for the proposed subdivision. 

According to Amber Thomas, the village’s director of public works, a traffic impact analysis conducted by the Department of Transportation concluded there would not be a negative impact from having an estimated 300 additional vehicles travel in the area.

“The road is ample to support the density without an additional connection to Highway 60,” Thomas said. “There are no expected delays at the intersection.”

According to Schmitzer, the traffic study doesn’t have a wide enough scope to include current and future development. “The commission shouldn’t put a lot of weight into this report,” he said. “The commission needs to look at the long-range planning.”

Other residents said they are concerned about the environmental impact construction could have and how the change of land use would affect water drainage.

“This is an illustration of ambitious developers lining their pockets without considering the quality of the current neighborhood,” resident Harold Block said.

“You need to consider the aesthetic character of the adjoining property because the homes will lose their property value.”

Other discussion during the hearing included what school district — Grafton or Cedarburg — future students will attend because the potential transfer of future students would generate additional tax revenue.

Detaching the subdivision from the Cedarburg School District would require approval from both the Grafton and Cedarburg school boards following public hearings.

The commission recommended annexing the land into the village by a 5-1 vote. David Liss, village trustee, cast the dissenting vote. He also was the only member to vote against rezoning the property from agriculture to residential.

A certified survey map was approved by a 4-2 vote, with Liss and Mark Paschke opposed. A vote on a preliminary plat for the subdivision was tabled because commission members wanted more time for consideration.

The Village Board will meet later this month to consider the commission’s recommendations for the subdivision.