Plans for new subdivision in village put on hold

Plans for a new subdivision in the Village of Grafton have been put on hold after the Village Board tabled action on a development agreement on Tuesday.

The board was also to consider approving a pre-annexation agreement with the property owners to annex acreage from the Town of Cedarburg and approving a stormwater management agreement.

The board ultimately tabled its decisions because the trustees wanted more time to consider the project and for the developer to refine the plan. 

Dozens of Town of Cedarburg and Village of Grafton residents were in attendance to voice their concerns about traffic safety for the proposed Stonewall Reserve subdivision, which has one entry and exit point on the northeast corner of Keup Road and Highway 60. 

“Our desire is not to stop smart development,” Cedarburg resident Chris Roache said. “Many residents have almost been killed in that crosswalk. We are scared to death for our safety.”

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 traveling in the area.

Residents said the traffic study didn’t take into account the increased rate of traffic for the summer, but Thomas said that was represented in the study. 

According to officials, other nearby subdivisions have one access point, but Stonewall Reserve is the only one in the area that has one entry and exit point on a major state highway.

Residents are also concerned emergency  crews may have trouble accessing the subdivision if an accident occurred at the intersection.

Village President Jim Brunnquell said the development would be built in phases and another access point could be considered during a subsequent phase.

Residents also said the streets would be 32 feet wide, which is four feet less than the standard street width in the village. Thomas said the reduced width would lower the speed of traffic and result in lower maintenance costs. 

Last week, more than 230 village and Cedarburg residents signed an online petition objecting to the proposed subdivision.

According to Jessica Wolff, the village’s director of planning and development, 25% of nearby village residents signed the petition, which would require a three-quarters vote of the Village Board by state statute to approve any items for the subdivision.

The project, which includes 141 homes comprised of 91 single-family lots and 25 duplexes, is being developed by Homes by Towne, which is working on several other subdivisions in the area. 

According to the developers, the average lot size would be 17,000 square feet. The average house is expected to cost approximately $500,000 and the average duplex would be about $300,000.