Plans for special-needs facility move forward

Plans are moving forward for a residential facility for autistic adults in the Village of Grafton.

The facility, called Woodside Prairie, would be built at the northwest corner of Hunter’s Lane and Port Washington Road.

Plans call for an existing 14-acre parcel to  be divided to create a 6.5-acre parcel on the western half of the site for the home.

“We want the adults to live as adults,” developer Rebecca Goldman said. “Most importantly, life will go on for these individuals after their aging parents are no longer there to care for them.”

The Plan Commission on Tuesday held a public hearing before approving a conditional-use permit for the development and recommended that the Village Board rezone the property in May.

The development would include housing for autistic adults in four six-bedroom buildings and housing for Concordia University Wisconsin graduate student managers in two apartment buildings. There would be 44 residents and two shifts of managers, with 10 working during the day and four at night.

The property would also include a community center, walking paths, a greenhouse and garden areas. 

“There’s nothing like this in the area,” Goldman said, noting the typical age of residents would be between 18 and 36. 

During the hearing, which was held via Zoom, several residents living in nearby condos on Hunter’s Lane expressed concerns about traffic and lighting.

Community Development Director Jessica Wolff said a traffic study conducted several years ago when Meijer grocery store was constructed nearby determined the area could handle additional vehicles, noting the facility will have a van.

No lights from the development would be visible from the property line, Wolff added.

Another resident questioned whether the student managers would be capable of taking care of residents.

Goldman said the graduate student managers would be trained by representatives of the Milwaukee Center For Independence, a disability services agency. The students are studying to work with disabled adults. 

There will also be a certified nurse at the facility.

Goldman and her husband Alan said they previously considered Port Washington for the development, but those plans fell through. The couple said they wanted to create the facility because their son Michael has autism.

Goldman said the residents will be Medicaid recipients.

“Wisconsin’s lack of a wait-list for Medicaid waiver programs presents the opportunity to offer this type of program to families without asking them to pay more than $60,000 per year for services,” Goldman said.

“With the right kind of capital structuring and philanthropic support, Woodside Prairie will offer families the ability to have their loved one with autism live in the community with no additional financial burden on the family.”

Last May, Goldman said the project would cost about $5.5 million and construction was scheduled to begin this fall.