Sale of village land paves way for new subdivision

Plans for a 110-home subdivision on land currently in the Village and Town of Grafton are moving forward quickly.

The Village Board on Monday went into closed session to discuss selling 10 acres to developer Newman Developments, a pre-annexation agreement with We Energies and an agreement to release road reservations to the developer.

All three items were unanimously approved when the board returned to open session. 

River Bend Meadows will be a single-family subdivision on 50 acres off Port Washington Road south of Falls Road. 

Surrounding the proposed four-parcel site is the Falls Crossing subdivision immediately to the north; Town of Grafton property, I-43 and village-owned land to the east; and a We Energies electrical substation and residential town property to the south.

About 11 acres of the proposed subdivision are in the town. 

Town Chairman Lester Bartel told Ozaukee Press he understands the development is in the village’s planned growth corridor and wouldn’t oppose annexation of town land for the project. 

The land to the west of the subdivision includes two village lots, which total 20 acres. Village Administrator Jesse Thyes said the board approved selling 10 acres to the developer for $300,000, with the remaining 10 acres to become a park.

Lots in the subdivision will average 12,276 square feet with a minimum of 10,000 square feet.

A concept plan for the development shows four phases of construction.

The first phase of the project involves extending River Bend Road east to create a new intersection at Port Washington Road. That work is expected to cost $1.29 million.

Prior to the Village Board meeting, the Finance Committee met Monday to discuss two debt issuance plans for the project that will be decided at the next Village Board meeting Monday, June 17.

Village Finance Director Paul Styduhar said there will be no impact on the tax levy because the debt will be repaid by the developer. 

Village documents do not illustrate a timeline for the development, but in March Project Manager Bryan Lindgren said he anticipates construction to begin this summer and the proposed subdivision will be ready for lot purchase and building by fall.

Lindgren said he expects occupancy to begin by early 2020.