Development at issue in race for Village Board

Grafton is bursting at the seams, with development seemingly occurring at every corner, and managing that growth is the biggest issue facing the village, the four candidates for three seats on the Village Board agreed.

The candidates who will appear on the Tuesday, April 7, ballot are incumbent Andy Schwartz and challengers Danielle Autotte, Russell MacRae and Luke Spykstra.

Incumbent Trustees Lisa Uribe-Harbeck and Amy Luft are not seeking re-election.

Autotte, 35, of First Avenue, said many of the people she’s talked to are concerned there’s an imbalance in the village’s growth, with too many luxury apartments being built.

“I feel like we really need to look into single-family homes, bring in families and businesses,” she said.

One thing she would like the village to consider, she said, is an area for tiny houses as a form of affordable housing.

“I know it’s hard to do,” Autotte said. “It just seems like a lot of things are being developed and built that are just outside the reach of people in Grafton.”

The village also needs to concentrate on attracting small businesses to the downtown, Autotte, who runs Full Bloom Wellness, said.

One thing that may help drive people to the area to support businesses are festivals, she said.

MacRae, 38, a police officer for a department in Milwaukee County who lives on Ottawa Lane, said he’s in favor of development as long as it is smart development.

“Just because we can (do something) doesn’t mean we should,” he said.

He would like the village to increase its stock of single-family housing, but said the community needs to mindful of the potential influx of children and the impact on schools.

He doesn’t want to see the village add low-income or subsidized housing, and he said the stock of apartments will help draw young people to the community.

Schwartz, 60, of Sunset Court, an air traffic control field instructor for Scientific Applications International Corp., said the challenge is to find the right development and ensuring it won’t negatively impact the village in terms of traffic and taxes.

“I think we have a good mix right now,” he said, adding the village should wait and see the impact of the current influx of apartments, especially high-end apartments, before deciding whether to approve any more.

The board needs to come up with a better plan for infill development, Schwartz said, noting there are some empty business and retail spaces in the community.

“We have a nice downtown, and I’d like to see that continue,” he added.

Spykstra, 30, of Wisconsin Avenue, said in general he is supportive of development, provided it is responsible, measured, on a human scale and is done in response to consumer demand.

“We need more single-family homes,” he said. “I definitely want us to steer away from any more mega-apartment developments. What we have is enough.” 

He also prefers the village not add condominiums, Spykstra said, although he is willing to consider them on a case-by-case basis.

“There’s something important about single-family homes — that American dream of a yard and picket fence and a place to barbecue,” he said.

  In terms of business development, Spykstra, a sales representative for Turning Point Action, a national advocacy group,  said he would look for financial service companies and advance manufacturing. He would like to work toward streamlining the approval process for small businesses, he added.

  He would also like to see more development downtown, particularly businesses that will make the area more walkable and vibrant, but he said he doesn’t support any development on the Grafton Triangle site.

  Spykstra also said the village needs to be wary of the impact of development on streets and roads. There are areas where traffic is too fast, and pedestrians don’t feel safe, he said, adding stop signs or lights are needed.

“I think we need a total overhaul and investment in roads,” he said. “We might need to look into lowering speed limits in areas.”

Schwartz said the village has begun to address some traffic issues, installing traffic lights on Port Washington Road and Falls Road and maintaining a pavement evaluation program.

“We have to be good caretakers of what we have and reach out to our partners for help,” he said, referring to Ozaukee County and the Department of Transportation.
“We can’t just go ahead and rebuild Highway 60.”

MacRae said while the village has begun to deal with issues on Port Washington Road, traffic on Highway 60 needs to be addressed.

“It’s awful. I don’t think residents on Highway 60 want the road widened, but we need to do something,” he said.

There are other areas of the village that need stop signs to help slow traffic, he added.

Autotte concurred, but said she needs to do more study before offering any potential solutions.

Autotte said that while relations between the village and town are at a difficult stage, she’s struggling to find a way to mend fences.

MacRae said he believes a fresh face and perspective may help deal with the issues.

“At the end of the day, we have to get along,” he said. “We share certain services.”

Schwartz agreed, saying the two have to collaborate on things that are beneficial to both.

“The Town of Grafton to me is in a transition period. It is becoming suburban,” he said. “I think they’re having some growing pains. We both have different ideas about goals and outcomes, but there are some things we can work better on.”

Spykstra said he is eager to put his experience and connections working with various levels of government to use in village government.

“I bring energy, enthusiasm. I’m a collaborator. I know how challenging it can be,” he said.

Schwartz said his background has taught him how to make good decisions and be present, adding, “I think we need good, common sense solutions to the challenges the Village of Grafton faces.”

MacRae said he wants to represent young families in the village.

“I just think it’s my generation’s time to step up,” he said. “I have the leadership skills and problem solving skills I think would be perfect for the board.”

Autotte said she’s passionate about the community and being an advocate for its residents.

“I live, work and breathe Grafton,” she said. “I’ve lived here long enough to understand the character here. I want to be part of positive change.”