President Soderberg Commits To 2050 Plan Being Revisited Including Skipped Neighborhood Meetings. Sanitary Sewer System Area (SSSA) Map Approved Through 2050.
SSSA Represents Rural Germantown Being Wiped Out Per One Resident.
From Agenda Packet.
7/14/2025 Plan Commission Agenda Packet here.
Meeting starts here. Public comments:
Resident speaks of a report that apparently has been ignored for a long time, even though it is old, but probably should have been used. A lot of money was spent on this information to be ignored. Developers should factor into their plans. The village controls what goes into the village. Residents should be considered over non-residents.
Speaker handed out a definition of “Smart Growth” and information from the university extension office could be used to rectify the divide. Too little specifics in the 2050 plan, too broad. The intent of what residents want for the village. The methodology of “Corridors, Neighborhoods & Districts” applied to the 2050 plan is adding to the divide in the village.
Resident near Holy Hill warehouses confirms that the concerns about traffic, noise, light pollution have come true. She also says that motorcyclists are using the warehouse parking lots on the weekends as a playground, very noisy. Requests the long overdue neighborhood meeting that has been ignored by the previous administration.
Speaker disappointed in the recent approval of Sutton Farms. He questions the process for speaking out and having a conversation regarding development process.
Email message questions a piece of property within the sanitary sewer area and whether it is in the plan as it is part of the Town of Germantown.
Sanitary Sewer Service Area (SSSA) amendment to 2050 plan here. Director Jeff Retzlaff provides and overview of the history of this amendment to the SSSA.
Hasn’t been done since 1983 in a holistic way.
Hearing opens here. “Protecting the future and current quality of life by wiping out a section of the rural area” of Germantown is what this map represents. The frontage road idea where the brown area runs north along the highway is moot with Green Bay packaging coming online, it prevents the frontage road from running through. Good that Isabelle Farms has been removed. There was a standing promise that north of Freistadt would not be developed.
Resident asks why day after day the voices of tax payers are not listened to.
Hearing closes here, and the Town of Germantown comment is addressed. Commission make a motion and discussion commences. Lift stations come up due to topographical conditions. Expected boundaries are where development is expected to occur in the future. What sort of development is expected? Brown near Holy Hill would be industrial uses on east of Goldendale.
President Soderberg talks about the commitment to revisit the 2050 plan because of these gaps and incomplete actions.
The approach to the update of this document has been haphazard due to the reluctance to pay MMSD fees.
Accurate Surveying & Engineering, LLP Rao Farms here. Land division for estate planning purposes creating four lots from one. Public hearing opens. Surveyor hired by owners explains why this is happening including selling some of the land to a farmer. Resident asks will the farmer sell to a solar farm developer? Resident in neighboring subdivision asks what are the future plans for the land.
Hearing closes. The commission asks about how a solar farm request would work. Director Retzlaff explains how it would work. There is some control by the village, when not overruled by the state in the case of solar farms.
Surveyor asks that residents complaining should compare the size of their parcels to the farmers’ and consider that they should be able to co-exist.
It passes.
Bliffert Germantown Holdings storage building here. Lumber yard wants to add space due to a growing business. It passes.
Fence application here. Fence to go around a yard that is getting a pool. Discussion about the raised 6” bottom for allowing water to flow through. Neither of the engineers present so no technical answer. Compared to previous situation where there was standing water, this is a different condition, apparently.
It passes.
Sign for Green Bay Packaging here. Passes.
Sign for Xylem in Willow Creek here. Passes.
Meeting ends.
Note to readers:
Upcoming 5:30pm, Monday, 7/28/2025 Tourism commission. Agenda packet here.
Upcoming 6:30pm, Monday, 7/28/2025 Special Joint Plan Commission and Village Board meeting to discuss Village Center & Multi-Family Housing Policy agenda packet here.
"Speaker handed out a definition of “Smart Growth” and information from the university extension office could be used to rectify the divide. Too little specifics in the 2050 plan, too broad."
Melanie, being in the industry, you should understand codes and ordinances are written specifically to be broad! This allows for flexibility for the needs of the Village change over time. To say we want Housing here limits the reality of what will actually work on this site. Light Industrial has proven to be the only use that will work in this area. It appears that you and your Village President are not versed in Planning Issues!
"The intent of what residents want for the village. The methodology of “Corridors, Neighborhoods & Districts” applied to the 2050 plan is adding to the divide in the village."
I disagree! The divide is between the Village and the Front Row! If we stop listening to the Front Row, I believe tensions will be reduced. Also, it is "Corridor, Districts and Nodes."
"Resident near Holy Hill warehouses confirms that the concerns about traffic, noise, light pollution have come true."
Melanie, the Village had approved several other options for Residential Development at this location. None of them were able to move forward. How do you respond to, "What the Residents wanted did not work! Now we have Development that will benefit the overall Village in the long run." Several times this area was approved for the Single Family Residential that you seek! Each time it failed! What more proof do you need that Residential will not work in this area!
"She also says that motorcyclists are using the warehouse parking lots on the weekends as a playground, very noisy." Call the Police and report the Public Nuisance.
"Requests the long overdue neighborhood meeting that has been ignored by the previous administration." I disagree! As you should know, being in the industry, the way planing works is that a Developer can come forward at anytime and request that the zoning be changed. Until a Developer for this area is at the table, whatever people say they want there is subject to change. It has not been ignored! It is waiting a stimulus!
Melaine, have your viewers voice an opinion as to how many meetings with Developers are appropriate. I have asked this in many forums and never get a consistent response.
"Director Jeff Retzlaff provides and overview of the history of this amendment to the SSSA."
This was discussed in detail when the Gateway Park was established! I specifically asked about it! "What are the limits of the area?" "Can the system handle it?" "What overall area can the System handle?"
"Hasn’t been done since 1983 in a holistic way."
Are you kidding!!!
Happy to discuss any of your topics in detail with the Residents of our Village.
Trustee David Baum Dist. #1