.
The Onalaska Town Board Tuesday gave the green light for a multi-family unit development on Brice Prairie.
The board voted unanimously to approve a certified survey map for Prairie Dog Acres along Hwy. Z, paving the way for a three-unit development. Owners of the adjacent “Pickle Ranch” hobby farm, Chad Devine and Renee Finck, filed a letter stating the reasons they oppose the development and offered a not-so-veiled threat to develop their property into 22 additional units if the Prairie Dog Acres project were approved.
Devine and Finck had previously signed onto a petition of 48 nearby landowners who oppose the development.
Town Clerk Sue Schultz told the board that first count of 52 signatures was inaccurate and one of them was a child. Another landowner and signer wrote a letter of apology and said that she really wasn’t made aware of what she was signing.
In their letter, Devine and Finck said that such a development was not consistent with the “Brice Prairie way of life.” “Our major concern is that because of our hobby farm there will be complaints about noise and smells,” the letter states. The letter also states, inaccurately, that land adjacent to the development owned by Earl Pedretti may someday be developed as well because it was placed into residential conservation.
The letter said: “Bearing the outcome of this decision on the Thompson project, it will have a direct influence on what we and others with substantial landholdings on Brice Prairie will propose to develop.”
Town Chairman Dave Paudler submitted corrections to the letter, first that Pedretti’s request was ultimately denied at the county level after being approved by the town. Paulder also stated that given the new comprehensive plan, the 22 units would be substantially fewer with the new comprehensive plan.
Prairie Dog Acres owners Tom and Sandy Thompson submitted a letter of their own for the record, and to those who signed the petition, that further detailed their plans and expressed their surprise at the amount of opposition. The letter describes the project as follows, “a side-by-side ranch-style home condo, with two residential dwellings in it. Toward the back of the site will be a single-family residential dwelling with an over-size garage.”
The Thompsons, who recently sold their home on Hwy. ZB on Lake Onalaska, along with their business Prairie Dog Acres business partners Lonnie and Marie Organ, will use the dwellings as their own residences.
“We believe we are improving the Brice Prairie neighborhood and adding property tax income to the Town of Onalaska,” the letter states. “We did not anticipate any reason why neighbors would be in opposition to new, quality built, residential construction on this property.” The Thompsons — five-year Brice Prairie residents and local business owners — and the Organs, have each owned construction businesses for more than 20 years.
In their letter, they state they are confident that the buildings will be accepted as “attractive addition(s)” to the neighborhood.
The town Plan Commission recommended a public hearing on the matter. Paudler, citing that the project was in compliance with the comprehensive plan and hearings already were conducted, recommended against it.
Board member Marc Schultz said there’s always a controversy when condos are introduced in an area.
“There’s nothing wrong with them,” he said. “It just takes some time for people to adjust.” Paudler pointed out for the record in the condo agreement, all residents would have ownership in the property and the units would not be used for rental.
“They went through all the zoning, they meet all the requirements plus,” said board member Shane Davis. Although the green space requirement for developments in that area is 40 percent, the property will remain 77 percent “green.” Neither Devine, Finck nor other petitioners were present to speak out at the meeting. No time was offered as to when construction might begin on the property.
In other action, the board:
Brushed off new information on the Severson Farm/Gavaghan property proposed development. Paudler said that getting the go-ahead to develop the 40-acre mini-farms proposed by Ted Thompson would require rezoning, which would involve revisions to the town and county’s comprehensive plans, and the full blessing of the village of Holmen. He added that getting the approval of all three would not be very likely. A request by developers for plans to be placed on the next Plan Commission agenda was denied.
Voted to continue the town policy of cash-and-carry for business reselling town garbage bags. Those businesses who have accounts with the town will be given a year’s notice before the town goes to a pay-as-you-go system.
Agreed to pay half of an unbudgeted $20,000 repair to an eroded bank on the Halfway Creek trail, contingent on the village of Holmen’s willingness to pay the other half.
Approved allowing the possible vacation and future sale of the undeveloped park in the Heritage Hills subdivision to receive a necessary court hearing. Adjoining landowners agreed to pay legal costs if they are allowed to go through with the purchase and the property doesn’t get sold on bids. It was appraised at $12,5000. Several more steps would need to be taken by both the buyers and the town before the purchase could be finalized.
Agreed to pay former town chairman Stan Hauser’s legal costs, with the stipulation that the town’s attorney be involved to help defray legal costs. Hauser pleaded not guilty to a pair of forfeitures on April 17. He is accused of failing to notify media outlets of a March 17 town board meeting and posting an improperly worded notice. Town officials said agreeing to pay costs up front would give the town some control and could cut down on costs if the issue were to escalate.
.
Advertisement 
Hank wrote on Jun 25, 2009 4:04 AM: