Residents around Silver Lake told the Village Board Aug. 19 they oppose higher‑density development on four parcels on the west side of County Highway B and north of Lakeview Drive, urging the developer to pursue fewer lots, provide park space and address chronic flooding.
Several residents who live on Lakeview and North Lakeview Drive described frequent yard and basement flooding, shoreline erosion caused by lake boat wakes, and a desire to preserve trees and rural character. Many said they had chosen the neighborhood because it was a cul‑de‑sac and quiet; adding a new public road and 19 new houses would, they said, increase traffic and safety risks for children.
Developer response: Jonah Hetland (Behr Development) said he had prepared two options: a 19‑lot public‑road subdivision that would require mass grading and a detention pond to control runoff, and an alternative of about five or six lots that would preserve more of the existing contours and trees and would not require the same public infrastructure. Hetland said the 19‑lot scenario would likely produce move‑in‑ready homes in the upper‑$400,000s; the lower‑density lots, which would be offered as vacant lots, would likely command higher prices. He said some mass grading would mitigate runoff if the denser option were approved.
Board feedback and staff context: planning staff told the board that the property is infill—existing road and sewer lines are nearby—and that infill development tends to carry lower long‑term infrastructure costs than greenfield development. The village’s planning commission had reviewed the concept and was generally supportive of the smaller‑footprint proposal the developer presented. Several trustees said they preferred fewer homes that better fit existing lot shapes and that the developer should consider creating or funding a small neighborhood park. Staff and board asked the developer to examine lot geometry that would permit reasonable accessory structures (sheds) without frequent variance requests.
Why it matters: residents reported prior tree removal on the property and said development could increase sediment and pollutant runoff into Silver Lake, affecting water quality and habitat. Several speakers noted the Kenosha County housing shortage and the school district’s interest in stabilizing enrollment; staff said the county and school district have flagged housing availability as a regional issue but that local siting and density decisions are the village’s responsibility.
Next steps: the developer said he will take board feedback—particularly the preference for fewer lots and a park—and return with refined lot lines and engineered drainage solutions. Staff indicated that formal platting, engineering and public hearings would follow standard planning‑commission review.