Council approves annexation of 107.6 acres, OKs Lakewood Farms TIF development agreement and terminates two developer agreements

The Common Council approved an ordinance to annex roughly 107.6 acres from the Town of West Bend to the City of West Bend; the annexed land will be temporarily zoned industrial and would extend the city’s industrial park to the south and east.

Planning staff (Jim) said the area, located south of Progress Drive at Resco Road, had been considered for annexation previously and the Planning Commission recommended annexation in February. During council discussion an alderman asked whether the land would be folded into a tax-increment finance district; staff said that possibility had been discussed but no TID terms had been finalized.

The council also approved a tax-increment financing (TIF) developer’s agreement with Lakewood Farms related to a TID on N and Eighteenth, with staff highlighting the property-valuation guarantee and PAYGO reimbursement terms in the agreement; the council vote on that item carried 7–1. City staff said the development agreement had been discussed the prior month and provided details in the packet.

Separately, the council approved termination of developer agreements for Ziegler Benz and Wingate Creek Business Center early; staff explained all obligations under those agreements had been fulfilled and the only continuing obligation is an environmental indemnification specifically excepted from the termination. Because the original agreements stated they terminated automatically on TID closure, council action was required to effect early termination.

Ending: The actions advance industrial expansion plans and complete administrative steps on TIF agreements; staff will continue to manage potential TID inclusion and environmental indemnification obligations as noted.