Planning commission approves preliminary plat for "The Farm" after debate over Laura Lane connection

The Port Washington Planning Commission on Feb. 20 approved a preliminary plat for “The Farm,” a 39-acre Newman Development proposal on the south side of West Grand Avenue, subject to final review by the city engineer, removal of pavement-width labels from the final plat and resolution of a survey overlap in the northeast corner. The motion passed after a voice vote with one commissioner recorded as opposing.

Staff planner Robert (Bob) Harris told the commission the latest plan restores alleys shown in the developer’s original concept, increases the total housing-unit count to 263 from earlier drafts and alters lot sizes from earlier versions: "The single-family lots are a little larger from the concept plan…now the average single-family lot is about 5,500 square feet," Harris said. He also said the plan shows roughly 76 single-family lots and about 75 apartment units as part of a mixed housing approach.

The commission’s decision followed public comments and an extended staff presentation about traffic, safety and street connectivity. Mike Gasper, who identified himself as a resident with 25 years’ experience in civil and traffic engineering, urged planners to design features that slow traffic on Grand Avenue and warned of pedestrian risk: "Traffic goes about 40 on it," Gasper said, adding that at higher speeds pedestrian survivability drops sharply. He said open road edges next to the development would encourage higher speeds and increase the risk to children walking to nearby parks.

Commission discussion repeatedly returned to whether Laura Lane should connect through the subdivision. Harris said planning, public works and public safety staff prefer a street connection rather than a dead end, and Roger (commissioner) expanded on public-safety benefits: a connection would provide an alternate access route for emergency vehicles. Some commissioners and neighbors raised concerns about the steep grade where Laura Lane would extend and asked how vertical alignment and property impacts would be mitigated; the developer’s engineer said a vertical curve could be designed and that the team would address grading and design during engineering review.

The final motion included specific conditions: remove pavement-width (surface) labels from the plat so those engineering details are resolved through city engineering review, and correct a recorded-survey overlap in the northeast corner before final filing. The commission clarified the motion also left right-of-way dedication widths on the plat (those remain) while pavement widths are to be handled by engineering. The planner recommended, and the commission approved, final review by the city engineer prior to filing.

Public comments at the start of the meeting also addressed broader issues related to the project. Steve Bridal, a property owner who said he plans to relocate to the area, urged the commission to pursue lot and alley designs that are cohesive with surrounding neighborhoods and to consider front-loaded garages rather than alleys to improve affordability and neighborhood acceptance. Harris and the developer said the alleys were reintroduced to align with the concept plan and the comprehensive plan’s guidance on lot design.

Commissioners noted remaining technical matters that will be resolved in the engineering phase, including required property pins to replace temporary iron nails and negotiation of any necessary floodplain work on low-lying lots. The commission’s approval at the preliminary stage does not authorize building permits; final plat approval and completion of engineering review are required before lots can be recorded and building may proceed.

The commission’s action on the Farm was one of several development items on the Feb. 20 agenda; related Newman Development proposals for other sites were addressed separately during the meeting.