Plan commission reviews pre‑concept for 97‑lot subdivision on East Sauk Road; no action taken

The Port Washington Plan Commission on Jan. 16 heard a pre‑concept presentation from Newman Development for a proposed single‑family subdivision of about 97 lots on roughly 37 acres north of East Sauk Road and west of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. The commission’s planner said the item was informational only and that no action would be taken tonight.

The presentation, led by city planner Bob Harris and Newman Development representative Ryan Fritsch, described two entrances off East Sauk Road, four stub roads intended to serve adjacent parcels, one cul‑de‑sac created to avoid a wetland pocket and stormwater facilities at the west and east edges of the site. Fritsch said the project applies the city’s R4 zoning and that lot widths would range mainly from 70 to 80 feet.

The project prompted questions from commissioners and public commenters about traffic and existing road condition on East Sauk Road. Resident Paul Soike, of 2472 East Sauk Road, told the commission, “I’d like to know what the city's plan to do with the road when you're gonna put about 200 more cars a day on that road. That's 1 of the poorest roads in the county and needs a lot of work.” Commissioners discussed whether the city could require road improvements as part of future approvals or negotiate a maintenance agreement with neighboring jurisdictions to address plowing and repairs.

William Alborn, chief executive officer of Clean Test, whose facility lies east of the proposed subdivision, raised noise concerns tied to Clean Test’s operations and future company expansion. Alborn said the company has previously received noise complaints from nearby development and asked the commission and developer to “consider doing something for noise abatement” so future residents would not be subjected to industrial noise. In response, Fritsch said stormwater facilities could act as a buffer and that Newman was open to creating an outlot or landscape easement, noting buyers and homeowners associations could also provide screening.

Staff outlined the anticipated procedural steps should Newman seek to advance the project: submission of a formal concept plan to the commission, a commission action on that concept plan, annexation and an amendment to the city sewer map (a multi‑month process that staff said would proceed through the local sewer review group referred to in the meeting as the “sewer pack” and require DNR review), preliminary plat approval and then engineering and construction. Planner Bob Harris emphasized the pre‑concept format is intended to surface issues from adjacent residents and the commission before a formal concept plan is scheduled for action.

Commissioners suggested additional items for Newman to consider as it prepares a concept plan, including landscaping or berms for noise mitigation, possible parkland or a payment‑in‑lieu for parks, road reservations on adjacent properties to preserve future connectivity, and retention of stormwater features or outlots for landscape buffers. No formal motions or votes were taken on the pre‑concept presentation; the item was presented as a discussion only and will return if Newman submits a concept plan.

The commission will set further dates if and when Newman files a concept plan and related annexation and sewer‑map materials.