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West Bend council amends comprehensive plan and rezones 34 acres to RS4 amid resident opposition over density
Summary
After an extended public comment period in which residents raised concerns about density, watershed and notification, the council amended the 2020 comprehensive plan and approved rezoning roughly 34 acres at S. Eighteenth Ave. and County Trunk NN to RS4; planning staff and the developer said further site plans, traffic and stormwater studies will follow.
The West Bend Common Council on Monday voted to amend the 2020 comprehensive plan and to rezone about 34 acres at the northeast corner of South Eighteenth Avenue and County Trunk Highway NN from planned business park to RS4 single-family residential.
The vote followed nearly an hour of public comment in which nearby residents raised concerns about housing density, stormwater and watershed impacts, notification of adjacent landowners and infrastructure costs. Ron Struck of George Court told the council he did not object to development on principle but said the proposed density (residents and some staff discussed a conceptual figure of roughly 90–95 homes) was inconsistent with surrounding town lot sizes and could strain roads and local creeks. "I hope you consider the long term impact that this has onto the environment and the community, and choose wisely," Struck said.
Others echoed zoning and environmental concerns. Elise Sussnick said she worried about percolation rates and the lack of a retention pond in the plans; Stacy Haffman cited a news report referencing 95 homes, said nearby employers had not been notified and asked who would be liable if lots did not sell. Jason Keccha, a recent mover to the Silver Lake area, urged the council to "be a good neighbor" and asked officials to change the zoning to RS3 rather than RS4 to reduce density.
Brian Lindgren of Newman Developments, the project proponent, told the council RS4 was proposed because it produces lot sizes the market will buy and because the city has limited single-family inventory. Lindgren said approving the land-use change and zoning was a first step that would enable the developer to pursue plans and then fund and complete traffic, stormwater and other studies. "This starts the process of doing further studies, like traffic analysis and storm water," Lindgren said, adding the developer is prepared to engage on parks, infrastructure and other design elements.
Planning staff emphasized the distinction between the comprehensive-plan and zoning actions before the council and later site-plan and permitting steps. Staff noted the plan commission had voted 9–0 to forward the land-use change. Council members who addressed the matter repeatedly said rezoning and a plan amendment do not approve a site plan or construction; they said future approvals will include additional public hearings, a possible joint review board for any tax-increment financing (TIF) proposal, and environmental and traffic reviews.
After deliberation the council approved the comprehensive-plan amendment and then adopted the ordinance rezoning the property to RS4 by voice vote.
