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Village staff: deeds and state review already protect River Lane parcels; no action recommended now
Summary
Residents asked the board to designate two village-owned parcels near Brownview and Blaine as a nature preserve. Staff said the deed reserves the land for park/open space and formal DNR nature‑preserve designation would require additional staff time and state review; staff recommended not pursuing formal designation now though noted 32-signature petition.
Residents and trustees discussed whether to designate two village‑owned parcels near the Brownview/Blaine intersection as a nature preserve.
Ike Edwards, a resident of West River Lane, said the lots were "deeded to Brown Deer as a park" and urged the village to keep them undeveloped to protect neighborhood character. "Whatever it takes to ensure that those 2 plots remain undeveloped, I'm willing to do that," he said.
Tyler, a village staff member, told the board he had researched the property deed and found language reserving the land for "park and open space." He said formal nature‑preserve status requires a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) process and checklist and would demand considerable staff time. "In order for a nature preserve to be an official one, there's a process that has to be worked through, through the DNR, and there's certain requirements that the state of Wisconsin would look for," Tyler said.
Staff described reasons for not recommending immediate pursuit of formal designation: existing deed restrictions already provide protection, the parcel is small and not currently programmed for public access, and staff capacity is limited. Tyler also noted a neighborhood petition of 32 signatures supporting preservation and said staff would respect resident preferences if the board wanted to pursue designation.
Why it matters: Deed language reserving land for park and open space can limit future development, but formal state designation can provide additional protections and responsibilities (management, public access, restoration). Residents are weighing future development pressures on nearby commercial corridors against preserving quiet local open space.
Board action: The discussion ended without a motion to pursue formal nature‑preserve designation; staff said no action is required to maintain the deed-based protection unless the village seeks to develop the land and pursue a change with the state.
Ending: The board moved on without voting to pursue formal designation; trustees asked clarifying questions about process and feasibility.
