Board refers proposed Grudemont Nature Preserve land swap and rezoning to Plan Commission

The Village Board of Trustees on May 6 voted to refer to the Plan Commission a proposed land swap that would transfer the Grudemont Nature Preserve to Milwaukee County in exchange for a portion of Dale Creek Parkway.

Board members discussed protections for the preserve, including deed restrictions and a proposed rezone from R5 (multifamily residential) to P (park) so the parcel would be codified as parkland. "We're trying to take care of everything to keep it park exactly the way it is," the meeting moderator said during discussion.

During public comment, resident Bob Burrows asked whether deed restrictions had been reviewed before proceeding. Staff replied that deed restrictions are on record and "will be passed on to the county" and pointed listeners to greendale.org/landswap for maps and the deed texts. Another resident, Greg Silvestre, asked whether the waterway itself would remain under state jurisdiction (DNR); staff said the board would look into that question.

The board made the formal motion to refer the land-swap package and the rezoning consideration to the Plan Commission for review and recommendation. Trustees voted to send the package forward; the Plan Commission is scheduled to review the items at its next meeting, and the board intends to hold a public hearing on the proposals at its June meeting before any final action.

Why it matters: The move would formally align zoning and ownership with long-standing park use, and staff emphasized deed restrictions and proposed park zoning as measures intended to keep the land as a nature preserve.

Next steps: Plan Commission review, followed by a public hearing and potential board action in June.