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Plan commission recommends council approval for Garden Medley Estates preliminary plat and official map amendment
Summary
The commission recommended the Common Council approve an official map amendment and a preliminary subdivision plat for Garden Medley Estates, a proposed 50‑lot single‑family subdivision on county‑owned land that the county plans to develop as deed‑restricted affordable housing in partnership with Habitat for Humanity; a development agreement will require replacement‑tree plantings and coordination with Oak Creek utilities.
The Oak Creek Plan Commission voted Feb. 24 to recommend that the Common Council approve an official map amendment and a preliminary subdivision plat for Garden Medley Estates, a proposed single‑family residential subdivision on three parcels owned by Milwaukee County at 3810 E. American Avenue, 9050 S. Annette Place and 8950 S. Chicago Court.
Staff explained the application covers roughly 34 total acres with about 22 acres proposed for development and would create about 50 buildable lots. Todd told commissioners the parcels are zoned RS‑4 and that the city’s comprehensive plan designates the area for single‑family detached homes. He also said the developer obtained an artificial wetland exemption from the Wisconsin DNR because staff could not find historical evidence of wetlands prior to 1991.
Applicant representatives James Mathie and Max Sycak described the homes as a mix of one‑ and two‑story houses roughly 1,000–1,500 square feet. The county intends to record deed restrictions designed to keep the properties affordable; staff said local assessors and an independent appraiser told the commission such deed‑restricted units would not be used as comparables in neighborhood assessments.
The commission’s preliminary plat approval includes conditions requiring coordination of water and sewer connections with Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility, execution of required stormwater and development agreements with the engineering department, and execution of a development agreement between the City of Oak Creek and Milwaukee County that will specify the planting of replacement trees to meet the city’s tree‑preservation requirements before permit submissions.
John Seetman, speaking for the county/development partners, said federal earmarks of $7,000,000 are expected to support infrastructure for the project and that build‑out of all 50 homes could take many years and will likely be phased. “We have a total of $7,000,000 of federal earmarks for this project, which we’re really excited to invest in,” Seetman said.
A member of the public, Saif Calder, raised concerns about railroad noise, recurring yard flooding and local wildlife; commissioners responded that the project requires a stormwater plan and that county sewer upgrades may mitigate localized flooding issues. The commission approved the motions on roll call and scheduled the Common Council public hearing for April 6.
