Consultants seek EDC feedback on Germantown Village Center District parcels; members flag stormwater, wetlands and financing constraints

SRF Consulting presented its Village Center District community engagement program to the Germantown Economic Development Commission on July 14, asking commissioners to act as an advisory focus group for redevelopment options on four village-owned parcels: the Ascension clinic site, the adjacent FlowerSource parcel, the Grossnick property and the former recycling center.

Planner Mitch Brous summarized the outreach to date: a public survey that ran May 18–June 30 that yielded 838 responses, two event booths (MyFest and the July 4 celebration), planned focus groups and an upcoming open house. The consultant said the final deliverable will wrap community feedback into recommendations the village board can consider.

Commissioners offered mixed feedback. Several urged a slow, phased approach that balances the preferences of long-term residents who resist rapid change with younger residents seeking amenities. Commissioners and business representatives said ownership-oriented housing (owner condos or townhouses) could help retain employees of local manufacturers and encourage community investment. Others recommended letting market interest drive project feasibility while the village provides guidance and targeted outreach to developers.

Technical and fiscal constraints dominated the discussion. Commissioners flagged stormwater and basement flooding experienced in recent events, possible wetlands on the parcels and limited access/transportation to some sites. One commissioner said FEMA’s remapped flood or wetland areas have expanded constraints. Commissioner Melanie urged reconciling school-district growth studies with sewer-pack projections used in the 2050 plan and recommended staff and consultants perform hydrology and infrastructure assessments before significant redevelopment decisions.

Panelists discussed parcel specifics: the former recycling center is roughly 5.5 acres, the Grossnick parcel about 5.5 acres, and the Ascension and FlowerSource properties together total about 20 acres. Director Ratzlaff noted Ascension currently holds a lease through 2027 or 2028 with tenant options to renew; village staff indicated lease payments had been used to offset acquisition debt, though the commission asked staff to clarify exact accounting.

Consultants handed commissioners a worksheet to collect follow-up input and encouraged direct comments on desired uses for each parcel. Commissioners recommended targeted outreach to adjacent property owners for parcels likely to change neighborhood uses and urged the consultant and staff to prioritize technical studies (stormwater, wetlands, transportation access) and financial analysis before recommending specific redevelopment actions. The commission was asked to provide feedback and expect the consultant’s summary to be included in the final report to the village board.

The commission adjourned at 7:33 p.m.; the next meeting is scheduled for August 18 at 6 p.m.