City agrees to push deadlines for subdivision back again

Developer now has until June 4 to purchase site of what could be Port’s largest residential development
By 
KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHM
Ozaukee Press staff

The Port Washington Common Council last week pushed back the deadline for Cindy Shaffer to develop the former Schanen farm on the city’s far west side, giving the Mequon developer until June 4 to buy the property.

Following a closed session last week, the Common Council approved a series of extensions related to Shaffer’s offer to purchase the 39-acre property at the corner of Jackson Road and Highway 33 from the city — but only two of the three extensions were for as long as Shaffer had requested.

Aldermen agreed to extend the deadline for a completed developer’s agreement to the Feb. 21 date Shaffer suggested, then extended the time allowed for her to satisfy contract contingencies until May 7, not the July 18 sought by Shaffer. They also trimmed the time allowed to complete the property purchase from the Aug. 29 date sought by Shaffer.

Originally, the developer’s agreement was to be completed by Sept. 28,  a deadline that was extended to Nov. 7 and then Dec. 3.

Shaffer told aldermen during the public comments portion of the meeting that her goal is to meet all the suggested deadlines “on or before these dates.”

While Shaffer and the city finalized the offer to purchase the property in June, she said, the need for various approvals has delayed the developer’s agreement.

Approval of the agreement, she noted, requires an approved preliminary plat, planned unit overlay and zoning.

Earlier this year, the city approved a concept plan for a 276-home development known as The Farm, which would be the largest subdivisions in Port. Shaffer said she submitted a third revision of the site plan for the property in September, noting the plan reflected changes sought by the city and input from local home builders. That plan was tabled.

Shaffer said she recently submitted a fourth revision of the site plan and an application for preliminary plat review, planned development overlay and zoning amendment, which are expected to be considered by the Plan Commission at its Dec. 19, meeting.

So far, Shaffer said, her company has invested more than $100,000 in the project, including engineering studies, architectural drawings, a phase one environmental study, wetland delineation study, in-depth marketing study and preliminary appraisal.

“In over 20 years of negotiating several successful developments, I have found getting a project approved and shovel ready is always challenging,” she said.

She noted that when the proposed development is completed, it will generate almost $1 million in tax revenue for the city annually.

Mayor Ted Neitzke said before the meeting that the initial timeline for the agreement “was aggressive. I think city staff is being very diligent to make sure it (the development) meets our vision of density and entry-level housing.”

Feedback:

Click Here to Send a Letter to the Editor

Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

125 E. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-3494
 

CONNECT


User login