Firm hired for business park land search

After conferring in closed session, the Fredonia Village Board unanimously agreed last week to contract with a consulting firm to help find land where a business park could be developed.

Under the contract, the village will pay Newmark Knight Frank $75,000 — three payments of $25,000 — as an advance on commissions for finding, developing and marketing a new business park.

Additional fees and commissions would be paid for additional work beyond the $75,000. At the end of each payment phase, the village will have the option of ending the relationship without making further payments.

Village officials have identified likely areas for business park development, including south and north of the village and east of Highway 57.

While the current economic situation poses challenges, consultants told trustees last month that Fredonia is well-situated because it enjoys easy freeway and railroad access, has large tracts of property nearby and is located between the employment centers of Sheboygan, Plymouth, West Bend and Milwaukee’s north shore.

Working against the village, consultants said, is the lack of workforce housing. But village officials are hopeful that the proposed Hillcrest subdivision and its 100-some homes on the village’s north side will be a start at alleviating that concern. 

When NKF made the same offer to the village in 2019, the board balked, wondering whether the village would get its money’s worth since some trustees said it was obvious which land parcels are in play for future development.

But other board members said that to delay would mean the village would miss its opportunity and that they lacked the expertise to piece together properties and to develop and market them.

In the end, trustees came out of closed session to approve the contract without discussion. 

“This will be an interesting ride,” Village President Don Dohrwardt said after the vote. “We have something to celebrate now.”

NKF officials said they expect to begin contacting likely landowners within a month.