Plans for The Farm in jeopardy again with deadline looming

Port Washington aldermen met in closed session Tuesday to discuss negotiations with developer Cindy Shaffer but took no action following the meeting, something that could put her plans to create the 263-unit housing development on the city’s far west side at risk.

That’s because there is a deadline of Friday, March 21, for the city and Shaffer to reach a purchase agreement for the 39-acre former Schanen farm where her subdivision, The Farm, would be constructed.

When asked what the city’s next step would be, Mayor Ted Neitzke said, “At this point we don’t know what we’re going to do. We don’t have a plan.”

It will likely be up to Shaffer and the city attorney to come up with a plan, he added.

This is just the latest setback for Shaffer, whose plan for the Schanen farm was picked from two proposals by the city  in fall 2023.

Officials lauded the amount of housing and the fact the subdivision would incorporate aspects of traditional neighborhoods in the city when they approved the concept of selling the land to Shaffer.

But in December, the Plan Commission turned down a plan for the project, saying it lacked the features that made the project unique and provided too few single-family houses.

Shaffer said she made the changes after conducting a marketing study and talking to local builders and a real estate agent who said there wasn’t a market for houses on alleys.

A revised plan for the project was approved by the commission in February, after Shaffer added some more single-family homes and once again proposed using alleys to recreate the traditional neighborhood feel.

That action prompted aldermen to extend the deadline for the purchase agreement until March 21.

Earlier this month the Common Council approved rezoning the property for The Farm, which in addition to the housing also includes a clubhouse, community gardens, pool, dog run, walking paths, a community kitchen and workspace and indoor hydroponic gardens.