Development at issue in 5-person race for 3 seats on Village Board

Where development should occur in Grafton and what it should look like are the big questions for the five candidates running for three seats on the Village Board in April’s election.

Incumbent trustees Jim Miller and Dave Armstrong, along with challengers Sarah Scarpace and Kevin Curtis, weighed in on the subject during a candidate forum earlier this month. Challenger Carl Stier did not attend the forum.

Armstrong, who advocated for single-family housing developments over apartment projects, joined the other candidates in wanting to see lower-cost homes in new subdivisions, which he said often only offer houses that are too expensive for middle-class citizens.

However, he was skeptical the village could help reduce prices.

According to a village study released last year, local developers said they can’t break even if they build houses that cost less than $400,000.

“Affordable housing sounds great. However, there isn’t a developer who wants to build those houses,” Armstrong said.

Miller argued the village could be more creative in finding ways to make housing affordable, while Scarpace said the problem will only get worse if action isn’t taken soon.

“I understand developers (would not be) making money, but there are many businesses in the area that are unable to hire workers because rents are so high,” she said.

Curtis said development should be focused downtown, along with projects to make the area more pedestrian friendly.

Miller, on the other hand, said the board should keep growth on the periphery of the village, away from downtown, to retain “some semblance of the old Grafton.”

Scarpace criticized the quantity of chain restaurants, shops and banks moving onto the village’s east side.

“There seems to be an ongoing disconnect between the different types of businesses wanted by residents vs. what is being approved for development,” she said. “People have stated time and again that there are enough banks, fast food and coffee shops and said they would like to see more quality sit-down restaurants approved.”

Miller also criticized what he sees as a stifling of resident input at board meetings.

“If you come up to the front and talk, then you get two minutes with a clock over your shoulder,” he said. “That needs to change. People’s voices need to be heard.”

Miller and Curtis pointed to the controversial narrowing of a portion of 10th Avenue approved last month by the Village Board as an example.

Residents complained of safety and traffic concerns due to the road narrowing, as well as misleading information sent by village staff members.

“I think a lot of times issues come up that (officials) don’t want to be discussed and transparency disappears,” Miller said. “We need to improve.”

The forum, hosted by the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, was moderated by the Ozaukee County League of Women Voters.