Dells subdivisions ready to change
By Kay James, Dells Events
One Dells subdivision may go to the bears and another to townhouses with objections to both.
John Becker, developer of Deerwood Glen subdivision, proposed to the Wisconsin Dells Plan Commission, that his subdivision off Highway 16 be converted to Bear World. The attraction would be run by an Idaho company that has a similar wildlife park, called Yellowstone Bear World.
Lew Herro of the Herro Company, Inc. and South Central Land Development Associates, Inc., developer of the Prairie Oaks subdivision off Waubeek Road and 9th Avenue, appeared before the commission with a rezoning request to allow townhouses and an assisted living facility.
The commission approved the rezoning request on the condition that Herro make it more presentable. Mayor Eric Helland said if the request passes the council next week, he would nominate three people to be involved in reviewing the work the developer does to make it more presentable.
Neighbors of the subdivision in the town of Dell Prairie objected to the request, saying townhouses would not be consistent with their neighborhood.
Kevin Hirst, speaking for about 50 neighbors of Prairie Oaks at the meeting, said the city "barely nine months ago" turned down a request from Herro for apartments there. He said the subdivision is not the right place for apartments. With townhouses, the area would have more runoff and erosion that would affect wells and streams, Hirst said.
The market slowed down, Herro said, but he said he planned to build quality townhouses that would be owned by individuals. They would have garages and sell from $160,000 to $170,000. The rezoning request "should not be decided because someone does not want it [the property] developed," he said.
Public Works Director Mike Horkan said Herro has not finished phase one of the development. It has no roads, sewer and water.
Commissioner, Alderperson Dan Gavinski said people would not be so ticked off about the development if it had been properly maintained.
Hirst said the development has piles of sand and is not landscaped.
Commissioner Bill Brown suggested Hirst and Herro meet and come to an agreement on the aesthetics of the townhouses.
"I'm not willing to have Herro talk with someone outside the city," Helland said. Commissioner David Murray said the commission was obligated to do what was best for the city and how it can grow. The townhouses were a chance to get some affordable housing, he said.
Brown said he did not want to pass the decision to people in Dell Prairie.
Gavinski said he favored the development because it would have a huge buffer between it and existing homes. However, he said he wished the developers had taken care of the existing units better.
Helland said he was not in favor of the change until the property looked better. "It looks blighted."
Herro said he was willing to make the development more presentable.
The proposed Bear World met with more enthusiasm, but it faced one objection. Commissioner Murray who owns one of three homes in the subdivision objected to Becker's proposal. "We've been totally deceived by you and your realtor," he said saying when he and his wife bought the home they were told it would be single-family, with 10 acres possibly commercial. Murray said he was offended that Becker had not talked to him before the meeting about the concept. He added that the concept was a great idea.
Attorney Buck Sweeney, representing Becker, said the first step in developing Bear World would be contacting the current homeowners in the subdivision. He noted that he had only been hired two days before the meeting. He said the presentation was of the concept only and that no action by the commission was needed now.
The presentation included a video of the Yellowstone Bear World, operated by Mike Ferguson. Ferguson, on speakerphone for the meeting, said he expected about 400 vehicles or 1,600 people a day to visit the Bear World if it opened here. He said the Idaho site, which is a drive-through wildlife part, has been open for 10 years and 30,000 people have been through it. Only one negative comment has been made, he said. He also said the wildlife park, which includes a petting zone, concessions and gift shop, had received only one negative comment in that time.
The Idaho Bear World has not had any problems with escaped black or grizzly bears. "They are there for their free lunch," Ferguson said of the park, which has electrified fences.
Gavinski, president of Dells Boat Tours, warned that unlike Idaho, the Dells is "a tremendously competitive community" and the attractions are struggling. He suggested that a new attraction "can blow up in your face" and that Ferguson might want to cut his expected traffic by at least 25 percent.
Horkan said, noting the competition in the Dells that Ferguson might want to do a feasibility study.
Commissioners also warned Ferguson that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would probably not give him permits to bring in elk and deer from out of state because of the chronic wasting disease. He said he would purchase the elk and deer in state.
Mayor Helland said the rezoning needed for the property would not pass until Becker and Sweeney resolve issues with the homeowners involved. Call the Bear World concept great, he said the subdivision is prime residential land and a beautiful property. It was "too bad" that more of the lots had not been sold.
In other action, the commission approved the following:
n Allowing Tara Joles and Dells Wedding Bells Chapel to put up a gazebo and a tent when requested by the RiverWalk Pub for outdoor weddings.
n Changes to definitions in the zoning code and setting standards for multi-family buildings.