Dells approves townhouses
By Kay James, Dells Events
On a split vote, the Wisconsin Dells Common Council Monday approved rezoning so that townhouses can be built in the Prairie Oaks Subdivision off Waubeek and Ninth Avenue.
The council split three to three on the ordinance to change the zoning with Alderpersons Dan Gavinski, Joan Ragan and Dar Mor voting for the change and Alderpersons Ed Wojnicz, Debbie Kinder and Brian Holzem voting against it. Mayor Eric Helland broke the tie, voting for the zoning change.
The ordinance must be passed again at next month's council meeting. Mayor Helland said if the developers do not clean up the subdivision, the ordinance would not get a second reading.
The change had been opposed by neighbors in Dell Prairie Township who have said the townhouses do not fit with the neighborhood.
Last week, the city's plan commission approved the rezoning request on the condition that the developers, South Central Land Development Associates, make the subdivision more presentable such as removing piles of sand.
Another complaint was that construction in the subdivision caused erosion. Scott Witecha, one of the developers, said Monday erosion was not a problem. He said the Department of Natural Resources requires reports every week and erosion had not been found. Retention ponds are in place, he said.
Witecha said only 5 percent of the land had been developed with two duplexes and a single family home while 90 to 95 percent of the land there remained in its natural state. The sand piles had been left because the intent was to use them in future construction, he said.
Kinder also raised the issue of the intersection of Ninth and Waubeek Road that has been described as dangerous. She said the townhouses would increase the density of the area increasing use of the road.
"At some point we need to take a road from Ninth to Highway 13," said Alderperson Mor. He said he would rather "plant that seed" than change the Ninth and Waubeek intersection.
Gerald Visny of Dell Prairie said the neighbors of the subdivision had lost faith in the developers and the city continues to give to them without the developers giving back. He suggested the city require a bond from the developers to prove their strength. Referring to the plans announced last week for Bear World in the Deer Wood subdivision, Visny said he would rather have bears than townhouses because when the attraction failed it would folded up and disappear.
"We're trying to do the best we can," said Witecha. He said one of the problems was the cost of utilities. The city required the sewer lines be gravity feed ones because of the Chula Vista and Grand Cambrian developments and in some places the lines had to be three stories deep requiring blasting of rock. "That took all the money," he said noting that the utilities had been paid for by the developers.
Before any townhouses can be built, the developers will have to come back before the plan commission and council with specific plans.
Assistant City Attorney Joe Hasler also said with the change to townhouses, the developer's agreement would need to be amended, which will also have to be approved by the plan commission and council.
An assisted living facility is also planned for the area and plans for that also need to go to the plan commission and council.
The council also passed an ordinance setting standards for townhouses in the zoning code.