Caledonia Petition Against Hwy 31&38 Commercial Rezoning

Hi Neighbors,

This message is to bring to your attention, ANOTHER (un)planned rezoning and commercial development in our neighborhoods. The current project involves numerous properties located to the North and East of the intersection of Hwy's 31 & 38 in the Villages of Caledonia and Mount Pleasant, with plans to build a Culvers restaurant, an all night gas station, a parking lot for some 68 vehicles, in addition to plans referenced for the construction of a mini-mall, convenience store or other small business entities in the proposed complex totalling 13.4 acres..

The Caledonia and Mt. Pleasant Village Boards intend to change their land use plans to accomodate an application to build a commercial development in what is now a residential neighborhood. Because of the 2017 Act 67, this opens the door to all manner of additional commercial development in and around the current ones proposed. We have to stop this rezoning before the land use plan map gets changed or it's open season on parcel poaching for commercial use.

The state of Wisconsin legislature passed a law(SB601) demanding that Ordinance ammendments including changes to land use plan maps such as those being voted on Jan 20th, be consistent with the Village land use plan.

The reasons given for changing the land use map in this instance, are that "It is appropriate" and "It is to be expected" and "It's long overdue". I kid you not, these are the reasons given in the "motion"'s for the land use plan and rezoning ammendments. There is no basis in fact of any sort whatever in these "reasons". .
When it was suggested that this development would be better placed elsewhere, one key member of the Mt. Pleasant planning commitee stated that it didn't matter, because the people who want it, didn't buy land over there. Since when do we change our land use plans to allow rezoning a neighborhood, just because some developer thinks it's a good place to make a buck? That's NOT "planning", that's accomodating.

Over the last several years, this has become a common practice that has to be stopped! We, the citizens of our Villages MUST stand up to this, and OBJECT before we end up with a completely deforested community, riddled with urban blight and sprawl!

The best information we have at this time, indicates that there are ~12 properties involved with this current commercial reclassification of the 2035 land use plans by the two respective Villages:

A plat map of the above mentioned land parcels can be seen on the Mt Pleasant Village GIS Map online. The extent of the Mt Pleasant planned development can be viewed by clicking the “2035 Master Plan" check-box under the “CDP” tab at the top-right of the map page. Note that the small triangle to the Left of the check-boxes is click-able to show map legend information.

We need to recognize that Caledonia has already set aside areas specifically for this type of business development, if we want that tax revenue. Those business centers would welcome the addition of these new establishments, to attract additional traffic to their own enterprises.

We should also acknowledge that in this instance, the proposed services are already largely available within a miles distance in two directions from the planned site location, so there is no need for these redundant services here amongst our homes. This is typical of recent commercial rezoning activity elsewhere in our Village, such as on Charles & 4 mile road - for example.

The only mandate for the proposed development to be situated here on 31 & 38, is to enrichen the business owners residing in Greedale, their affiliated corporate interests, and a modest increase to Caledonias' tax base the equivalent of about 1/2 of 1 Yr's salary for a single individual village employee. .

Aside from the impacts of deforestation, damage and disruption to the Primary Environmental Corridor in this location, more generally, commercial development of residential neighborhoods results in depreciation of property values,of 2 to 7%,, as well as traffic congestion, safety hazards from an intrusive population, refuse, noise, light, water and air pollution. Often, such developments become the predominant feature in their neighborhoods, as this one will become.

If you object to these indiscriminate commercial rezoning practices, as well you should, this recent action will be decided at the UPCOMING CALEDONIA BOARD MEETING: 7pm on January 20th at the Caledonia Village Hall, 5043 Chester Lane(1 block E of 4 mile rd & Douglas ave.),

PLEASE ATTEND TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SUPPORT for this petition and to voice your objection. If we are to persuade the board to be more responsible with our planning, it will take a show of strength in numbers, so we REALLY need you, your neighbors and family there. Tell people what is happening! ;)

GOING FURTHER:
We also encourage you to call each of the following board members personally, to let them know of your objections, prior to the Monday January 20th, 7pm meeting. Nothing is as persuasive as direct personal contact, but if you can't find the time, sending them an email is also constructive. Whatever you can manage would be great!

Jim Dobbs - President
Phone: 262-681-1720
Email: jdobbs@caledonia-wi.gov

Dale Stillman - Trustee
Phone: 262-498-3642
Email: dstillman@caledonia-wi.gov

Kevin Wanggaard - Trustee
Phone: 262-884-9998
Email:kwanggaard@caledonia-wi.gov

Fran Martin - Trustee
Phone: 414-852-5887
Email: fmartin@caledonia-wi.gov

Dave Prott - Trustee
Phone: 262-681-1736
Email: dprott@caledonia-wi.gov

Lee Wishau - Trustee
Phone: 262-639-7562
Email: lwishau@caledonia-wi.gov

Tom Weatherston - Trustee
Phone: 262-989-3424
Email: tweatherston@caledonia-wi.gov

Karie Pope - Village Clerk
Phone: 262-835-6415
Email: kpope@caledonia-wi.gov