River's Crossing Neighbors Fight Apartment Complex Zoning
Homeowners call the apartment complex "baloney," and the Waukesha Plan Commission seemed to agree with their opposition. Mayor Jeff Scrima, on the other hand, sided with the bank and future developers.
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Families in the River’s Crossing neighborhood can rest easy – for now.
Dozens of people packed the City Hall chambers and asked the Plan Commission to rezone a vacant property along Clearwater. Their message was loud and clear – they didn’t want apartments in the neighborhood.
The Plan Commission recommending the Common Council rezone the property from multi-family residential to two-family residential. Mayor Jeff Scrima and Commissioner R.G. Keller voted against the proposal. The rezoning requires a public hearing and Common Council approval.
The property is currently owned by BMO Harris Bank. A request from Bielinski Homes for a 132-unit apartment project was placed on hold in 2010 after city staff had questions about the project, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Instead of apartments being built, the property was foreclosed.
Gary Kautzer, BMO Harris vice president, asked the Plan Commission to not touch the residential zoning.
“As of today, I have executed purchase contract on the property,” Kautzer said.
Residents brought forward concerns about property values, littering, traffic and the possibility of having an apartment complex built on springs.
Subdivision resident Don Hastings was especially concerned about the springs, asking what the city would do if basements were flooded in the River’s Crossing subdivision.
“I am not going to swear, but I am about to,” Hastings said. “You need to listen to the people. … You want to have lawsuits? You are going to have lawsuits. Does BM-whatever bank want lawsuits? They are damn well going to get them too.”
Subdivision resident Dave Wanner was also worried about the population density and increased traffic. With 39 apartment complexes in Waukesha, he questioned the need for the buildings and asked the commission to consider the people instead of the money.
“This is people’s lives,” Wanner said. “This is people’s homes.”
Jim Grybush was fired up as he argued against apartment complexes in the area, as he has fought proposals for apartments for years, calling the proposal “baloney.”
“We support the whole damn community,” Grybush said. “We don’t want the apartments there. … Doesn’t that mean a damn thing? I don’t get it.”
Meanwhile, Scrima said he supported the individual landowner’s rights for the property.
“When government makes a promise to a landowner, I believe government needs to honor that promise,” Scrima said.
the 'sha guy
6:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
If it was originally zoned as multi-family then that is what it should stay, unless the owners want to have it changed.
It seems as though the neighbors are looking to have it rezoned to their favor and to the detriment of the current owners.
If the neighbors didn't know it was zoned multi-family to begin with then it is their own fault for not researching before their own purchase. The bank is an easy target, but this is about principles and land rights. We shouldn't be changing rules to suit a few at the cost of one.
Seems like the neighbors are just being selfish. I don't necessarily blame them, but it isn't right or fair.
clearthinker
7:27 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
It would seem that our boy mayor wants to drop apartment buildings onto most every vacant lot in Waukesha. When he rebrands, the city the motto could read "give us your tired, give us your poor, give us your apartment dwellers". I wonder what happened to all of the past campaign talk of cutting down on the number of apartments in Waukesha. It must have truly only talk!
the 'sha guy
9:37 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
@clear
This was zoned multi-family long before Scrima became mayor. It seems as though he is voting to uphold the current zoning for the property that was in place. If you are going to blame someone for this issue, blame the current neighbors who clearly did not do their homework before buying their homes.
I knew about this back when it was being developed and chose to stay away from these lots because of this.
Don't buy a house near an airport and then complain about the planes. All of the information about this development was out there, provided by Bielinski, who was developing the land at that time.
Mr Lundt
10:01 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Gary Bush's argument falls flat as he has an obvious ax to grind...opposition to apartments is what he does. The notion that the Mayor wants to "drop apartment buildings onto most every vacant lot " is sheer lunacy and without foundation. When these type of extreme messages are delivered it makes a potentially valid case seem shallow and silly.
It is interesting that all of the current homeowners in the area knew or should have known how the land was zoned. Now that someone actually wants to ACT on that they choose to get all riled up?
I actually think there are valid issue and Hastings touched on them. Sadly he also went off the rails making childish threats.
If the opponents want to change the current law, they need to find a more mature way to articulate the message. I actually think they have some real merit but they are acting like children and that is hurting their case.
Sarah Millard
10:35 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Actually, there is an interested buyer. However, the zoning request was supposed to have gone to the Plan Commission in October when there was no one interested in the land. The day the rezoning first went to the Plan Commission - about two weeks ago - an interested buyer popped up.
Mr Lundt
10:40 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sarah
I think the point is not when the buyer arrived, but when the current zoning was put in place.
How long has this property be zoned multi-family residential?
Sarah Millard
10:50 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
It has been zoned that since 1998, when there was no River's Crossing neighborhood - according to the discussions. I was in middle school then, so I can't readily confirm when River's Crossing was built. The area has changed significantly since 1998 and the neighborhood has been opposed to a big apartment complex since its inception.
One of the issues is there is only one way to get in and out of the subdivision. If they put an apartment building complex in there, there is not another way for the increased apartment residents to leave the area.
Mr Lundt
12:35 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Thanks Sara.
It is interesting that this land has been this way since 1998 and River's Crossing was built knowing this.
So the argument is that River Crossings and landowners in River Crossings poor planning (and perhaps the city) is now someone else's problem?
It sounds like there was a group(s) of people that failed to do their own due diligence and now are blaming others for their short- comings.
To be clear:
There are legitimate possible issues... but when your main defense is claiming ignorance for an area that has been zoned this way for about 15 years is about the worst tactic the opponents can take.
FreeSpeech
6:53 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
If you're not sure on dates, please check public records, interview people and get your facts BEFORE you post comments based on 'discussion'. There is more than one way in and out of the subdivision. In fact, there are THREE ways in and out. I'm with Mr. Lundt on this one. If it was zoned that way from the get go, it was/is up to buyers to do their research prior to purchasing in the subdivision.
the 'sha guy
10:07 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Well said Mr Lundt
Aaron Perry
10:55 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Certainly there is room for both sides of the argument on this. Whether the residents knew about the zoning or not is of no matter, they followed the process to have something changed which they are allowed to do. They made their case and convinced 5 of the 7 voting to agree with them. Hard to fault them for participating in the process, it was impressive to see so many there last night. The area will look great with single family or twin homes there. The same rezoning was done for River Hill Ct. nearby and it was completed last year with single family homes that fill out the neighborhood right.
Mr Lundt
3:48 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Being involved is one thing. Resorting to calling a plan "Balogna" and thrreating law suts is simply childish.
Not sure if you have noticed the building rate for single family and townhomes. I trust you will never complain a lack of tax revenue while we are waiting for the housing market to come off of life support.
Carl Spackler
12:05 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Change the Mayor please!!!
The current Mayor is a friend of developers not for the residents.
He is, in my opinion, rats, I can't even say what I want to say because it would be mean and I would hate to hurt our "little man's feelings.
Jeffrey please resign.
the 'sha guy
12:39 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Carl,
Your fixation with the current mayor is beyond troubling. The mayor didn't initially zone, rezone or stop this property from becoming rezoned.
Go have a tantrum elsewhere and save everyone here from your crying and pouting.
Carl Spackler
1:55 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Hey Jeffrey go back to your job of irritating the rest of the council! We can see right through you.
the 'sha guy
7:23 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
The fact you post on most every city issue since signing up for patch in June, ridiculing the city, asking the mayor for his resignation and just childish comments in general, I would really suspect YOU to be the disgruntled city employee or ex-official. I'm really, more amused with your obsession.
Try to be positive in life and you will find that your own life won't be as miserable as it appears to those who read your drivel on Patch.
N Schmidt
8:53 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Most people who have had professional or personal interaction with the mayor come away with the same opinion Carl has, sha guy. I've never witnessed such a failure in government or professional leadership. No wonder he wants us to think it's all about FFNL.
the 'sha guy
1:22 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
@Schmidt,
The discussion is about Carl's unhealthy obsession with him and his childish rants.
Abe
4:00 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Carl and Schmidt provide no evidence to their comments and are simply waging a smear campaign. Nothing new here.
MarkWauk
7:11 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
When I watch other alderman they explain through their reasoning and for most of them include the balance or citizens and whats right for Waukesha. When I watch the mayor he says " oh I got this email last night so it's all on hold " an email seriously? did it some from a hotmail.com domain? Time for a change
todd
7:23 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
I am a resident of the Rivers Crossing neighborhood. 1st, there are 3 entrances to the neighborhood but only 1 of them is in the area of where the apartments would be. To use the other 2, people would be driving through the existing single-family home area. 2nd, when we bought our land, we were told these would be high rent townhouse style apartments if they ever were built. That obviously has changed and is what people are upset about.
The View
12:51 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
The Rivers Crossing residents got their way. The should be happy now :)