This Just In ...

Meijer Stores Hearing and other news from Franklin alderman Steve Olson

Posted by Kevin Fischer on July 1, 2012

Dear Neighbors:

It appears that we have summer this year.  I hope you’re weathering the heat well.

MEIJER STORES HEARING

The last public hearing will be held regarding the Meijer Store proposal for the Crossroads (Hwy. 100 and Loomis Road) on THURSDAY, JULY 5 at 7:00pm in the Common Council chambers at City Hall.  This is your opportunity to provide comment on the proposal to build a 192,000 square foot store at the crossroads.  Although the agenda is not yet published, the Plan Commission will hear comment on a change to the Comprehensive Master Plan to remove the 125,000 sq. ft. “big box” limit for the area.  They will also take comment on the recommendation by the Environmental Commission to approve the applicant’s Natural Resources Protection Plan.  This is the key hearing and the last issue to be resolved prior to the item appearing before the Common Council for action.  The Plan Commission may either table the request (making requests of the applicant and staff); pass a recommendation to the Common Council for approval (with or without additional conditions); or recommend the Common Council deny the request.  As you can see, this is an important hearing and ALL COMMENTS WILL BE ON THE RECORD.  I urge you to attend the meeting and make your comments on the record.

Should the Plan Commission act on the proposal, it would then be referred to the Common Council for action, presumably at their next meeting which would be JULY 10, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall.  As is practice, there will be a citizens comment period at the beginning of the Common Council meeting but those comments are not part of the public record.  You should as well plan on attending that meeting and feel free to make your comments known.

Although the applicant has not confirmed their presentation nor shared it with me, I make the assumption that they will present their “final” proposal for the site plan and building elevations. 

Yet to be drafted is the developer’s agreement where operational issues are addressed and the agreement between the City and developer is codified.

Please continue to be involved.

4^th of July Celebration

I’m proud to say (although there’s no cause and effect) that in my tenure as alderman for the fabulous 1^st district and the great 2^nd district prior, not a drop of rain has fallen on our parade.  It appears that that record will stand again this year with sunshine and temperatures in the 80’s.

For those of you with children, you’re welcomed and encouraged to have the kids decorate their bikes, wagons or just themselves and join in the Kid’s Parade before the main parade.  Gather at the Police Department parking lot in time to parade down Loomis Road at 10:30am.  It’s best to get to the PD parking lot via Forest Hill Avenue.

The parade will then feature the elected officials (I’ll entertain guesses as to how many pounds or pieces of Tootsie Rolls my lovely wife Bev and I will distribute.)

The main parade follows at 11:00am.

There’s a ton of food, games and entertainment at Lion’s Legend Park and on the City Hall grounds both Tuesday night and all day Wednesday through about 11:00pm. 

Please take a moment to thank the members of the Civic Celebrations Committee.  You’ll see them on the grounds in their special T-shirts.  They’ve given up their holiday and have worked countless hours to put together the best community celebration in the State.  By the way, a majority of the committee is made up of your neighbors from the 1^st District.

And as of now, they’re still planning fireworks for Wednesday evening at about 9:15 or so.  The vendor is the same as we’ve had over the past few years and they’ve always had RAVE reviews.  A special thanks to Payne and Dolan and Vulcan Materials for sponsoring the fireworks.

WATER PRESSURE ISSUES COMING

The Franklin Water Utility will be having our main water tower on Drexel Ave. painted this summer.  The job includes draining the tank, cleaning and sealing the inside as well as a new coat of paint on the outside.  This work is set to begin early in August and last for many weeks.  Because the tank will be drained, we may experience a drop off in water pressure for a period of time.  The Water Utility will notify us of their plans BUT…  be aware that there will be a sprinkling ban during the job in order to protect our service and assure that we have enough pressure city wide for fire protection.

Exact timing of the ban will be announced soon, but I raise the issue for those of you who may be planning new lawns.  Get them in now…

Forest Hill Highlands to expand

United Financial Group is making plans to present another phase of construction of their complex between Puetz Road and Forest Hill Ave.  They’ve told me that they intend to present a plan for additional senior housing apartments similar to the existing buildings and add several buildings of executive apartment homes in the area behind the Post Office and the proposed Meijer Store.

I’ll get you more details as they file their plans.

Happy 4^th!!!!

Steve
 

Steve Olson

Alderman, 1st District

8091 S. Meadowcreek Ct.

Franklin, Wisconsin  53132

414-425-9060

solson@franklinwi.gov

www.franklinwi.gov