As I stated last month, for the first time, there will be a Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ozaukee County. The event will be held on Saturday, October 7. Learn more by clicking here. Please consider participating. Register now, or make a contribution.
Also, please join me in thanking the Festivals Committee (Vanessa Nerbun, Chair; Bridget King; Suzanne Dorszynski; Kirsten Hildebrand; Allen McIlwraith; Linda Jarman; Melissa Suring; and Lina Prosser, Staff Liaison) for their hard work organizing Taste of Mequon. They devoted untold hours to ensure the event was a success, and it was a great success. The Mequon-Thiensville Education Association also deserves kudos for the 5K run that terminated at the Taste of Mequon. It looked like fun, and brought many new faces to the event. Finally, but no less important, thank you to the many businesses and other volunteers who contributed to this great community-builder.
The final electronics and appliance recycling collection will be on Saturday, October 21 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Get more details by clicking here.
Planning Commission
On, Monday, September 11, starting at 7:00 p.m., the Planning Commission will hold a meeting. Highlights include applications for approval of:
- A new fitness center in the Aurora Mequon Health Center at 11430 North Port Washington Road.
- Signage at the Aurora Mequon Health Center.
- A two-lot division of the property at 11623 West Donges Bay Road.
- Landscape approval for the north border of the Dermond 33-unit apartment project at 11130 North Buntrock Avenue. The property line adjoins the proposed Foxtown project.
- A request by Ziegler Wealth Management for a sign that exceeds the 30 square feet allowed by code for the PNC Bank building at the northwest corner of Mequon Road and Port Washington Road.
- Sign waiver and lighting approval for the gas station at the southwest corner of Mequon Road and Wauwatosa Road. The station is converting from BP to Mobil. The applicant would like an illuminated canopy with the Mobil name on it. Mequon has previously not allowed lighting on the exterior or roof of gas station canopies.
- Rezoning of the four residential properties along the west side of Granville Road just north of County Line Road from Rural Industrial to Residential. These are long-time residential properties. The current zoning makes financing almost impossible. I have requested this change.
- A change to our zoning code allowing two-acre residential Planned Unit Developments.
The Planning Commission will also consider changes to the type of future housing allowed in the Town Center zoning districts. I (and others) requested this discussion (although what is proposed differs from what I suggested). Also, staff would like to hire a consultant.
Read more about these items by clicking here.
Common Council
On Tuesday, September 12, starting at 7:30 p.m., the Common Council will hold its September monthly meeting. It looks like another long meeting. Highlights include:
Five Public Hearings. Mequon has a long and proud tradition of allowing the public to comment on all matters in open session before the Common Council and its boards, commissions and committees; however, public hearings are required by law for certain ordinances and provide a specific opportunity for the public to give input.
- An ordinance amending the Planned Unit Development for the Lexington Square development at 11649 N. Port Washington Road. The applicant wants to put a fresh juice bar along the south elevation of the building.
- An amendment to the City’s LTD zoning ordinance that would allow Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars.
- A rezoning to allow a 13-unit residential Planned Unit Development on 21 acres at 2100 West Ranch Road.
- An amendment to the Town Center zoning district to allow breweries. The amendment would have significant restrictions, but would accommodate the proposed Foxtown Brewery.
- Rezoning and concept plan approval for a 32-unit (16 building) plex development on 10 acres of land at 12431 North Green Bay Road.
All of these items are scheduled for consideration and potential final action later in the meeting.
Other Items. The Common Council will consider:
- A parking license agreement with WE Energies for the Logemann Center property.
- License agreements with WE Energies and the railroad to allow a pedestrian and bicycle crossing between the Spur 16 property (Mequon Town Center 2) and the Logemann Center property. The developer of Spur 16 will pay for the improvements.
- An ordinance allowing exemptions from the tree ordinance for utility and transmission projects provided the Common Council determines, on a case-by-case basis, that the exemption is appropriate and the project is for the public good.
- A discussion of the parking study and recommendations for the Logemann Center property, Mequon Town Center 1 and the Civic Campus.
- A discussion of the type of future housing allowed in the Town Center zoning districts as described above in the last substantive paragraph of the Planning Commission section.
- Engagement of a consultant to assist in establishing a capital asset management plan. The Common Council budgeted $25,000 for this purpose in the annual budget. The cost of the recommended consultant is $28,423. That level of deviation is not unusual, and there are other cost savings to cover the overage; however, as originally proposed by staff, the budgeted amount would provide a plan covering buildings, roads and major equipment. Now, the $25,000 will only cover buildings, and the other components of the plan will possibly be addressed by future contracts.
- Replacement of sewer Lift Station B and sanitary force main replacement at 5020 West Parkview Drive. Staff is unsatisfied with the bids and recommends delaying this until spring.
- Installation of a lining for sewer pipes along Cedarburg Road from Donges Bay Road to a point north of Westfield Road.
- A closed session to consider the offer for the Logemann Center property. I intend to vote against going into closed session. Most or all of this discussion is appropriate for open discussion.
Read more about these items by clicking here.
City Committees
I am the aldermanic representative to the Planning Commission and Chair of Public Welfare Committee. All Common Council members serve on the Appropriates Committee, the Sewer Utility District Commission and the Water Utility Commission. In addition to my own committees, I will try to report on items of significance being considered by other committees.
Public Welfare Committee (Tuesday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m.). Click here to learn more. The Public Welfare Committee will consider:
- Final committee modifications to the ordinances that govern the City’s boards, commissions and committees. The Pubic Welfare Committee began this process in July of 2016 and completed its initial review in March of 2017 (nine meetings). Then, the recommendations of the Public Welfare Committee were forwarded to each of the City’s boards, commissions and committees. Over a period of three months, those bodies reviewed the recommendations. The Public Welfare Committee reviewed and adopted changes based on those recommendations. This month, the Public Welfare Committee is reviewing the final language. The Common Council will consider these ordinances in October.
- A comprehensive rewrite of the City’s Communications Policy. Staff anticipates that this process will take six months. This month, the Public Welfare Committee is reviewing the sections regarding the City’s website and City-sponsored publications (the e-newsletter and surveys).
Finance–Personnel Committee (Tuesday, September 12, at 6:00 p.m.). Click here to learn more. The Finance-Personnel Committee is undertaking a comprehensive review of the City’s financial policies. The review will take several months, and a couple of portions of the policy will be reviewed each month. This month, the Finance-Personnel Committee will review the policy’s provisions regarding debt and budget development.
Public Works Committee (Tuesday, September 12, at 6:45 p.m.). Click here to learn more. The Public Works Committee will consider:
- The WE Energies parking license agreement described above as Common Council Item #1.
- The pedestrian and bicycle crossing license agreement described above as Common Council Item #2.
- The consulting agreement described above as Common Council Item #6.
Architectural Board (Monday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m.). Click here to learn more. The Architectural Board will consider six new homes and eight additions or other residential construction projects. One of the construction projects (not a new home) is a resubmittal from a prior meeting. Every aldermanic district has at least one applicant.
Board of Appeals (Wednesday, September 13, at 6:00 p.m.). Click here to learn more. The Board of Appeals will rule on two requested variances:
- To construct a first floor master bedroom addition at 600 East Juniper Lane. The homeowners, who have lived in the home for 33 years, want a barrier free and accessible home. The addition would be 17′ from the lot line. The existing home is 17′ from the lot line. The zoning code requires a 20′ setback. The neighbors do not object. Staff recommends denial.
- To maintain an existing pool and fence at 8705 West Sunnyvale Road. The code requires the fence to be 4′ from the pool. The applicant built the pool and fence consistent with the written materials provided by staff which failed to specify the 4′ requirement. For approximately four lineal feet of the fence, the fence is between 3′ and 4′ from the pool.
Of course, please provide comments to me or to any elected official regarding these matters or any other City-related issue.