Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Plan Commission recommends keeping language in the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan that speaks of lake access from downtown, but even without any language about a lake park, some feel it will always be a possibility.
Like it or not, property owners around the lake could decide at some point in the future to offer their land for purchase by the city to be used as a park, no matter what language exists in the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan. That seemed to be the conclusion plan commissioners drew as they reviewed the options of rewording the plan, which outlines the city's vision for the next 10 years. A second attempt to develop a public park on Little Muskego Lake fell through this spring because of vocal opposition and the eventual withdrawal of the offer from the property owners. Shortly afterward requests for a removal of references to those properties in city planning documents were made, and they were removed from the parks and conservation plan. …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Still stinging from two heated battles over lake property being used for public park land, residents express opposition to changes in plans that don't go far enough.
It's been a little quiet at Common Council meetings lately, but a proposal to remove some references to a lake park from the city's comprehensive plans was enough to bring both sides out Tuesday to argue whether the changes go far enough. Earlier, the references to the properties involved in a public lake park development along Janesville Road, which fell through in April after heated debate and a change of heart by the property owners, were removed in the parks plan. It was now turn to make similar changes to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan. However, some residents opposed to the city's potential purchase of land on the lake for a public park felt all references to lake park developments should be removed from the plan. City Planner …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tess Corners Drive opponents to recreational trail will have a final opportunity to have it halted Tuesday night.
As dissent over a recreational trail along Tess Corners Drive arose in the past two weeks, the bidding process was halted. Now aldermen on Tuesday will have the opportunity to decide whether the trail is necessary enough to the greater trail system, which has been in development around the city for at least the past five years, or if negative response is enough to pull it from the plans for the roadway. The Common Council will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall, and will review the recommendation from planning, which urges the city to continue with the trail as planned. However, it's likely a public input session prior to that will feature opinions from residents asking to kill the trail. Other agenda items include:
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Financial information sent out over the lake park issue has not been complete, says mayor; now that the lake park business is over, it's time to move forward.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012
To the Editor from Kathy Chiaverotti, City of Muskego Mayor Dear Fellow Muskego Residents: There’s a great deal of misinformation going around town and here is some clarification. The lake park issue is over. The property owners have backed out and requested their properties be removed from the City’s master plan. I will be asking the Council to honor their request. You should also know that the City did not bring this proposal forward. The Council merely reacted to a proposal by the property owners based on the City’s existing master plan. Many residents based their opinion of the lake project on incomplete information. While the Common Council was within its purview to approve moving forward with this project, believing the development …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
With the purchase offer dead, questions remain over what will become of the property along the lake, and if committee will still be needed.
Michael Dilworth, developer and property owner of land along Janesville Road on Little Muskego Lake, is "no longer interested" in selling land to the city, which became the center of heated public debate since it was introduced last August. However at the same August meeting, a second option was proposed that featured development of condominiums. The letter from Dilworth attorney Gerald Boisits to the Common Council in August outlined the lake park concept along with an 'option A' featuring eight houses near the lake and two buildings off Janesville Road that would have condominiums and retail space for restaurants and gift shops. The letter from Boisits to the city earlier this week did not mention future use of the land, and repeated …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Bryan Kubel gives the perspective of a graduating senior who has grown up in Muskego, and says the loss of a park on the lake downtown is a lost opportunity.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Dear citizens of Muskego, You may not know me because I am new to the politics scene, having just turned 18 last December. However, I have been a resident of Muskego since I was two years old and have kept on top of all of the city’s events and news since I was a young child. I believe that today is a sad day in our city. Mr. Dilworth and the Gardettos officially pulled the plug for the city to purchase their properties and turn it into a lake park in the new downtown district. This ultimately ends the vision of creating a lake park that would have put Muskego “one wave above” our surrounding communities. I, along with many other citizens with this vision, believed that a park would have had so many potential benefits that would have moved…
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Developer says thanks, but he is no longer interested in pursuing a purchase agreement with the city for park land on Little Muskego Lake; adjacent property owner Nan Gardetto agrees, citing delay requested by the city for ending the agreement.
According to the City of Muskego's Facebook page, Michael Dilworth, developer and property owner of land along Janesville Road on Little Muskego Lake, is "no longer interested" in selling the land to the city. The deal has been at the center of heated public debate since it was introduced last August. The city has shared a letter from Attorney Gerald Boisits representing Michael Dilworth and Ener-Con Companies, Inc., states 'My clients have indicated that they are no longer interested in promoting and/or offering any land for what is known as the Little Muskego Lake Development, effective immediately. As such, we would like the "Park" taken out of the master plan.'" In addition, a similar letter from Foley and Lardner, the law firm …
Friday, March 16, 2012
Committee that will help provide input on lake park features has been approved, and will need residents to step forward to take part.
Muskego Parks and Recreation Director Craig Anderson has now posted an official request for volunteers to serve as stakeholders in a lake park committee. The committee will be formed as part of a compromise proposal approved by the Common Council Tuesday night to allow residents to have a more intimate role in planning and determining costs for the park. The sale of the park, which is $3.55 million, has been held until the committee and the Parks Board can receive the information make a recommendation to the Common Council in September. Here is the notice from the parks department: The Parks & Recreation Board (P&R Board) is seeking individuals willing to represent Muskego clubs/organizations and who are interested in serving as …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Officials hope delay of purchase of Little Muskego Lake property and creation of new committee will address public's need for costs on proposed park development
Extra time to consider citizens' input on what should go into a park on the lake: Check. Exploration of costs based on that input: Check. The ability for the Common Council to reverse an earlier decision to buy the property should it decide buying the park land is not in the best interest of the city: Check. Addressing the concerns of many residents regarding the city's proposed purchase of a 4.6-acre parcel on Little Muskego Lake, aldermen voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a resolution that puts the next step into the hands of the Parks and Recreation Board. The resolution calls for the creation of a subcommittee of the parks board that will study the issue, gather cost estimates and public input, and come back to the Common Council with…
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Misinformation at the heart of opponents' claims, says Craig Anderson, who hopes to set the record straight.
"There are so many things that Muskego does right, that when you're bashed over the past couple of months, it takes a toll on people," said Craig Anderson, Muskego Parks and Recreation Director. Anderson and his department have been taking on criticism as the debate has raged over a new park development on Little Muskego Lake, and it was apparent that he felt the need to set things straight. Speaking at the parks board meeting Monday night, Anderson addressed several inaccuracies that have been at the heart of arguments opposing a second lake park. The city has made an offer to purchase 4.6 acres on Little Muskego Lake along Janesville Road, which has set off controversy over what the current state of the city's parks is. Lately, talk of a…
The Anti-Alinsky
6:16 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
MHH I agree. It is a shame that politics in Muskego has gotten to a point where MEG/"Not On My Lake"/"Let's stay in the 1990's" crowd throws fear into the city by spreading lies. Maybe we need to start a direct legislation petition to put the goal of having a lake park on the Common Council's agenda. In fact I wonder how many of those 3600 would sign that petition. more ›