This Just In ...

Franklin Common Council to FINALLY vote on Meijer's

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Sept. 2, 2012

Dear neighbors and friends:

I hope you’re having a wonderful Labor Day weekend. 

Don’t forget to stop at St. Martin’s Labor Day fair and grab some fresh produce and maybe a bargain or two.

On Tuesday evening, the Common Council will again take up the Meijer proposal to build a 192,000 sq. ft. grocery and department store at the Crossroads.  I must report to you that there has been no apparent decisions made at the state and federal level regarding this project and therefore, the items before the Council remain relatively unchanged from past documents.  Of interest and importance to you, the neighbor’s is the addition to the Planned Development District (PDD) language requiring installation of a sidewalk on the north side of Puetz road.  That item was previously agreed upon but not documented. 

Meijer has submitted to the state DOT a site plan that returns the path of Puetz road to meet with the extension west of St. Martin’s Road.  This alignment is important to those residents in the subdivision west of St. Martin’s road (Hwy. 100) because it maintains both a left and right turn capabilities.  The DOT preferred plan moves Puetz to the south and makes that western street a right in, right out only.  This alignment also allows the entrance from Puetz for the store to be placed farther to the west, away from the homes and driveways of the immediately abutting neighbors on the south side of Puetz.  This is an important move for those neighbors.  The site plan also provides for a long deceleration lane for north bound traffic on St. Martin’s Road for those turning right onto Puetz as well as turning right into the development farther north on St. Martin’s road.

I have lobbied all along that the entrance at Puetz be closed.  Frankly, the DOT has stopped that possibility and they are unwilling to discuss the matter citing precedent and safety as their reasons for requiring the entrance on Puetz.

I recognize that both supporters and opponents are becoming tired of the endless meetings.  I understand that.  Throughout the process I have done my best, as has the Common Council to afford everyone who wishes, the opportunity to be heard on the matter.  That will be no different Tuesday night during the citizen comment period.  I welcome your input.

It’s my expectation that the Council will act on the four Meijer items that fall LATE in the agenda.  I encourage you to review the items.  Here’s the link to the agenda.  It’s a 200 page PDF that will take a bit of time to download.  Meijer items begin on page 102. 

http://www.franklinwi.gov/DefaultFilePile/User/LHuening/Agendas/Sept2012/CC_Mtg_Packet_942012.pdf

The details of the PDD and conditions for operations and the site plan begin on page 116.

Also to be discussed at the meeting is installation of water and sewer on 76^th Street that will affect several constituents.  I urge those of you along 76^th Street to attend.

As always, please call with your questions and concerns.

Feel free to forward this e-mail to your friends and neighbors.

Steve

Steve Olson

Alderman, 1st District

8091 S. Meadowcreek Ct.

Franklin, Wisconsin  53132

414-425-9060

solson@franklinwi.gov

www.franklinwi.gov