MILTON — The City of Milton Plan Commission tabled a decision on the conditional use permit request for the Tower Hill Meadows Subdivision duplex development Tuesday’s meeting.
The commission postponed the decision to gather more information regarding the duplexes, which would be located on Red Hawk Drive near East Ash Lane in the Tower Hill Meadows Subdivision.
Residents Leanne Giorvigen and Jason Poje expressed worry that the duplexes might become rental properties rather than owner-occupied condos or single-family homes.
“I noticed that they were listed as being targeted for single-family homeowners. I don’t see that happening,” Poje said. “I think what you’re going to find is that they make promises, but the only people who are going to be able to afford them are landlords, and they’re going to be rental properties. It’s going to decrease property values, and those renters will not be part of the tax base that I think the city wants to see paying full property taxes. So because of the reality of the situation, I cannot support this conditional use permit unless there is some guarantee that they would actually be homeowners.”
Shana Sies, a neighbor in the subdivision, voiced concerns about the impact on trees and wildlife, as construction has already begun.
“I ask that you keep the remaining trees,” Sies said. “I’m sure there’s some type of persuasion that can be made, not only for the wildlife, but for the residents of this neighborhood. When you drive into Milton, the first thing you see is a sign that says ‘City of Trees.’ What trees? I hope we can try to keep our town honest.”
Poje also commented on the loss of trees in the area.
“When we moved here last year, we skipped over a dozen neighborhoods throughout south central Wisconsin because they were all built in the last five or 10 years and they wiped out every sense of a tree,” Poje said. “We finally found Milton. We found this neighborhood and we’re so happy we did, and to see some of those go away now is just heartbreaking.”
Mary Blaesius, another resident, said the neighborhood was not notified when construction began.
“It was a shocker,” Blaesius said. “Why weren’t we notified that this was coming so we could come here, sit and talk, ask our questions of the developer? Where’s the developer? Is he here? It seems like we’re on the outside of everything.”
Next Generation Holdings, LLC is the developer.
Blaesius also referenced a covenant on Tower Hill Estate from when she bought her home.
“Dave Schumacher created this… and in it, he specified single-family homes,” Blaesius said. “This covenant is still in existence until next year, which is probably when they want to start putting the duplexes in. But the covenant states that after it expires, it automatically continues for the next 10 years unless signed by a majority of the owners, including all of us, agreeing to any restrictions or changes.”
City officials are looking into the legality of the covenant.
“This is the first time hearing of it,” said City Administrator Paul Hensch, who requested a copy of the document.
“Just because you have that document doesn’t make it enforceable, but it is important information for us to have, and we can forward it to our attorney,” Mayor Anissa Welch said.
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