The City of Fort Atkinson has released the following information regarding the creation of a new neighborhood in the recently annexed 75-acre undeveloped territory along Banker Road.
The city’s Plan Commission will be reviewing the conceptual plans for the new development Aug. 24.
According to the release: With the need for new homes on the rise in southern Wisconsin, the City of Fort Atkinson is looking to guide the creation of a new neighborhood in the city.
The city will not act as the developer for these parcels. When the concept plans are approved by the Plan Commission and the city council, city staff intends to distribute the plans widely to local, regional and statewide developers, the release stated.
The Banker Road properties, located east of the Fort Atkinson High School and south of Hoard Road, were previously slated for residential development featuring large single-family lots. However, the development fell through, according to the release, and the city council “seized the opportunity” to purchase the parcels in 2018.
In 2019 and 2020, the release continued, the city adopted a new Comprehensive Plan and a zoning ordinance, respectively. These documents, along with the increased demand for housing in the city, changed the way city officials viewed the development of this area.
In 2021, the city worked with its partners in the Town of Koshkonong to annex the land into the city and prepare it for development. This year, the city hired Madison-based Vandewalle and Associates to work with staff to prepare a plan for a new and diverse neighborhood on the city’s northwest side, the release noted.
The Neighborhood Concept Plans are now complete and ready for public view and comment. The City of Fort Atkinson Plan Commission will review these documents Aug. 24, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. The agenda and packet will be published on the city’s website on Aug. 20.
The plans include the following improvements:
- Reconstruction and realignment of the current Banker Road right-of-way.
- Reconstruction of the current Banker Road corridor as a multi-use trail, connecting the neighborhood and providing access to parkland and green space.
- Construction of wetlands and stormwater areas to be used as water features and provide visual appeal.
- Construction of a wide range of housing styles and types, including single-family residences, duplexes, townhomes, traditional ally-style homes, and multi-family residential buildings.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to shape our own destiny and guide the development of a neighborhood that meets the needs of our current and future residents,” City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire was quoted as saying within the release.
Those interested in attending the upcoming Plan Commission meeting may do so by clicking the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82214860406?pwd=TEVyUVdQM05VNFVzb0E2TUNTVnZlZz09. Use passcode: 53538.
Graphics above, as prepared by Madison-based Vandewalle and Associates, show two conceptual development plans proposed for the recently annexed and city-owned acres along Banker Road. Supplied graphics.
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