Letter to the editor: new planning documents impact opportunities for landowners

I sent a letter to members of the Fort Atkinson City Council on the morning of Feb. 17 with regard to their plan to vote into law new planning documents that would affect landowners in and around the city of Fort Atkinson. 

Though twice it was said affected landowners were notified, our family never received such notices.

In our opinion, new ordinances and included plans certainly don’t maintain landowner rights. If adopted they will be administered by one person function with emphasis on the conditions of Mr. Selle’s “however” statement presented. It’s all about how they are administered on the ground by a single individual, and the potential created for a single person to have a heavy hand. 

In our case, we became concerned about alleged conversations that may have been taking place without us and discussions on social media, which may have affected our asking price.  

At this point, when hearing from one prospective buyer our family felt obligated to protect our rights under R-2 zoning. We felt the need to retain legal counsel.  

Under the new ordinances, the city would have more clout when considering building permits in the township. 

All landowners within the 3-mile extraterritorial area beyond the city limits need to know how they will be affected. In our case, our land languished on the market for almost two years during the hottest market our state has seen in some time. Our price dropped below our realtor’s average asking price for equal land and few offers were made.

Our land is now sold, the closing just two days before the final meeting.  

The council may want to be cautious about contradicting county zoning. They may spawn indefensible challenges. For the record, the land in the “bullseye” on your exhibits is zoned R-2.

As for green space and trails, Mr. Selle was right when he told you green space and connecting trails are not well thought out.  

We believe ideas worth entertaining have since been removed from the planning process. 

Errors are contained in mapping for green space and parks. Property lines including parks are incorrect. Another error shows a park symbol over existing occupied homes. Tearing down homes for parks is probably not the intent of this plan.

It may not be known, but our family pursued creating a nature preserve on around 9 acres of forested land. It would have been dedicated to educators and staff of the Fort Atkinson school system.

Our family worked to garner broad local support. Jefferson County parks committed to applying for Stewardship grants for 1/2 the asking price, the family would donate 1/4 of the price, and the rest to be raised by fundraising.

Major leaders of local industry committed to capital investments for trail creation, signage, and maintenance. An area foundation suggested its broad support. Our family was then willing to annex it into the city.

The new nature preserve would have provided linkages connecting Jones Park, Luther School, and Purdy School to the Mush-ko-see-da town nature preserve to the south.

It would have also served the school system with an educational opportunity for students within walking distance of the preserve.

Rather than developing, those plans were rejected. We were disappointed with what we deemed as a lack of support from city officials. 

Green space is an important selling point the other communities seem to recognize. They have interconnecting trails and continually new green space. Other cities seem to think these features make them more marketable.

A council member questioned the approval of the planned mapping removing trails and green space prior to a thorough study being completed and incorporated into the proposed ordinances and plans. 

When left to developers, as the city seemingly proposes, they will simply disappear.  

The need for future planning is understood. Broad public involvement, green space, trails, and landowners’ rights deserve a place at the table. 

Fort deserves better.  

Sincerely,

James C. Merriman, Trustee

For: Robert and Dorothy Merriman Trust

Fort Atkinson