We, the undersigned residents, property owners, and stakeholders, formally petition the City of Muskego regarding the proposed Willow Estates Luxury Apartments at W182S8450 Racine Avenue. We ask the City to impose and enforce three clear requirements: (1) no public road, private road, gated road, emergency-access road, fire lane, pedestrian walkway, or driveway connection from the Willow Estates development to Clearbrook Drive / Cedarcrest Lane / Country Brook Estates; (2) land zoning and development approvals consistent with the neighboring community; and (3) a permanent 425-foot natural buffer / conservation area between the Willow Estates development and Country Brook Estates.

The project materials shared with the community by Brew City Capital expressly state that there will be no road connection cutting through to Country Brook Estates and that any right-of-way for a connection between the two will be vacated. The flyer states the project is a proposed 76-unit luxury rental community on approximately 11 acres east of the Willow Glen Apartments. 

The prior City record is equally important. In 2011, the Willow Glen proposal at this same property was advanced as a Planned Development with 11 new 4-unit buildings being subject to the vacation of Willow Glen Road. The 2013 Common Council resolution for Willow Glen described the project as rehabbing 32 units in four structures and constructing 44 new units in 11 structures, together with infrastructure improvements and road vacations. Most directly, the City’s 2013 right-of-way vacation resolution states that the vacations for Willow Glen Drive and the unnamed right-of-way off Clearbrook Drive were requirements of the overall development plan approval. 

The City’s adopted 2035 Comprehensive Plan says it is Muskego’s “blueprint” for future growth and that development should preserve overall community character, protect significant natural features, and promote growth and development in a way that allows change while preserving the overall community character.

Position of the Undersigned

1. No public road, private road, gated road, emergency-access road, fire lane, or driveway connection from Willow Estates to Clearbrook Drive / Cedarcrest Lane / Country Brook Estates must be permanently abandoned. 
   No connection of any kind should exist between the Willow Estates development and Country Brook Estates. This includes any public road, private road, gated road, emergency-access road, fire lane, driveway, right-of-way linkage, access point, pedestrian walkway or future reserved connection. Any such connection would be contrary to what Brew City Capital represented to the community. Any possible connection, including emergency-only access or egress, must be permanently abandoned. It is not enough to say that no road is currently planned. Any potential connection, including emergency access, emergency egress, fire-lane access, or any reserved future access, must be legally and permanently vacated, abandoned, and prohibited from future construction or use. The City record already shows that prior right-of-way vacations tied to this property were required as part of the Willow Glen approval history, including the unnamed right-of-way off Clearbrook Drive. Any fire or emergency response requirements should be designed and constructed to be internal to the development.
2. Land zoning and development approvals must be consistent with the neighboring community.
   The adjoining neighborhood should remain protected with development standards compatible with the surrounding community. Country Brook Estates’ recorded restrictions were created to protect residential value, prevent haphazard and inharmonious improvement, secure a high type and quality of improvement, and preserve and enhance property values. Any rezoning, Planned Development approval, amendment, or site approval for Willow Estates should be evaluated against those surrounding neighborhood conditions, not in isolation.
3. A permanent 425-foot natural buffer / conservation area must be required for the benefit of the existing residential lots.
   A meaningful and permanent 425-foot natural buffer / conservation area should be required between the proposed development and the existing residential lots in Country Brook Estates in order to preserve privacy, neighborhood character, compatibility, open space, storm water management, and environmental protection. Brew City Capital’s own flyer emphasizes the property’s preserved wetlands, wooded areas, integrated stormwater ponds, peaceful views, abundant wildlife, and connection to nature. Those natural features should remain in place as a permanent buffer for the benefit and protection of the existing residential lots, consistent with the City’s adopted plan.
4. No approval should be granted without full independent traffic and environmental review.
   Before any rezoning, site approval, land division, or related approval is granted, the City should require full independent traffic and environmental studies evaluating traffic, emergency access, stormwater, drainage, wetlands, wooded areas, neighborhood impacts, and public safety concerns. Brew City Capital’s own materials reference preserved wetlands, wooded areas, and stormwater ponds on the site. 

We therefore petition the City of Muskego to:

• As part of the development approval, permanently abandon and prohibit any public road, private road, gated road, emergency-access road, fire lane, driveway, right-of-way, pedestrian connection or other connection from the Willow Estates development to Clearbrook Drive / Cedarcrest Lane / Country Brook Estates. Require fire and / or emergency response requirements be designed and constructed to be internal to the development. This enforces Brew City Capital’s community shared representation.
• As part of any development approval, record or require all necessary approvals, vacations, easements, deed restrictions, and other instruments to ensure that no present or future connection can ever be constructed, reopened, reserved, or used between Willow Estates and Country Brook Estates. Legal underground utilities with the minimally required easement are not being challenged, as long as it is explicitly stated the underground easement will not provide an above ground connection to the development and the land be equally distributed to the adjacent residential lots in Country Brook Estates.
• Deny any rezoning, Planned Development approval, site approval, land division, or related approval that would permit, preserve, imply, or rely upon any neighborhood connection, emergency-only or pedestrian connection into Country Brook Estates.
• Require land zoning and development approvals consistent with the neighboring community, including protection of the surrounding residential character and adjacent property values.
• As part of the development approval, require no less than a permanent 425-foot green space / natural buffer between any new development and existing residential homes to maintain the natural beauty setting stated by Brew City Capital. The required green space / conservation area shall preserve and continue native vegetation characteristic of the area and shall be supplemented on the development property with a mix of native evergreen and deciduous trees and plants. Such plantings shall be placed, installed, and maintained on the development property so that their growth and ongoing maintenance remain on the development property, without encroaching upon or infringing on neighboring lots, and shall create, preserve, and sustain an effective year-round visual and natural buffer for the existing residential lots.

• Prior to development approval, require an independent traffic study along Woods Road and Racine Avenue corridors. Require the studies be presented to the community for comment prior to development approval.

• Prior to development approval, require an environmental study of the proposed development land and surrounding area using minimum 25-mile radius for storm water management, water quality impacts, drainage, wetlands, and impacts on properties. Require the studies be presented to the community for comment prior to development approval.

• Protect the existing character, safety, privacy, traffic conditions, and property rights of current residents.

By signing this petition, we affirm our opposition to any neighborhood connection, zoning consistent with neighboring community, and a 425-foot natural buffer. We request these concerns to be included in the official record.