Greetings petition signers, It was great to see the high number of citizens in attendance at both the Waunakee and Westport Plan Commission meetings this past Monday. The Westport Plan Commission has required Inspire to downsize their daycare center by nearly 50%, and the Waunakee Village Board is moving some of the properties that would be involved in the Wall project out of the TIF district. Our Westport representative reports that about a dozen people attended the meeting there. No Inspire daycare representative was in attendance, but the Westport Plan Commission made a statement that the daycare's maximum enrollment can only be 200 full or part-time students in any given time frame. This is a decrease of 150 students from previous enrollment numbers, according to statements by Bob Davis, daycare owner, in last week's Tribune. We support the daycare concept, but we will continue to have concerns with the fact that it seems specifically designed for wealthy citizens, while taxpayers foot a high bill and the owner significantly benefits financially. While the majority of residents were in attendance in relation to the Harbort Road home proposal, our goal of an enrollment decrease to reduce traffic impacts was achieved. At the Waunakee meeting, about 30 community members were in attendance. In a surprising change of opinion from the December meeting, the commissioners are proposing removal of the homes on Second Street from the proposed TIF district. The Main Street side, including the Packer house, would be within the district for potential future redevelopment such as duplexes or senior housing. We were pleased to see that many residents from the area had numerous concerns with the Wall project, such as blasting and foundation problems, traffic, noise, Hovde project grant incentives, and aesthetics. Tomorrow's Tribune article notes that "the multi-family development will create “a ripple effect,” as families who once sought affordable homes in the area decide to move." Main Street resident Mary Ellen Kearney made one comment that stood out to us: "If you plant something like the Wall project in there, that’s the kiss of death." Commissioner Pat McGowan informed the citizens in attendance that “it means a lot when people complain. You don’t want a four-story building on Main Street. I agree.” The village has also expressed an interest in using the TIF district for senior citizen housing at the current site of the American Legion post, which we disagree with. The Legion is a long-time institution in our community that provides a social organization and assistance for local veterans and service members, community event and meeting space, and wonderful Friday night fish fry. Destroying an American Legion, in our opinion, does not seem to represent the sacrifices made by veterans and service members that live in our town or seem that American in nature. It shows that our village is not interested in supporting the organization that honors our veterans and service members on a daily basis. We encourage all of you who plan on attending the meeting to tell the village to remove the American Legion property from the TIF district. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 29th (Village Hall, time TBA) related to TIF boundary changes, primarily for the removal of the Second Street properties from the TIF. If the new boundaries are approved, it will be presented at the February Village Board meeting on Monday, February 5th (6 pm, Village Hall), and then to a Joint Review Board meeting (TBA). Our efforts will continue to protect the Main Street section of homes, where the majority of affected affordable housing and all of the local businesses are located. Here are our goals going forward: Protect Main Street properties such as the Packer house and/or remove from TIF district Retain affordable housing and local businesses on the 200 block Encourage local businesses to open in the 200 block Prevent demolition of the American Legion property Remove American Legion property from TIF district Explore additional options for downtown senior housing that will not affect businesses currently operating Explore additional affordable housing options Elect Erin Moran and Joe Zitzelsberger to the Village Board Create Village Historic Preservation Commission/Historical Society Waunakee Tribune Article for tomorrow's edition: http://www.hngnews.com/waunakee_tribune/news/business/article_285c235a-df87-5070-96be-6ceaea350a62.html Thank you all for your support as we continue moving forward.