New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government
Ralph Heun, a 38-year resident of New Berlin, will be blogging about issues of concern to the New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government, an organization that promotes fiscal responsibility among all units of government.
City of New Berlin Master plan under attack
By Ralph Heun
Wednesday, Aug 22 2007, 12:24 PM
Re Richard Guse/ 2 lot land division
It would seem that the Department of Community Development is so desperate to defeat the aims of the City of New Berlin Master Plan that they will approve anything. The comments below show that the DCD does not observe the requirements of Section 235-26G.
The Planning Commission also voted 3-3 on the proposal and it is moving to the Common Council meeting on August 28. It would seem that the city is out of control of their departments as the departments are violating their own rules.
The New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government believe that the Common Council must follow the dictates of the Master Plan on all matters.
Several years ago the Common Council approved a Master plan for the city. It was agreed that parcels west of Calhoun Road would retain their rural characteristics with certain acreage requirements.
Mr. Guse wants to divide his 1.3 Acre lot into 2 lots, which means that the area of each would be then 29,200 +/- square feet. The average area of other lots in this sub-division is in excess of 41,000 square feet.
The City Staff report that the Executive Findings under Section 235.26G state that new lots within existing residential sub-divisions may be prohibited under ANY of the following criteria:
1. When the new lot is less than the average area of the existing lots within the sub-division, excluding unbuildable lots, or
2. When the new lot width is less than the average width of the existing lots within the sub-division, excluding unbuildable lots, or
3. The sub-division was platted more than 25 years ago.
There are 34 residences in this sub-division. At this time the residents have obtained more than 30 signatures of owners opposed to this land division. It is time to listen to the citizens!
