| Scott A. Berg, 5th District Alderman, Brookfield, Wisconsin |
The Shire
Summary
There is a proposal for a new subdivision, “The Shire”, to be built on the west side of Brookfield Road about midway between Blue Mound Road and Gebhardt Road. It surrounds a former landfill site that the federal government has declared a superfund site. The long time residents surrounding that site oppose the new subdivision on the grounds that it may disturb the landfill and release toxins.
Alderman Berg is monitoring the situation. The city Plan Commission is obligated by state law and local code to review the proposal.
MJS - February 7, 2005 - DA clears subdivision opponents, Brookfield group followed campaign law
MJS - May 7, 2004 - Brookfield Recall Hasn't Happened
MJS - April 5, 2004 - Developer Threatens to Sue
MJS - March 24, 2004 - Brookfield Planners Urge Moratorium on Development Around Landfill
MJS - March 24, 2004 - Alderman Targeted for Recall Resigns
MJS - March 18, 2004 - Shire Opponents Begin Effort to Recall Aldermen
MJS - March 17, 2004 - Brookfield Council Approves Subdivision
MJS - March 8, 2004 - Brookfield Panel Reluctantly OKs Subdivision Near Landfill
MJS - Feb 25, 2004 - Attorney Wants Forest Protected from Subdivision
MJS - Feb 6, 2004 - Developer Cuts 17 Lots in Subdivision
MJS - Jan 26, 2004 - State Opposes Development of 2 lots Near Old Landfill
MJS - Jan 25, 2004 - Vote for pay raises sends wrong message
The author of the letter, Dan Sutton, is running for 1st District Alderman.
MJS – Jan 11, 2004 – Attack on Alderman was Shameful
See: Brookfield Alderman’s Salary
MJS – Dec 7, 2003 - The Morning Mail - 'Shire' debate should include factual evidence
MJS – Dec 5, 2003 – Developer, Opponents Both Claim Advances
MJS – Nov 29, 2003 – The Morning Mail – “Shiregate”
MJS – Nov 29, 2003 – Discontent in the Shire (editorial)
MJS – Nov 23, 2003 – “Shire” Debate Less Than Peaceful
MJS – Sep 12, 2003 – Development Near Landfill Opposed
The following is an email sent by a concerned neighbor of the proposed project, Mr. Jim Sandstrom, to the mayor and alderman. It has been edited to remove the email addresses as indicated in <brackets>, but is otherwise exactly as sent. Please keep in mind that all letters, emails, videotapes, etc. sent to a city employee, especially elected officials, is considered part of the open record and must be made available to any member of the public on request.
-----Original Message-----
From: <Jim Sandstrom>
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 8:38 PM
To: <Mayor Speaker & Brookfield Alderman>
Subject: Shire Subdivision information meeting
Dear Mayor Speaker:
My name is James Sandstrom. My family has lived in Brookfield for nearly fifty years and over that time I have always been proud to say I live in Brookfield. My seven brothers and sisters all went through the Elmbrook school system and our combined 22 children are on the same path. However tonight that has changed forever. I attended the "informational meeting" for the Shire Subdivision and to say that this was the biggest farce of a meeting that I have ever attended is an understatement. If the city has already approved this development then just say so and let us all get on with our lives. But do not insult our intelligence with another meeting like we had tonight. With a whole seven day notice the concerned citizens of our area where able to find an attorney and get approximately one hundred people out to the meeting. The meeting starts with Mr. Ties explaining that the city did not have to hold this meeting and that in essence they where doing all of us a big favor and proceeded to hold a forty-five minute meeting and then throw everyone out of the meeting with the shallow promise of "we will try to schedule another meeting to give everyone a chance to discuss their concerns". I am sitting at my computer wondering why they wasted our time. It is very apparent that the city does not care what we think and they are going to do whatever they want.
I have asked both of my alderman and Mr. Ties what we as citizens of Brookfield could do to slow this project down and I cannot get an answer. So I will ask you. What can the citizens of Brookfield do to slow this project down? I find it hard to believe that the City of Brookfield does not have a process to properly evaluate the destruction of one of the last remaining Environmental Corridors that are home to the Butler's Garter Snake and acts as a buffer to a Super Fund Land Fill all in the name of growth and increased revenue to the city. Your people can only hide behind the statement "the land is properly zoned." I for one do not accept this.
I do not expect a response to this email since you do not return phone calls but I thought I would try.
Respectfully yours.
Jim Sandstrom
This is Alderman Berg’s reply to Mr.Sandstrom. As you can see, it is a commitment to openness and fairness, but not a decision for or against the project until the facts are known.
From: <Alderman Scott Berg>]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:11 PM
To: <Jim Sandstrom>
Cc: Jeff Speaker; Dan Ertl; Steve Ponto; Karl Schulz; Kris Schmidt
Subject: RE: Shire Subdivision information meeting
Mr. Sandstrom -
I am an alderman for the 5th district, just east of your area. I only learned about the controversy surrounding this project last night. I want to assure you that I will be studying the proposed project carefully and past experience tells me that many other aldermen will be as well. That's not a promise that I will vote against it, but I do believe you should be heard and that any development should be the best possible.
This also brings a question to my mind. If the plan commission debates on this development had been on cable TV, would you or your neighbors feel better informed? I have been advocating televising meetings as a tool to make residents more aware of what was happening in their back yards and better able to act in a timely manner.
If you would like more details on televising, see my website: http://www.scottberg.com/issues/televising.htm
A report on televising will be made at the Council meeting next Tuesday, Sep 19, and members of the public are always welcome to make comments to the Council starting at 7:45, before the main Council meeting.
Thank you.
Scott A. Berg
Alderman, 5th District
This is an email sent by 4th District Alderman Karl Schulz in response to Mr. Sandstrom.
-----Original Message-----
From: <Alderman Karl Schulz>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 11:48 PM
To: <Jim Sandstrom, Mayor Speaker, Aldermen, Staff>
Subject: RE: Shire Subdivision information meeting
Jim,
You say that after nearly 50 years of being 'proud to say I live in Brookfield', Wednesday's meeting has 'changed that forever'. I'll confess that I am confused by your statement. An information meeting regarding the proposed subdivision, 'The Shire', was voluntarily initiated by the developer, who brought in representatives from Waste Management and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address questions about the nearby closed landfill. No public hearing or rezoning is statutorily required because, as you know, the construction of single family homes on this site is a permitted use, just as the construction of your nearby home on your private property was in 1988. I'll guess that you held no informational meetings or public hearings prior to the construction of your home. I'll also guess that some area folks were quite dismayed by the development of your neighborhood, Barrington Woods, when it was built years ago.
You challenge: "if the city has already approved this development then just say so.." Alderman Steve Ponto and I mentioned when we first met at your home last week and all of us heard - several times - at Wednesday's meeting, that no formal proposal has yet been submitted to the City of Brookfield. How can the city 'slow this project down' as you demand, when no proposal has even been submitted?
You assert that "the city does not care what we think and are going to do what they want", yet both of your Aldermen immediately responded to your call, the developer and City planning department organized an informational meeting to solicit questions and concerns so that they can be adequately addressed. Alderman Ponto and I have committed to push for a public hearing so you and your neighbors may again by heard, Waste Management and DNR officials have committed to providing technical data on the landfill and environs.
Jim, you've said you and your extended family have lived much of your lives adjacent to this site, from its beginnings as a gravel pit in the 1950s, to the transition to a landfill in the 60s and finally being 'closed' in the 1980s and subsequent ongoing monitoring by owner Waste Management and the DNR. Indeed, even after observing all of these changes over the years, you and your family chose to build homes and raise your children immediately around what you describe as a 'Super Fund Landfill' and only now, 50 years on, protest the "destruction of one of the last remaining environmental corridors..." Was your concern for the Butler's Garter Snake as fervent when you broke ground for your own home?
Jim, all of us have a natural desire to protect our homes and families from threats, real or imagined, but is important to acknowledge that the proposed subdivision, 'The Shire', is entirely outside the closed landfill, as is your home. The conditions that exist in this area today obviously predate the developer's interest in this adjacent land. The developer, landfill owner Waste Management and the DNR have freely offered to provide any and all documents relating to this site and any collateral contamination and levels of increase or decrease, as one would expect of responsible neighbors (and I suspect, required by law). The existing zoning allows the owner of this land to build large apartment buildings - again, with no public hearing required - yet the developer proposes generous, single family lots intended for construction of $500,000 - $800,000 homes, and invites his neighbors to be part of the process.
Jim, we all know quite well that the developer of 'The Shire' has been a resident of this immediate area for decades, has raised his family here, desires to have his children and grandchildren live in 'The Shire'. Existing environmental conditions are no more his responsibility than they are yours or your neighbors. The citizens of Wisconsin have charged the DNR to make environmental determinations. In any case, in the past 20 years, you or any of your neighbors have been free to purchase this land and dedicate it to the city as parkland or conservancy.
I must say, there is the odor of "I got here first, somebody help me pull up the ladder" to the attitude of the hostile crowd at Wednesday's meeting. Some neighbors asked perfectly reasonable questions about contaminants from the Waste Management landfill site, which again - I must repeat - predate any talk of development of the surrounding land. But still, I have to wonder, where was the environmental concern when they purchased their homes adjacent to this site? My guess is 'The Shire' will produce no methane, will contaminate no ground water, will encroach upon no wetland.
Finally Jim, I'll have to say I was dismayed by the lack of civility displayed by you and some of your neighbors toward people whose only aim was to share information with neighbors and become aware of your concerns. I can only hope that if you purchase another parcel of land in Brookfield and wish to build - in full compliance with existing land use and zoning - that you are afforded more respect. In fact, as your Alderman, I'll insist on it.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments - I'll not be 'hiding behind' anything.
Best regards,
Karl Schulz
Alderman, 4th District
City of Brookfield, WI
Ph: 262.641.9399 / Fax: 262.641.9409
email:
kschulz@wi.rr.com