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By Randy Hollenbeck
Monday, Jun 2 2008, 09:55 PM
The adding of business conditions on Cudahy Station is tricky, because of the involvement of the council and CDA. If a business is not regulated by municipal ordinance or code (roller rinks hours of operation are in city code, for example), then it would be up to the Plan Commission to put any additional restrictions on a business. The Plan Commission has certain powers and they could have made any reasonable conditions, such as hours of operation, noise, landscaping, at the Plan Commission level.
However, here is the tricky part, because this is a public / private partnership between business and government (council and CDA), either or both body could ask for business conditions to be added into the development agreement, or as additional conditions (an addendum) to the agreement. The key here is ask. So far they have not asked. McCue made a mention of it in his reason for not explaining, but the conditions were not asked yet. But usually, main restrictions would be at the Plan Commission level and would have been set in advance for both parties to look at. This did not occur.
Razing fees for big box stores is something that I brought up at the first Master Plan meeting and is something that should be hammered in to any big deal. Don’t get me wrong, I want the Wal-Mart in Cudahy, but it needs to be a nice looking store and has to have the right conditions on it. I think putting in a clause that will either force Wal-Mart to find a new tenant in reasonable defined time or include something which assesses developers a fee that can be used for demolition if needed, as counterproductive to attracting new business, is needed.
We need to protect the city from unneeded and unsightly vacant sites, so-called ghost boxes, the remains of what are often big box stores left vacant when retailers downsize, relocate or go out of business.
Hours of operation – I am in support of a 24-hour store as long as crime during that time doesn’t increase. Typically, Supercenters are open 24 hours and with its location just next to Patrick Cudahy, which employs people who work all shifts, it makes sense. It would be nice when the kids get sick late at night to be able to shop close to home at anytime. The Walgreen’s is no longer open 24 hours with the closest one in South Milwaukee, I was told from a manger at the Cudahy store. I say let the store stay open for the 24-hours but watch it for crime at those hours, if after a set time period, 6, 9 months or 1 year mark, look over the crime reports. Why get all upset about something that may not happen, why not do the right thing and watch for it? It may not even be a problem.
Lighting – Work with the Police department, the city personnel and the citizens on the lighting. Make sure the lighting is very good, yet is not over done for the residents who will complain.
Noise – Use nature barriers like shrubs and bushes rather than fences where you can. It will give a good look as well as natural look and appeal. The use of Evergreens is best since it will keep its foliage year-round.
Look at these things as well - adopt a big-box ordinance that requires developers of buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to set aside 20 cents a square foot in the city's land conservation fund.
Higher architectural standards that make buildings easier to reuse; requiring developers to take out demolition bonds; and banning clauses in leases that prohibit the owner of a building, once vacated, from renting it to a retailer's competitor.
Take a look at Wauwatosa's provisions has been touted by the American Planning Association as one of the innovative ways communities can protect themselves if a retailer departs.
In the end, discussion is the best thing to do and it takes all of the parties involved to do. Without discussion, you would never know if someone would be willing to change something or if someone has a better idea.
Wauwatosa information provided by Milwaukee Journal and Wauwatosa’s Big Box Ordinance.
Wauwatosa’s Big Box Ordinance
Chapter 24.25 LARGE RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS
24.25.010 Purpose and definitions.24.25.015 Community impact statements.24.25.020 Aesthetic and visual guidelines.24.25.030 Site design and relationship to surrounding community.24.25.040 Maintenance and reuse of properties.
24.25.010 Purpose and definitions. The purpose of this section is to apply design standards and additional conditions to large developments proposed in the city of Wauwatosa in order to ensure that such developments are properly located and compatible with the surrounding area and community character, and that such developments do not negatively affect the city and property owners in the future. These large developments should present high-quality materials and design, promote pedestrian-friendly environments, encourage responsible stormwater management practices, and ensure that the development is beneficial to the community. Any developer’s agreement approved by the common council pursuant to this chapter shall conform as closely as possible to these standards, but shall have the flexibility to consider the unique requirements of the individual development. Large developments are defined as individual freestanding buildings and group developments in which the combined total of all structures and outdoor sales areas within a development (regardless of diverse lotting, use or tenancy) combine to more than fifty thousand square feet. Any single retail building fifty thousand square feet or more in size is a conditional use within any zoning district where such use would otherwise be allowed. Conditional use approval does not exempt such use from the provisions of this chapter, when applicable. (Ord. O-05-7 § 3 (part), 2005)
24.25.015 Community impact statements. The purpose of conditional use review is to provide for detailed analysis of certain land uses which, because of their scale or intensity of use, have the potential for significant impact on the health, safety or general welfare of residents, including negative effects on the environment, abutting property values, the character of the surrounding neighborhood, demand for services and infrastructure, and traffic safety.
A. At the time of submission of an application for conditional use for a property subject to this chapter, or as otherwise required by law, the applicant shall submit to the city a community impact statement, prepared to appropriate professional standards, which shall evaluate the potential impact of the development upon the factors below. The scope and detail of the community impact statement shall be subject to the discretion of the director of community development: 1. Traffic and parking conditions on site and within the surrounding area; 2. Municipal utilities and services including water supply, sewage, disposal, storm drains, police, fire protection, emergency services, schools, and other town services; 3. The physical and ecological characteristics of the site and the surrounding land, including wetlands, floodplain vegetation, wildlife habitat, and other environmental conditions; 4. The character of the community, including scenic, historic and archaeological conditions; 5. The economic impact of the project on local businesses and residents, including number and types of jobs created, amount of local labor to be used, the amount, type and location of potential spin-off development, impact of changing land use patterns and potential for development pressure on surrounding neighborhoods.
B. The costs of all studies and investigations reasonably necessary to prepare a community impact statements required under this section shall be borne by the applicant. If it becomes necessary for the city to hire outside professionals to review the impact statement, the cost of hiring the consultant(s) shall be borne by the applicant. (Ord. O-05-7 § 3 (part), 2005)
24.25.020 Aesthetic and visual guidelines. Unless otherwise specifically provided in a developer’s agreement approved by the common council, all parcels or development sites with a total of fifty thousand square feet or more of retail development shall be required to comply with the following provisions, subject to review by the design review board:
A. Smaller Retail Stores. The presence of smaller retail stores gives a center a “friendlier” appearance by creating variety, breaking up large expanses, and expanding the range of the site’s activities. Windows and window displays of such stores should be used to contribute to the visual interest of exterior facades. When principal buildings contain additional, separately owned stores, which occupy less than fifty thousand square feet of gross floor area, with separate customer entrances: 1. The street level facade of such stores shall be transparent between the height of three feet and eight feet above the walkway grade for no less than sixty percent of the horizontal length of the building facade of such additional stores; 2. Windows shall be recessed and should include visually prominent sills, shutters, or other such forms of framing.
B. Facades and Exterior Walls Including Sides and Backs. 1. The building shall be designed in a way that will reduce the massive scale and uniform and impersonal appearance and will provide visual interest consistent with the community’s identity, character, and scale. Buildings shall have at least two functional stories unless approved by the plan commission. Long building walls of at least one hundred feet shall be broken up with projections or recessions of sufficient depth along all sides, and in sufficient number, to reduce the unbroken massing into lengths of approximately fifty feet or less along all sides of the building. Projections from the facade can be used as an alternate approach. 2. Along any public street frontage, the building design should include vision windows, arcades, awnings or other acceptable features along at least sixty percent of the building length. Arcades and other weather protection features shall be of sufficient depth and height to provide a light-filled and open space along the building frontage. Architectural treatment, similar to that provided to the front facade shall be provided to the sides and rear of the building to mitigate any negative view from any location off-site and any public area (e.g., parking lots, walkways, etc.) on-site. Where the facade faces adjacent residential uses an earthen berm shall be installed, no less than six feet in height, containing at a minimum, a double row of evergreen or deciduous trees planted at intervals of fifteen feet on center. Additional landscaping may be required by the plan commission or design review board to effectively buffer adjacent land use as deemed appropriate.
C. Detail Features. The building shall include architectural features that contribute to visual interest at the pedestrian scale and reduce the massive aesthetic effect by breaking up the building wall, front, side, or rear, with color, texture changes, wall offsets, reveals, or projecting ribs.
D. Roofs. The roof design shall provide variations in rooflines and add interest to, and reduce the massive scale of, large buildings. Roof features shall complement the architectural and visual character of adjoining neighborhoods. Roofs shall include two or more roof planes. Parapet walls shall be architecturally treated to avoid a plain, monotonous look.
E. Materials and Color. The buildings shall have exterior building materials and colors that are aesthetically pleasing and compatible with materials and colors that are used in adjoining neighborhoods. This includes the use of high-quality materials and colors that are low-reflective, subtle, neutral, or earth tone. Examples of acceptable high-quality materials include: brick, wood, sandstone, and other native stone. Certain types of colors shall be avoided such as fluorescent or metallic although brighter colors in limited quantities as building trims and as accents may be considered at the discretion of the plan commission or design review board. Construction materials such as tilt-up concrete, smooth-faced concrete block, prefabricated steel panels, and other similar materials shall be avoided unless the exterior surface is covered with an acceptable architectural treatment.
F. Entryways. 1. The building design shall provide design elements which clearly indicate to customers where the entrances are located and which add aesthetically pleasing character to buildings by providing highly visible customer entrances. Large retail buildings are encouraged to feature multiple entrances. Multiple entrances reduce walking distances from cars and facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access from public sidewalks. Multiple entrances also mitigate the effect of unbroken walls and neglected areas that often characterize building facades that face bordering land uses. 2. If a building faces multiple public or private rights-of-way, it shall feature at least one customer entrance on those sides. Where the principal building faces more than two abutting public or private rights-of-way, this requirement may be interpreted to apply only to the two sides of the building facing the primary street and one secondary street. Where additional stores will be located in the principal building, each store shall have at least one exterior customer entrance, which shall conform to the above requirements. The number of entrances shall be addressed at the preliminary development plan stage.
G. Screening of Mechanical Equipment. Mechanical equipment shall be screened to mitigate noise and views in all directions. If roof-mounted, the screen shall be designed to conform architecturally to the design of the building either with varying roof planes or with parapet walls. (Ord. O-05-7 § 3 (part), 2005)
24.25.030 Site design and relationship to surrounding community. Unless otherwise specifically provided in a developer’s agreement approved by the common council, all parcels or development sites with a total of fifty thousand square feet or more of retail development shall be required to meet additional design guidelines as stated below:
A. Traffic Impacts. The applicant shall have a traffic impact study prepared according to the standard traffic methodology. In addition to the general standards of the methodology, the traffic impact study shall include weekend traffic generation and impact analysis. The traffic impact study shall also study intersections within an area designated by the city engineer to take into account the regional traffic draw of a large-scale retail establishment.
B. Vehicular Access. The use shall provide safety and protection to adjacent uses by having motor vehicles access only from an arterial, major or business district road as designated in the master plan.
C. Stormwater Management. Every application must be accompanied by a stormwater impact statement in order for the permit application to be considered. The city engineer shall prescribe the form(s) and information that shall be submitted to determine compliance with Title 18 of the Wauwatosa Municipal Code and other applicable stormwater rules. Applicants are encouraged to pursue more innovative stormwater management practices such as bioswales and pervious pavement if they are determined to be appropriate for the site by the city engineer.
D.with the amount and placement to be determined through consultation with the city forester. Species should be suitable for their location including resistance to salt damage and appropriateness for climate. Landscaping must be in compliance with Chapter 24.44 of this code and receive approval from the design review board.
E. Buffers. The use shall provide visual and noise buffers to nearby residential uses. This can be accomplished by providing a substantial building setback from a residential use or residentially zoned property that is adjacent to the site. A landscape buffer of substantial width should be provided adjacent to the site property line where it adjoins residential uses or zones. The landscape buffer should include canopy trees at regular intervals to provide noise, light, and visual screening. No other uses, such as, but not limited to, parking or storage, are permitted within the landscape buffer area.
F. Pedestrian Flows. The project shall provide pedestrian accessibility, safety, and convenience to reduce traffic impacts and enable the development to project a pedestrian-friendly, inviting image. Continuous internal pedestrian walkways, no less than six feet in width shall be provided from the public sidewalk or right-of-way to the principal customer entrance of all principal buildings on the site. Sidewalks shall also connect the store to transit stops on- or off-site and to nearby residential neighborhoods. If possible, walkways shall connect focal points of pedestrian activity such as, but not limited to, transit stops, street crossings, building and store entry points, and shall feature adjoining landscaped areas that include trees, shrubs, benches, flower beds, ground covers, or other such materials for no less than fifty percent of their length. Sidewalks shall be provided along the full length of any building along any facade featuring a customer entrance, and along any facade abutting public parking areas. Such sidewalks shall be located at least six feet from the facade of the building to provide planting beds for foundation landscaping, except where features such as arcades or entryways are part of the facade. Internal pedestrian walkways shall provide weather protection features such as awnings or arcades within thirty feet of all customer entrances, constructed parallel to the facade of the building. This is not intended to extend into the driving aisles or parking areas. All internal pedestrian walkways shall be distinguished from driving surfaces through the use of durable, low maintenance surface materials such as pavers, bricks, or scored concrete to enhance pedestrian safety and comfort, as well as the attractiveness of the walkways.
G. Central Features and Community Spaces. The project is to provide attractive and inviting pedestrian scale features, spaces, and amenities. Entrances and parking lot locations shall be functional and inviting with walkways conveniently tied to logical destinations. Bus stops should be considered internal parts of the configuration whether they are located on-site or along the street. Customer drop-off/pick-up points that may be provided should also be integrated into the design and should not conflict with traffic lanes or pedestrian paths. Special design features such as towers, arcades, porticos, light fixtures, planter walls, seating areas, and other architectural features that define circulation paths and outdoor spaces shall anchor pedestrian ways. Examples are outdoor plazas, patios, courtyards, and window shopping areas. Each development should have at least two of these areas.
H. Outdoor Lighting. The applicant must provide an outdoor lighting report which provides information on how outdoor lighting will be accomplished to minimize impacts on adjacent properties or roadways. Outdoor lighting should provide clear visibility and a feeling of security. This can be accomplished by aiming the lights down and placing hoods on them. The light element should not protrude below the lower edge of the hood. To minimize any indirect overflow of light on adjacent residential properties, the height of any proposed parking lot light standard should be as short as possible and should stair step down to a lower height when close to residential uses or residentially used properties.
I. Outdoor Sales and Storage. Areas for outdoor sales of products may be permitted if they are extensions of the sales floor into which patrons are allowed free access. Such areas shall be incorporated into the overall design of the building and the landscaping and shall be permanently defined and screened with walls and/or fences. Materials, colors and design of screening walls and/or fences shall conform to those used as predominant materials and colors on the building. If such areas are to be covered, then the covering shall be similar in materials and colors to those that are predominantly used on the building facade. Outdoor sales areas shall be considered as part of the gross floor area of the retail establishment. Outdoor storage of products in an area where customers are not permitted is prohibited. This prohibition includes outdoor storage sheds and containers.
J. Delivery and Loading Spaces. 1. Delivery and loading operations shall be designed and located to mitigate visual and noise impacts to streets and adjoining residential neighborhoods. If there is a residential use or residentially zoned area adjacent to the site, such operations shall not be permitted between nine p.m. and six a.m. (Chapter 7.46 Noise of the Municipal Code). For good cause shown, the plan commission may permit deliveries at additional times provided the applicant submits evidence that such deliveries will not negatively impact nearby residential uses. Delivery and loading areas shall be substantially set back from a residential use or residentially zoned property that is adjacent to that site. A landscape buffer of substantial width should be provided adjacent to the delivery and loading area where it adjoins residential uses or zones. The landscape buffer should include evergreen shrubs and/or trees plus deciduous canopy trees at regular intervals to provide noise, light, and visual screening. If the delivery and loading spaces are located within an enclosed building or underground, no such setback and buffer area shall be required. 2. Delivery trucks shall not be parked on the premises during nondelivery hours with motor and/or refrigerators/generators running, unless the truck noise is mitigated so that it does not significantly affect nearby residential properties. 3. The delivery and loading areas shall be screened or enclosed so that they are not visible from public streets, public sidewalks, internal pedestrian walkways or adjacent properties. The screen shall be of masonry construction and at least ten feet high or of a design approved by the design review board to screen the noise and activity of the loading dock.
K. Accessory Uses. All accessory uses must be compatible with the proposed development and be an allowed use under AA business district zoning. The parking lot shall not provide space for overnight camping, storage of vehicles, or additional activities with the exception of those uses approved under other sections of the ordinance codified in this chapter. The applicant must demonstrate that any accessory uses will not have negative impacts on adjacent residential uses, residentially zoned properties, or adjacent properties. Any accessory uses must be oriented to face away from any residential use or residentially zoned property that is adjacent to the site.
L. Temporary or Seasonal Uses. Nonenclosed areas for the storage and sale of seasonal inventory shall be permanently defined and screened with walls and/or fences. Materials, colors, and designs of screening walls and/or fences and the cover shall conform to those used as predominant materials and colors of the building. No such sales/displays shall be allowed unless reviewed and approved by the board of public works.
M. Trash Collection Area and Time Limitations. Loading areas and outdoor storage areas exert visual and noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. These areas should be gated and screened, recessed or enclosed so that they are not visible from adjoining properties and/or public streets. While screens and recesses can effectively mitigate these impacts, the selection of inappropriate screening materials can exacerbate the problem. Appropriate locations for loading and outdoor storage areas include areas between buildings, where more than one building is located on a site and such buildings are not more than forty feet apart, or on those sides of buildings that do not have customer entrances. No area for outdoor storage, trash collection or compaction, loading, or other such uses shall be located within twenty feet of any public street, public sidewalk or pedestrian right-of-way. Loading docks, truck parking, outdoor storage, utility meters, HVAC equipment, trash dumpsters, trash compaction, and other service functions shall be incorporated into the overall design of the building and the landscaping so that the visual and acoustic impacts of these functions are fully contained and out of view from adjacent properties and public streets, and no attention is attracted to the functions by the use of screening materials that are substantially different from or inferior to the principal materials of the building and landscape. In locations where applicable, refuse collection shall be subject to the time limitations in Section 7.46.060 of the Wauwatosa Municipal Code.
N. Parking Lots and Structures. Parking areas must provide safe, convenient and efficient access for vehicles and pedestrians. They must be distributed around large buildings in order to shorten the distance to other buildings and public sidewalks, and to reduce the overall scale of the paved surface. Ideally, no more than thirty percent of the total parking provided should be located on any side facing a street unless approved by the city plan commission. If buildings are located closer to streets, the scale of the complex is reduced, pedestrian traffic is encouraged, and architectural details take on added importance. No more than sixty percent of the off-street parking area for the entire property shall be located between the front facade within the front yard of the principal building(s) and the primary abutting street unless the principal building(s) and/or parking lots are screened from view by outlot development and additional tree plantings and/or berms. Landscaping shall be used to define parking areas, primary vehicular drives and pedestrian areas in an aesthetically and environmentally pleasing manner. Parking structure facades should achieve the same high-quality design and appearance as the buildings they serve. The parking structure’s utilitarian appearance should be minimized by utilizing effective design treatments such as colonnades, arcades, awnings, street furniture and other public amenities. Compatible materials, coordinated landscaping and screening, appropriate building color, sensitive lighting and signage should all be considered for garage facades. (Ord. O-05-7 § 3 (part), 2005
24.25.040 Maintenance and reuse of properties. Unless otherwise specifically provided in a developer’s agreement approved by the common council, all parcels or development sites with a total of fifty thousand square feet or more of new retail development shall be subject to the following provisions: A. The owner shall maintain the property in compliance with all provisions of the Wauwatosa Municipal Code or a plan approved as part of a developer’s agreement approved by the common council. If the property is not found to be in compliance with the code or the approved plan, the city may take action to correct the situation, after providing the owner or operator with notice of the defective condition and an opportunity to cure the alleged defective condition. Costs of any such corrective action by the city shall be assessed as a special charge against the property, to be added to the property tax bill pursuant to Section 66.0627 of the Wisconsin Statutes. B. If the facility is vacated, the owner or operator, within twelve months, shall submit, to the plan commission, a plan contemplating the removal or reuse of the facility. The time limit may be extended by the plan commission. If the owner or operator is unable to provide a plan which is acceptable to the plan commission, the city may utilize the Land Conservation Fund described in Section 20.14, Charter Ordinances, or other funds which may be made available for such purpose, to take whatever action is permitted by law to assure appropriate redevelopment or reuse of the facility.
C. Prior to issuance of a building permit for any development subject to these provisions, the building owner shall be required to contribute to the Land Conservation Fund described in Section 20.14, Charter Ordinances, city of Wauwatosa. The amount of such contribution shall be calculated based upon the number of square feet of retail space being created, and shall be as set forth in the consolidated fee schedule. (Ord. O-05-7 § 3 (part), 2005)
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By Randy Hollenbeck
Wednesday, May 28 2008, 11:32 PM
Day 23 – Still No real response from the Mayor – A real leader will admit to mistakes
Reminder of Recall Meeting Today
Thursday May 29, 2008 at 7:30 PM located at 6020 Buckhorn Ave. It is behind K-Mart in the community room of a condo complex.
People of the government are duty bound. They cannot and shall not ignore the will of the people. For if the will of the people is ignored it will have a sudden and profound impact. The word of the government will no longer be duty bound, thus self-interest will run amuck. When one’s interest is placed over the will of the people by our leaders, the chain of trust is broken.
I ask this question – What was the purpose of having the open public meeting if the Mayor was going to do whatever he wanted and not listen to the will of the people?
For the peoples’ voice means nothing to the Mayor then. Was it just to appease the people? Was it make it look like all the motions were being gone through, even though the outcome was decided before the meeting took place? Was this to deceive the people that their voice matters and will be heard?
The “NO” vote on Wal-Mart was not and is not the single reason for the recall I am told. It is about many failures of Mayor Ryan McCue in his campaign promises or pledges in his platform. Even his failure to give reasons for the vote don’t hold water. He was told not to talk about it in great detail, not no detail. This just shows the communication failure to the citizens.
Reasons
1. Did not end the ice port - Ice Port: It is time to end the Ice Port debacle – He had the chance to do it and didn’t!
2. Has not concentrated on keeping businesses in Cudahy. How many businesses has Cudahy lost in compared to gained?
3. Has not made it easy and attractive for new businesses to locate in Cudahy – Ask the new businesses if he is pro-business?
4. Did not vote correctly to the land use issue, made it about Wal-Mart, at that point the name on the side of the building was not the issue at hand
5. Stated in State of the City address he is working 50-55 hours are all the time he claims verifiable?
6. Made statements of I was frustrated that the mayor scheduled numerous closed session meetings, excluding the public. – and yet had closed meetings.
7. Made statements of Taxes and our taxes have increased: The City of Cudahy followed by the Cudahy School District both had higher tax increase than the county. The best way to lower the property tax burden is to grow the tax base though positive economic developments. Costs to run a city continue to rise, therefore it is vital that the mayor runs an efficient operation. 2007 Tax Bill Increases
Hohenfeldt City 3.8% plus a new $20 garbage fee
McCue County 0.4%
Did the taxes not go up?
http://www.ryanmccue.com/Platform.html
http://www.ryanmccue.com/Taxes.html
http://www.ryanmccue.com/IcePort.html
I once heard or did I read it, a statement that fits very well in the citizen’s right to petition a recall with the intent to change the leaders of government. It went like this: A quote from the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness
Read the whole Declaration of Independence Here
Iceport developers file claim of fraud
Cudahy rejected Wal-Mart for parcel
By DON WALKER
dwalker@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 28, 2008
The developers of the defunct Iceport project have filed a multimillion-dollar claim against the City of Cudahy, saying the city committed fraud by rejecting a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the same parcel.
In its claim, Sportsites attorneys said they would seek at least $7.5 million in damages, and perhaps more than $20 million from the city. Such a notice often is a precursor to a lawsuit.
The dispute centers on a parcel south of E. Layton Ave., between S. Nicholson Ave. and Sweet Applewood Lane. It was on that site that Sportsites had proposed a development that included Iceport, a multi-rink ice center.
The Iceport project never materialized. Last year, as part of an agreement to settle a legal dispute with the city, Sportsites agreed to sell the parcel to Continental Properties Co. to develop the site. Under that arrangement, if Continental failed to develop the site, the city would take back the parcel.
Continental eventually proposed an $11.5 million development plan for the city, which included construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter. At a May 5 meeting of the city's Plan Commission, Mayor Ryan McCue cast the tie-breaking vote to reject the project.
McCue didn't initially explain his vote, but he later said he was advised by city lawyers not to discuss his decision because of ongoing litigation with Sportsites. He did say in a letter to the Journal Sentinel that the city could do better than a big-box retailer at the site.
The Plan Commission is expected to meet June 10 to reconsider a modified version of the Wal-Mart proposal. The deadline for the land sale is July 1.
McCue referred questions about the claim to Cudahy City Attorney Paul Eberhardy.
Eberhardy said Tuesday that he disagreed with some of the assertions in the claim.
"It's odd and a little disconcerting that this notice is filed a mere week before the matter comes back before the Plan Commission," he said. "Frankly, it smacks of intimidation."
In the notice of claim for damages, attorneys Brad Hoeschen and Marty Greenberg contended that the city's and McCue's interference "caused Sportsites to lose the entire value of the Continental contract as well as additional damages.
"Sportsites would not have entered into the contract with Continental nor would it have entered into the stipulation for foreclosure with Cudahy if it had known that McCue had no interest in approving a Wal-Mart for the site."
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756150
Did I not tell you a lawsuit was coming? Yes I did!
The thought is that McCue’s personal dislike for Wal-Mart instead of looking at this with Mayor’s open eyes, that his interference "caused Sportsites to lose the entire value of the Continental contract as well as additional damages.
Filed under: Cudahy, Leadership, Mayor, Meeting, Milwaukee Wave, Policy, Recall, retail, Taxes, Wal-Mart, Wave
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By Randy Hollenbeck
Monday, May 12 2008, 11:21 AM
Wave may look to Oak Creek for training academy The Milwaukee Wave and Continental Properties Co. Inc. may be looking to Oak Creek as the site for a soccer training academy and Wal-Mart Supercenter. The Cudahy Plan Commission rejected the Wave and Continental's proposal May 5 to build a 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer facility at the abandoned 26-acre Iceport site that also would have included a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a hotel and other retail stores. The proposal to build the project in the Cudahy tax incremental financing district was defeated by a vote of 4-3. "We were stunned, but there's plenty of land available in Oak Creek in tax incremental financing districts," said Mike Lafferty, president of the Wave. Lafferty declined to reveal specific sites in Oak Creek.
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/12/story13.html
Day 7 – Monday May 12th 2008 - Still No response from the Mayor, but a new home for Wave & Wal-Mart 5 miles away in the O.C.
Maybe the Wave with Wal-Mart will offend Oak Creek
One starting observation to rid the mind of cobwebs, wake up the thought process, to be coffee for the brain – How is the Iceport the gateway to Cudahy?
Gateway - any passage by or point at which a region may be entered. So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway?
So the NO crowd will complain no matter where it is!
Layton & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee
College & Pennsylvania – Gateway to Cudahy from Milwaukee
Lakeshore Drive – Gateway to Cudahy from South Milwaukee and St. Francis
So no matter where the Wal-Mart is located is that not a gateway?
Sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings!
On to the apology
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I do have to publicly apologize to Mayor Ryan McCue. Many of you have known that I have been pretty harsh on our Mayor about the importance of “Communication”. I have been very critical of him for a failure of “communication” with the citizens, mainly in written format. I was wrong. I am deeply sorry!
On the Mayor’s website (http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html), he talks deeply about “Communication.”
It is my fault for one, wanting the “Communication” to be a two-way street and two for it to be in written format. We see “Communication” differently. I actually think “Communication” means to communicate to the people.
Nowhere does he articulate that “Communication” would be either in his platform. How about open communication to the citizens? Is that in there? NOPE!
I guess we didn’t read the fine print. Bait and switch, bait and switch. Where is Ryan McCue the reformer? Would the real Mayor please stand up! You have heard me say that before.
Please accept my deepest apology on this matter. One final thing, Mr. Mayor Ryan McCue, is being silent on the issue to why you voted “NO” and not explaining yourself, open communication? “I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve”?
If McCue thinks that silence, and ignoring the people is RESPECT…Wow, we do have a bigger problem on our hands then Wal-Mart. Instead of standing up, just give your resignation and allow a real Mayor to step forward!
Maybe the Mayor is too good for us. Maybe somewhere in Illinois is better. McCue is right “we can do better” – he was just talking about a Cudahy Mayor.
What is forgotten in the whole mess is the vote was about the usage of the land. Store names should not have played into it at this time.
When Ryan McCue ran for mayor, he campaigned on his frustration of closed-door meetings on his website, and in his attacks. When they were working out the 6-month extension for the Iceport lawyers, and all the meetings of the council and CDA regarding this MOU with Cobalt on Penn and Layton, the meeting notices all talk about going into closed session. What happened to his idea of open government? Maybe I was wrong about this as well!
I will leave all of you with then candidate Ryan McCue’s “Communication” talk in written format. Courtesy of http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html
Communication
Once elected as you Mayor, I will carefully listen to all the points of view of my constituents and then make to best decision for the majority of the people. My record proves that I am committed to having open communications. As your Milwaukee County Supervisor, nearly every month since June of 2002 I have held “Round Table Discussions” to listen to what is important to my constituents.
Residents: I will return your phone call in a timely fashion. I will treat residents with the dignity and respect they deserve. Once elected as your Mayor, I will host “Meetings with the Mayor” to afford residence an opportunity to learn more about city issues, give suggestions and ask questions.
Businesses: Working with the Cudahy Chamber of Commerce to improve the local economy is a top priority for me. I will re-institute breakfast with Mayor for Cudahy’s businesses.
Common Council: As a former Alderman, I understand the importance of having open communications with the members of the common council.
City Employees: It is important to have open and honest communication with city employees. Once elected as your mayor, I will host brown bag lunches with city employees to discuss city issues.
One Final thought(s)…
(My wife says I truly never have a final thought)
I know one of hang-ups to the Wal-Mart was the fact it would be open 24 hours. To me it makes sense since it is just next door to Patrick Cudahy and other jobs that run around the clock. It works perfect for the workers who would like to shop. As Lisa Nelson from Wal-Mart said, "A 24-hour operation is not for us," she said, "it's for our customers. We're not making a lot of money in the middle of the night."
I guess it is okay to over look who can benefit from shopping at the Wal-Mart, everyone. Where are people who work at odd hours to go?
Demand and Ask for honest answers for the hard questions.
McCue wants to do what he wanted and that was not allow Wal-Mart at all costs, those costs are to the citizens in the loss, he is answerable to us. His decision not to explain himself is unacceptable and unreasonable; maybe there is a way around just to remove him based on mental incapacity or failure to do his job properly. I have to agree with a caller to the Jay Weber show “No public official has the authority to arbitrarily make decisions”!
I have been saying the Mayor needs to clue people in on the game plan for months. Does he have one? What is the BP (battle plan) for the problems in Cudahy?
People, I am not writing to just bash the Mayor. These are important things a leader should be doing. Maybe he has no clue besides the personal things he allows to govern over himself and us. He is supposed to be answerable and accountable to the people, and he is not answering the call from people and I am not talking about his phone use.
I would like to put to rest that McCue did not campaign against Wal-Mart or keeping them out of Cudahy as some have wished, but the use of tax dollars going to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart didn’t ask for any money.
Here is what the Mayor said, “Wal-Mart: I do not think that the City of Cudahy should provide a $12 million tax subsidy to the world’s biggest retailer. Residents may not even see the tax benefits from the development for 20 years” http://ryanmccue.com/Platform.html
Again, they didn’t and I agree we do not need to give Wal-Mart a tax break!
So, it is bait and switch.
Is McCue an elitist? A Mayor is more then just doing what you want!
It is doing right by the city and its people. McCue has done none of this. He is just doing his own thing and not explaining it, because he doesn't want to or have to. He is getting in the way of progress in the city.
K9 unit, gangs, violence – the K9 is not 100% the answer, but a huge factor. It is another tool the police can use.
Wal-Mart – It is not the silver bullet, but an economic clog in the wheel, a piece of the puzzle. People are not busting down the doors to get in Cudahy, we are much like Cuba in many ways. Just think about it!
This is round one - The people pushing for Wal-Mart ousting seem to be winning these battles. But will they win the war?
It is a win, be it a small one, that the Mayor is silent for Wal-Mart. Maybe there is hope a real Mayor who doesn’t govern by personal thoughts, but sound plans will come forward.
Maybe it will be Joseph Mikolajczak who is tough on crime, Joe Henika who is tough on taxes, or maybe Joe Halser who is pro-business that will throw their hat(s) in to the ring. McCue is none of these.
To use the NO Wal-Mart crowd’s battle cry, anything is better than McCue! No wait – I did change a key word there!!!!
On Second thought – No, I am not sorry on any counts!
A few people said they just about missed my thoughts that I include in the April Top 10 post because they keep up with my daily posts and if it was not that they just wanted to see the order, it would have been missed. I have included them again in this post.
I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts. You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause. I am not a reporter, but a commentator. I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda. I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read. I do it because I think it needs to be said. I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.
Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light. When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it. Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog. Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him! This is about his job performance period! We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.
Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:
“Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it. We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do. There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!
Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening. We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it. You are a voice that matters! You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy! You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle! Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!
Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!”
Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown. The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information. I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done. I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation. If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying! People, if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening. Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly. Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone? Fair is fair. That is a hypothetical, but watch, it might just come true.
I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light. More and more people are emailing me with things. These are very reliable people and trustworthy people. Together we can all make a difference. I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things. The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.
http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/18804009.html Please go there a watch the video and read the comments after
WAL-MART HATERS
By Charlie Sykes
Story Created: May 9, 2008
Story Updated: May 10, 2008
Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue... and these guys:
And more..... here they focus on the role of unions in Wal-Mart hating (WARNING GRAPHIC LANGUAGE; GRAPHIC IMAGES, NUDITY):
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Time for another installment of Idiot Politician of the Week. I didn’t want to, but I felt I owed it to them somehow.
Welcome to Cudahy where the mating call is, “I’m so drunk.” Yes, the punch line of Milwaukee County is too good for Wal-Mart. Casting the deciding vote was Mayor Ryan McCue. You may remember him from such documentaries as “Screw the Taxpayers” and “Your Milwaukee County Board: Good Work If You Can Get It.” According to McCue, well…, nothing. He’s refused to say why he’s opposed to Wal-Mart. He prefers to remain silent and be thought an idiot rather than open his mouth and remove all doubt.
Filed under: Constitution, Cudahy, Economy, Law, Leadership, Master Plan, Milwaukee Wave, Police, Policy, Rant Rave, retail, Wal-Mart, Wave
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By Randy Hollenbeck
Sunday, Apr 6 2008, 03:06 PM
It was requested that I do a monthly review of the most looked at topics I wrote. I will run down the top 10 and give a small overview of each.
Some of these have an unfair advantage because they are older and have had the chance to be looked at longer. By far, the shorter time Wal-Mart articles have more people view them quicker. Many people still want to hear about Wal-Mart from both sides of the issue.
People keep emailing me offline in private and that is good. I would like people to start making comments. The South Shore viewers don’t seem to want to publicly comment, by how many private emails I get vs. the comments feature used.
- The Mayor and I – I talked about the fact that Mayor McCue and I were mentioned in the OnMilwaukee.com article In Bars & Clubs and how the Mayor may or may not feel about bars in Cudahy. You can make up your own mind.
- Cudahy Wal-Mart Time Line – I talked about and laid out the time line for the IcePort and the Wal-Marts and how we have gotten here. I pose some questions that still remain unanswered.
- A Wal-Mart Hypothetical – I talked about “what if” someone voted NO that had connections to Wal-Mart’s competition and why they voted the way they did and what should happen. Just a hypothetical, right?
- Soccer Economic Impact – I talked about and had info from other cities on how soccer tournaments economic impact were positive for the cities involved and how having a training facility would be even bigger boost.
- Death Penalty – I give my viewpoint on the death penalty while the high court weighs in on lethal injection for Death Row Inmate.
- Crime Part I – How to Reduce Crime In Cudahy – I talked about what can be done to reduce crime in Cudahy. This is a six part series.
- State of Cudahy Address – I talk about what I would have liked to see in the Mayor’s State of Cudahy Address
- Wal-Mart What If – I talked about other possible locations and what if they are working behind closed doors with the city. Had a very good comment from an informed reader.
- Lawn Care Part I – Correct Time and Fertilizer Selections – I talk about the correct time and proper fertilizer selections to have an awesome lawn using the EMIL method.
- What If Not Wal-Mart – I talk about what should go there if not Wal-Mart as asking the question, I showed some awesome pictures of the proposed Austin Texas Wal-Mart. These are truly beautiful.
My fastest one day viewer-ship was History Repeating – This is where I talk about the proposal of closing a school and how in a few years we will be asked to build a new one. We can learn from history if we choose to.
Filed under: Constitution, Crime, Cudahy, Culture, Death Penalty, Milwaukee Wave, Policy, retail, school, Top 10 Review, Wal-Mart, Wave, Wisconsin
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