1. What are the future plans for the northwest corner of Germantown once sewer and water are in the area? This opens up the likelihood for even more development beyond this initial business park.

The business park proposed for the Holy Hill area is consistent with the intent of the 2020 Land Use Plan that this area of the Village be developed for commercial purposes and builds upon a community-wide planning process that was completed in 2004, modifying the intended use from mixed use to industrial.

Significant economic growth in southeastern Wisconsin is creating development opportunities and pressures along the entire interstate corridor from the Wisconsin border with Illinois to the north along Interstates 41 and 43, and west along Interstate 94. Once sewer and water service are extended to the Holy Hill interchange it is more likely that additional development will occur in the area, as envisioned in the Village’s 2020 Land Use Plan. If water and sewer are not extended, development may still occur in the area. However, the nature of the development may be less value added and less desirable.

2. What effect is the addition of a deep well for this development going to have on private wells in the future? Residents will be responsible for the cost to either drill deeper or hook up to public water if any problems arise. Construction of a water tower is scheduled for 2021.

Under state law, Tax Increment Financing may be used to fund water and sewer system improvements that are related all or in part to development within the Tax Increment District. The proposed project plan for TID #8 includes funding to contribute to the addition of a well, a water tower and sewer lift station upgrades.

These water and sewer system improvements do not need to be located in the TID but can be placed anywhere in the Village. They may or may not be located in the Holy Hill area. Municipal wells are typically much deeper than private residential wells and usually do not impact those wells. Based on the information that is currently available, Village Public Works staff are confident that if a deep municipal well is located in the Holy Hill area it would not have an impact on nearby residential wells.

3. The Village has expressed interest in closing the TID as soon as possible – will they bring in any business just to close the TID soon than 2038? Do residents have any say in what businesses go in? We have not been permitted to have a say so far.

There are limits to the ability of the Village and residents to control decisions made by private property owners. The Village can and will manage the types of business that locate in certain areas through zoning laws and building codes. However, the Village does not generally have the authority to place controls over the sale of private property.

4. Why is this project moving so quickly? Public notice was given on May 31st for a listening session one week later. How long have they known about this? Final approval is set for July 10th. Why is the Village on the buyer’s timeline instead of the residents? Briggs and Stratton is not looking elsewhere – does no one else want them?

The Zilber Property Group first presented a development proposal to Village staff on March 29th. The Village Administrator informed the Village Board in a public meeting on April 2nd that he had been contacted regarding a large development with a quick turnaround requirement. This information was reported in multiple local media outlets.

The Briggs and Stratton facility represents an unusually large investment in the Village of Germantown with an assessed value of at least $28 million. Multiple communities in southeastern Wisconsin put together packages in an attempt to attract that investment. However, Briggs and Stratton has selected the Holy Hill site in the Village of Germantown. Briggs and Stratton has business related time constraints that they are working under that are a significant factor in their locational decision.

5. Would a Milwaukee County bus route ever be considered to the business park? The bus has had routes into a G-town business park before.

Milwaukee County has eliminated most bus routes to suburban business parks due to lack of funding. It is unlikely these routes will be restored.

6. Will the blasting for this project have any effect on homes in the area? Previous blasting on this property caused damage to homes.

The Village will be designing sewer and water lines to minimize blasting in order to reduce costs as well as disruption to nearby residents. While the amount of blasting necessary for onsite construction is not known at this time, it will likely be less than on previous projects due to the slab on grade construction for this project.

7. What kind of impact will this have on traffic, noise and light in the area? The business park will inevitably create more of each of these.

The Village is currently completing a traffic analysis to determine specific traffic impacts and to identify traffic control improvements that may be necessary along Holy Hill and Goldendale. It is likely that most of the traffic in and out of the business park will be traveling along Holy Hill to Interstate 41 and will not travel east on Holy Hill or on Goldendale.

The business park will create more noise and light than the current farm fields. However, any buildings constructed in the business park will be required to comply with Village building codes to minimize impacts on neighbors.