[Winona Online Democracy]
Thank you for your questions Mr.Voegeli,
Being relatively new to the greater Winona area (16 years)and certainly
new to participating
in the political landscape, I don't want anyone to think that I'm an expert.
My knowledge (at least what
I think I know) comes from the memory of former township board members,
local residents, and records
available at the town hall and county zoning department.
In answer to your questions;
1) The first phase of Springbrook was built in the mid 1980's, the second
phase in the
early 1990's.
2) The property was developed by a person named William Heise. He sold 270
acres
recently to Jason Phillips, so we're told. Mr. Phillips is clear that he is
not the only one behind
his proposed development and no records indicating Phillips financial
ability have been made public.
3) The county did not have a Comprehensive Land Use Plan in place at the
time, neither did the township.
Today, the county, township, and city of Winona all have Comprehensive Land
Use Plans in place. None
of those three Comp. Plans show Phillips property as an area planned for or
suitable as an area for urban
density housing development. The city's own plan shows growth and expansion
occurring out Hwy 43 South.
The short history of Springbrook is that Wilson Township did not see the
Heise/Phillips/Girtler valley as an
area suitable for a subdivision but did not have the zoning authority to
stop the county from rezoning it from
Ag/Natural Resource to Rural Residential. Wilson strongly opposed the
rezoning at the public hearing because of
concerns of conflicting land uses, the steepness of the slopes and
narrowness of the valley, because of the large
springs, intermittent springs, unstable soils, and wetlands that peppered
the site. Because of pressure from Winona
(who suddenly claimed subdivision authority in areas two miles outside its'
own borders) the county board of the time
approved the rezoning. The township was successful in reducing the number
of home sites requested by about
half. It is interesting to note that Mark Moeller, city planning director,
championed the rezoning request on behalf
of Heise and the city and Eric Sorensen was then acting city manager. Both
retain those positions today.
Because the county board feared a law suit over respecting the position of
Wilson in this rezoning request, it granted
the rezoning that the city championed and Springbrook was born. The result
of those actions by the county led Wilson
to create its' own planning and zoning department and Wilson today has
limited zoning authority within its' own boundary.
Wilson still cannot grant rezoning requests without county approval but the
city no longer has zoning or subdivision
authority in the two mile area outside its border with Wilson Township.
I believe that statements made over the past year by the mayor, city
manager, and other city officials regarding who
allowed it and how Springbrook was created have been intentionally divisive
and untruthful to mislead the public.
Mike
Kirschmann [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dwayne & Denine Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2005 10:33 AM
Subject: [Winona] History Behind Springbrook and Pleasant Valley Development
[Winona Online Democracy]
Mike,
The conversation about Pleasant Valley reminds me of an interesting fact I
learned about a few months ago.
Could you please tell the others about the history behind the Springbrook
development?
Some have led the public to believe that the Wilson Town Board and County
Board at the time wanted this development or at least allowed it to occur.
They have also indicated that the Springbrook development then made the
current and other annexations inevitable.
When I learned about how Springbrook really came to be and how the Wilson
Town Board and the City of Winona viewed the development, I was surprised.
I know most of the people involved in those past decisions no longer serve
but I hope the media or this listserve can help jar the collective memory
of the community.
I think there is a myth behind some people's logic regarding the
preordained nature of the Phillips property and Wilson annexation.
Could you also help with these simple or basic questions.
1. When was Springbrook built?
2. Who developed the property?
3. Did the County have it's current Comprehensive Land Use Plan in effect
then?
Thank you.
Dwayne Voegeli
July 30, 2005
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