MONROE - The city of Monroe's Community Improvement Committee will take some time to study whether the Green County Humane Society's new shelter should be in the Honey Creek industrial park.
The committee heard from the society Wednesday night that its No. 1 location for a new shelter is a 3.3 acre lot on West 18th Street to the west of a retention pond in the park on Monroe's west side.
Gary Kramer, a member of the society's building committee, accompanied by Nate Klassy, requested the city donate the land, or sell it, preferably under the city's $1 lot policy for industrial parks.
The new site would eventually house a animal shelter, with enough land nearby to include a community dog park and possibly a pet cemetery in the future.
Committee members had several questions about the proposal.
Alderman Chuck Schuringa raised questions about barking dogs increasing noise levels, a concern area residents have about the Badger State Ethanol facility.
Other questions centered around tax revenue lost from the non-profit facility and any offset the present animal shelter location could produce.
The proposed location would allow the shelter to be set back from residential areas; is far enough from highway traffic for safety in the event an animal escapes; and, from a study of successful aspects of other shelters, would be able to accommodate a dog walking park for the shelter's animals and community's pets. There is also land nearby that could become a pet cemetery.
Kramer and Klassy agreed the land chosen for the shelter is not good land for industrial development. The city would probably need to permit or write a conditional use into the zoning.
A 1.6 acre lot located between the 3.3 acre lot and the site of the new fire station, is on a slope, which Kramer and Klassy also do not think would be readily developed by an industry.
The committee voted to look into variables of the offer and at the lots to see whether industry would be a better fit for the city.
Committee members want to see if there might be any complications for the land used for the shelter or pet cemetery. They will revisit the issue before the next city council meeting Oct. 7, but the proposal will have to go through some city committees before it comes to the City Council.
The present animal shelter is located in an old cigar factory along Wisconsin 69. The city purchased the concrete block building in 1968 when the highway came through, and leases it at a nominal fee. The building has been enlarged, but still it is cramped and deteriorating.
The committee heard from the society Wednesday night that its No. 1 location for a new shelter is a 3.3 acre lot on West 18th Street to the west of a retention pond in the park on Monroe's west side.
Gary Kramer, a member of the society's building committee, accompanied by Nate Klassy, requested the city donate the land, or sell it, preferably under the city's $1 lot policy for industrial parks.
The new site would eventually house a animal shelter, with enough land nearby to include a community dog park and possibly a pet cemetery in the future.
Committee members had several questions about the proposal.
Alderman Chuck Schuringa raised questions about barking dogs increasing noise levels, a concern area residents have about the Badger State Ethanol facility.
Other questions centered around tax revenue lost from the non-profit facility and any offset the present animal shelter location could produce.
The proposed location would allow the shelter to be set back from residential areas; is far enough from highway traffic for safety in the event an animal escapes; and, from a study of successful aspects of other shelters, would be able to accommodate a dog walking park for the shelter's animals and community's pets. There is also land nearby that could become a pet cemetery.
Kramer and Klassy agreed the land chosen for the shelter is not good land for industrial development. The city would probably need to permit or write a conditional use into the zoning.
A 1.6 acre lot located between the 3.3 acre lot and the site of the new fire station, is on a slope, which Kramer and Klassy also do not think would be readily developed by an industry.
The committee voted to look into variables of the offer and at the lots to see whether industry would be a better fit for the city.
Committee members want to see if there might be any complications for the land used for the shelter or pet cemetery. They will revisit the issue before the next city council meeting Oct. 7, but the proposal will have to go through some city committees before it comes to the City Council.
The present animal shelter is located in an old cigar factory along Wisconsin 69. The city purchased the concrete block building in 1968 when the highway came through, and leases it at a nominal fee. The building has been enlarged, but still it is cramped and deteriorating.