MONROE — In the second of two public hearings regarding the proposed Redevelopment Authority Project Plan on March 20, six people addressed the authority with concerns and questions about the plan now slated to be approved by council members Monday.
Resident Steve Elmer referred to planning consultant Dan Lindstrom of Madison-based advising and planning firm Vierbicher as contradictory to himself and that if the commissioners agreed with Lindstrom, they were “out of touch with reality.”
Elmer criticized the emphasis on high-density development, noting he understood encouragement of projects, “but I don’t think it needs to be downtown.”
“Bigger is not better,” Elmer said, noting that he has lived along 8th Street and 16th Avenue for 60 years. “Additional development carries with it additional costs.”
He also said there was no clear rule in the RDA bylaws about condemning property.
“You can’t make these rules up as you go along,” Elmer said.
However, members of the commission clarified that with the lack of outlined rules in the bylaws, the authority defaults to state legal requirements. Lindstrom also noted that work outlined in the project plan is not recommendation his firm has made, but rather are guidelines included in the 2015 Comprehensive Plan and goals of Tax Increment Finance District 7, which envelopes the downtown area.
Elmer criticized calling such a large area blighted, which planners have noted is a broad term, ranging from descriptions such as chipping paint to knocked in windows and deteriorating structures.
“How is declaring the downtown area as blighted possibly going to show community pride?” he asked during his time to speak.
Lindstrom reiterated what other officials have said during public meetings regarding RDA plans. He said condemnation of buildings is not the goal and that the city has reconstituted the authority to upgrade properties with a “carrot approach versus the stick approach.”
Jordan Nordby, executive director of Main Street Monroe and downtown resident, had a different perspective on the project plan.
“We think fantastic things are going to happen,” Nordby said, adding that local property owners in weeks since public forums on the topic were held had approached him with gratitude for a plan to contribute to the community. “We’re supporting this and good things are coming in the future.”
In its initial steps, the RDA looks to establish programs which can help property owners improve structures throughout the first designated district. With success, the RDA may designate new districts for programs to be used throughout other parts of the city in the future.
Martha Etter, a 6th Street resident, said she was concerned over the limitations of the recently proposed RDA District No. 1. Etter asked why the entire city could not be eligible for updates, noting that it was unfair to some residents that they would not be able to receive the benefits of RDA loans or grant support.
“I’m concerned because I think Monroe is starting to look very tired in many places,” she said, adding that even small things like cleaning up yards and basic maintenance have been neglected.
RDA Commissioners Dave Wartenweiler, Ryan Ziltner and Ron Markham were absent from the meeting. All four members of the RDA present, including Phil Rath, Michael Boyce, Ron Spielman and Charles Koch, recommended the project plan to Monroe Common Council for consideration during its meeting on Monday.