Some residents on Manitowoc’s north side aren’t happy about a possible new development.
During Monday’s (December 16th) common council meeting, a public hearing was held to rezone some commercial land for residential use and vice versa.
Residents who live near the neighborhood behind the corner of Woodland and Memorial Drive expressed their disapproval of a possible new gas station and multi-home building that’s been proposed.
Community Development Director Adam Tegan explained to Seehafernews.com that although the council approved the rezoning, “That doesn’t approve specific uses. It doesn’t approve a specific development plan. All of it has to go through the typical site plan review process.”
Residents explained during the public hearing that they were concerned with a possible increase in traffic because of the gas station and housing.
One resident also said that the reason he bought his home was because of the view of the lake.
The resident said, “If this happens, I’m going to lose most of my lakeview. I don’t know what kind of tax breaks this place is going to get. But I’m not. And I haven’t.
Other residents said, “Please put trees around the entire property line so that we don’t have to see this eyesore because I would much rather see this quiet building then see the chaos that it’s going to become.”
Another resident said, “I would like to see more daycare centers or assisted living, that would still be less of an impact with traffic in our neighborhood.”
Although the rezoning was unanimous from the council, Alderman Jim Brey explained that some residents’ concerns are valid, especially with entering and exiting the neighborhood.
“I’ll be honest with you, I think that’s a very valid point,” he said. “With that ingress, egress onto E. Horseshoe Drive does seem to be a sticking point, and I’m hoping our plan will probably take that into consideration that there should be no access for the gas station onto E. Horseshoe Drive.”
Tegan said the group looking to build the gas station and multi-family housing came to the city about two months ago and are looking at purchasing the property.
There is no design or construction happening yet.
