School District asks Plan Commission to delay vote on rezoning
April 13, 2012 at 5:21 am in Hudson Star-Observer
District Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten said school officials would come back to the commission with more specific site plans for the St. Croix Meadows property, and details on why other sites weren’t selected. Continue Reading
Skeptical at best. Anyone who didn’t see it in person or on cable should look for the recording to inform yourself of the issue at hand. The plan commission asked some excellent questions that need answers before the rezoning is considered. The school ran a slick campaign to purchase the land. They showed pictures of a dog track-like school with buses in front of it. They never mentioned to voters the need to get the land rezoned or the lost tax revenue, both now and potential loss in the future, for city residents. They also downplayed the need for another referendum to build the school and an unknown tax increase that would accompany it. They only told part of the story. Many voters are now feeling duped. Some thought for only $18/year they were going to get a new school.
Some great questions were raised about why the district needs 127 acres, when many high schools across the state have been built on far less. An example was given of a school in Green Bay with 2000 students that is built on 22 acres. What sort of monstrosity are we building here? Sounds like some in the community are looking for a large sports complex to built on the site too. This is not the time for grandiose school construction plans when foreclosures are at an all time high in St. Croix County and many homes are vacant throughout the area. If property taxes are raised significantly, you will see many people scrambling to get out of their homes…I doubt that will help anyone’s property values as was suggested last night.
Another point was made by a commissioner that it is very unusual to down zone from commercial to public. Can’t be disputed. With all the farm land available, it doesn’t make much sense to gobble up prime commercial land within the city limits. It is time for some of the folks in the surrounding municipalities to pony up. The city has been more than gracious with accomodating the schools over the years. Seems the town of Troy voted most heavily in favor of the purchase, perhaps it should go down there.
While the dog track has been vacant for twelve years, it has not been for sale for twelve years, I am not even sure it has been for sale for four as was claimed last night. In fact, the HSO reported one year ago that the property went up for sale. What sort of commercial interest might there be? Truth is, it doesn’t seem that the city has clear picture of that. But once the school takes it, the city will not have the chance to find out. Say good-bye to a potential corporate headquarters, or another U-Line as was mentioned last night. Those are instant, large tax revenue generators. Highest and best use of the property? Probably not a school.
The county property at Carmichael and UU, as well as the already owned 80 acres on UU were both mentioned. A property south of Rivercrest in the Town of Troy was also mentioned by the plan commission as a possibility. The commission didn’t seem convinced that all options have been exhausted. And good luck selling that property on UU–home building has all but stopped in the area. Maybe the school should keep it and actually use it as was intended when they took voters to a referendum to build an 8-9 school on it.
This matter is far from over.
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Where do I sign the petition to recall this vote? Walmart’s parking lot of the carpool parking lot??
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drove by the land we already own on UU—whats wrong with that??!?!?!
its close to the other school(s) to share resources and everthing.
run sewer/water all the way out to 12
save millions and we can still use track/its land as a tax base.
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The loss of potential commercial tax base will place a greater tax burden on residential properties. This increased burden will fall mainly on the middle class and those on fixed incomes trying to hold on to their homes. Progressive communities like Hudson realize that the regressive effects of property taxes can only be tempered by reducing services or attracting commercial development. The fact is Residential development does not lower the taxes of existing home owners. If the StCroix Meadows property is removed from the tax rolls not only will city tax payers be negatively effected but also County taxes and Vocational School taxes. The school district should take the wide view and use property already off the tax rolls to minimize the tax impact on homeowners.
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Bullseye, good post, I agree with everything you said.
Your Statement: “Seems the town of Troy voted most heavily in favor of the purchase, perhaps it should go down there”, I know for a fact that there was/ is an opportunity for this, with sewer and water running to it, but it is just beginning to be brought to light…no thanks to anyone associated with the school. I am not saying the Town of Troy would be the best option, but
I believe all options need to be publicly laid out on the table and explained and discussed before anything is decided on. I think too many people made an uninformed vote.
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Don’t forget John that the school district will also lose money in terms of future revenue potential. They take about 50% of the tax revenue currently generated from that site and all of our residential property taxes (about $50,000 per year). That means if it were to be developed in the future they would lose approximately 50% of all tax revenue generated. Seems like they don’t care a great deal about it. Given the much smaller budget the city has relative to the school dstrict, I think city residents do care about the tax revenue it will lose.
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