Village of Sussex – A reluctant village board uanimously approved a developers’ agreement that will allow Brookfield developer/entrepreneur Art Sawall to build four apartment complex’s near the downtown business district that will provide about 400 apartments and duplexes.
Four trustees expressed concerns and reservations about the proposals but were told by Assistant Village Administrator Melissa Weiss that they needed to adopt the developers’ agreement in order to take advantage of a low interest financing for projects in a recently expanded downtown business tax increment financing district.
There are two vacancies on the seven member board. Village President Greg Goetz urged adoption of the agreement.
Earlier in the meeting, the village’s financial consultant reported that the village had saved more than $100,000 on interest payments on the bonds because interest rates for the bonds were lower than expected.
Trustee Robert Zarzynski argued there were too many apartment buildings and not enough commercial properties included in the proposal.
Trustee Lee Uecker questioned whether Sawall had any commercial or retail tenants committed to the projects.
Trustee Pat Tetzlaff expressed concern that one of the buildings would be a four story tall apartment building that would dominate downtown business and residential neighborhoods.
Weiss told the trustees that the plan commission and architectual review board could insist on design changes for the buildings.
She added that if the village wanted to attract new commercial and retail developments it needed to increases its residential population, particularly along the Main Street corridor.
The board finally adopted the agreement after village Attorney John Macy added a condition to the agreement that Sawall, the plan commission, and the architecutal review board would be informed of the concerns expressed by the village trustees.
By Kelly Smith
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