Businesspersons' Petition for Stoughton City Council.
Dear Alderpersons and Mayor Olson:
As merchants and building owners, we are NOT in favor of the Stoughton City Council approving, at its 1-28-14 meeting, the City and Kettle Park West Developer Agreement -- to construct a commercial area and WalMart SuperCenter.
o We call upon alders to TABLE the agreement at your next meeting 1-28-14.
o We call upon alders to adopt a motion to direct the city to conduct an impartial and professional economic and fiscal Impact Study of the proposed SuperCenter and adjacent commercial properties BEFORE proceeding any further with the developer.
o We call upon the alders to require that Impact Study include the future impact of the proposed U.S. Hwy. 51 Stoughton by-pass which will cause decreased traffic on present Hwy. 51 from CTH B on the north to CTH 138 to the south (Van Buren St.) and the impact of that decrease on the viability of the proposed SuperCenter over the next 30 years of the expected life of a SuperCenter. It is possible that this traffic decrease will be a contributing cause to failure of the proposed commercial area and failure of the proposed Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District.
o We call upon the City to conduct public hearings on the completed Impact Study inviting merchants and citizens from the six below communities soliciting their comments and views.
o Lastly, we question the wisdom of the City borrowing over $6 million from a bond issue at 3.4% or greater and providing the developer with over $5.1 million of taxpayer money to subsidize one small group of retailers to the detriment of another large group of 400 or more retailers in the Stoughton, Oregon, Evansville, Edgerton, Cambridge and McFarland area.
Thank you for your consideration!
Circulators: "Create A Sustainable Stoughton" (CASS) - a new group forming to support the development of the Downtown & a walkable, bikeable, youth, senior, disabled, young adult, family, environmentally & arts friendly & sustainable community with quality public schools!For more information or to join call 608-873-4886. Thank you!
Updates
January 29, 2014
im still talking to folks around town and hearing more concerns about that huge subsidy. people are really worried about how this supercenter will actually change our community so lets keep the pressure on the council.
January 29, 2014
i cant believe how quickly this is taking off and seeing so many business owners come together is honestly incredible. it feels like the city council really has to pay attention now because the momentum is just too big to ignore.
28 Comments
It is difficult to accept that our elected officials have proceded this far with Kettle West in secrecy and deception. Read the literature on Big Box development. In 10 years it will be even less of the retail options shoppers choose as the internet continues to grow as a vehicle for retail shopping. It is very difficult for many people to retire in Wisconsin due to projects like this.
As a visitor to Stoughton, the charm of the place is that it still has a bustling high street of independent shops - the building of Walmart will threaten the heart and soul of Stoughton
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Businesspersons' Petition for Stoughton City Council.
Dear Alderpersons and Mayor Olson:
As merchants and building owners, we are NOT in favor of the Stoughton City Council approving, at its 1-28-14 meeting, the City and Kettle Park West Developer Agreement -- to construct a commercial area and WalMart SuperCenter.
o We call upon alders to TABLE the agreement at your next meeting 1-28-14.
o We call upon alders to adopt a motion to direct the city to conduct an impartial and professional economic and fiscal Impact Study of the proposed SuperCenter and adjacent commercial properties BEFORE proceeding any further with the developer.
o We call upon the alders to require that Impact Study include the future impact of the proposed U.S. Hwy. 51 Stoughton by-pass which will cause decreased traffic on present Hwy. 51 from CTH B on the north to CTH 138 to the south (Van Buren St.) and the impact of that decrease on the viability of the proposed SuperCenter over the next 30 years of the expected life of a SuperCenter. It is possible that this traffic decrease will be a contributing cause to failure of the proposed commercial area and failure of the proposed Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District.
o We call upon the City to conduct public hearings on the completed Impact Study inviting merchants and citizens from the six below communities soliciting their comments and views.
o Lastly, we question the wisdom of the City borrowing over $6 million from a bond issue at 3.4% or greater and providing the developer with over $5.1 million of taxpayer money to subsidize one small group of retailers to the detriment of another large group of 400 or more retailers in the Stoughton, Oregon, Evansville, Edgerton, Cambridge and McFarland area.
Thank you for your consideration!
Circulators: "Create A Sustainable Stoughton" (CASS) - a new group forming to support the development of the Downtown & a walkable, bikeable, youth, senior, disabled, young adult, family, environmentally & arts friendly & sustainable community with quality public schools!For more information or to join call 608-873-4886. Thank you!
Updates
January 29, 2014
im still talking to folks around town and hearing more concerns about that huge subsidy. people are really worried about how this supercenter will actually change our community so lets keep the pressure on the council.
January 29, 2014
i cant believe how quickly this is taking off and seeing so many business owners come together is honestly incredible. it feels like the city council really has to pay attention now because the momentum is just too big to ignore.
28 Comments
The small businesses of any community are the heart of that community. Their store fronts, staff and owners are the faces that we remember when we think of our towns. To subsidize their obliteration seems like a poor decision if what we really want is to grow the community. Just a thought from someone who used to live in Madison and still visits friends in Stoughton.
It is difficult to accept that our elected officials have proceded this far with Kettle West in secrecy and deception. Read the literature on Big Box development. In 10 years it will be even less of the retail options shoppers choose as the internet continues to grow as a vehicle for retail shopping. It is very difficult for many people to retire in Wisconsin due to projects like this.
As a visitor to Stoughton, the charm of the place is that it still has a bustling high street of independent shops - the building of Walmart will threaten the heart and soul of Stoughton
1
1
1
1
1
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The small businesses of any community are the heart of that community. Their store fronts, staff and owners are the faces that we remember when we think of our towns. To subsidize their obliteration seems like a poor decision if what we really want is to grow the community. Just a thought from someone who used to live in Madison and still visits friends in Stoughton.