On Tuesday, December 3, the residents of Oconomowoc got their first look at new preliminary development plans for Pabst Farms.
The 210 acre plot of land has been a point of interest for the community for quite some time, with people wondering how the site of the former model farm would be incorporated into the suburban area.
Oconomowoc’s Committee of the Whole held a monthly meeting shortly after the Common Council meeting this past Tuesday, where the Council and public came together to discuss the development.
Community feedback raised concerns about the amount of multi-family unit housing intended for the property.
Cobalt Partners and members of the Pabst Farms Development team presented their plans to include about 720 different non-owner occupied living spaces. These would consist of single family, attached single story homes, garden style homes, and three-story apartment buildings. Each of these properties would only be available for rent and would not be sold to individual buyers.
Alongside these residences, there are also plans for retail and office spaces.
Some of the Alderman’s in attendance questioned why the plan would require tax incremental financing from the city, whether there would be traffic issues, and how the properties would be maintained.
Oconomowoc’s Plan Commission also discussed the plan for the Oconomowoc Historical Museum to be rezoned. Previously, it has been zoned as a residential property. City Planner and Zoning Commissioner Jason Gallo recommended that half acre plot be rezoned as Institutional / Public District.
Additionally, plans were officially submitted for the construction of a new Shorewest Realty office building at 1229 Roebuck Drive. Gallo recommended the approval of the site’s development as well, as the major redesign was properly zoned, at an existing legal site, and complies with requirements.
As the 1,500 acres of Pabst Farms are built out, residents have been hesitant to accept the changes as concerns over traffic, infrastructure, and lane use continue to remain relevant.
Nearby homeowners have expressed concerns that nearby commercial and high density development could impact property values. For years, residents have voiced concerns about how these projects could negatively impact their quality of life and their home values.
Changes to the upcoming mule-family developments will be reassessed by Cobalt as they consider how to move forward with the project.
