By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Residents of Spring Valley Road had a clear message for the City of Burlington Plan Commission Tuesday night.
They moved to the rural setting for a reason – and having a new Aurora Health Care facility in their backyards isn’t it.
About 20 to 30 people showed up at the meeting Tuesday night to vent frustrations over the proposed site map for the new Aurora ambulatory care facility. Complaints ranged from access points off Spring Valley Road to lighting in the parking lots, but came back to one simple point.
“You’re going to be disrupting our lives,” said Melinda Mitchell.
A certified survey map and the site plan, as well as an application to rezone the property and the start of the process for a tax incremental financing district to fund the developments, were unanimously approved.
Aurora had Michael Connor – vice president of facilities operation – on hand to answer questions, as well as Jim Kleinfeldt from Boldt Development Group, as well as consulting engineers Scott Lindvall of HGA and Steven Fisco of Graef. The three are all involved in the planning process at various levels.
A good portion of the discussion was focused on the two entrances placed on Spring Valley Road, and the one “service” entrance off of Highway 36. Lindvall said the wetlands surrounding the development dictated much of the placement of the site, and as a result, also where the entrance off Highway 36 is proposed.
Residents wanted to know why there weren’t more entrances and exits off Highway 36, rather than Spring Valley Road. When Lindvall and Kleinfeldt both explained that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation would allow just the one access off the state highway – which was just recently discovered and added to the plan – several residents pointed out that site engineers or Aurora or the city should request a variance.
Plan Commission member Chris Reesman said the DOT is strict with its deed access.
“I’ve had a lot of experience with that,” Reesman explained.
Residents continued to hammer the point, though, saying Spring Valley Road is dangerously icy during the winter, and that combined with possibility ill or preoccupied drivers would add to the problems.
Elena Spiegelhoff asked why a bike path would run to and through the facility, especially with cars coming in and out of the facility.
When Fisco pointed out that a traffic study had been completed but results were still pending, residents questioned whether the current proposal is premature.
The traffic study was done to assess the need for improvements on Spring Valley Road, which is expected to be about 2,700 trips a day spread between the three entrances/exits.
Many of the residents said they are also concerned about the lights in the parking lot coming in their windows during the night. While comments were made that the lights had been designed to aim down with opaque sides, Mitchell pointed out that the same was true at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington – and she could still read a book at night with the curtains drawn in her mother’s home next to the facility.
The general complaint, however, had more to do with quality of life – and the loss of rural atmosphere that residents had had come to expect. Many questioned why Aurora hadn’t picked another site.
Aurora’s Connor replied, saying the company had looked at a number of different sites. This was the only one, he said, that met all of the criteria Aurora had for a new facility.
He also said the site allowed for easier access for people coming from Walworth County as well as people coming from the Burlington area.
When Mitchell asked about a second site possibility, Connor answered, “We don’t have a site No. 2.”
Kleinfeldt also clarified that during the planning process, many plans were explored.
“You kind of throw a lot at the wall to see what works,” he said.
But when Kleinfeldt said he believes the plan was best for everyone – “We’re benefiting the broader community,” he said – the comment drew scoffs from those who came in opposition to the plan.
Mitchell, one of the most vocal residents at the meeting, said:
“Why do you need this here? I’m sorry, it’s wrong.”
Mayor Bob Miller said after the meeting the city would continue to work with residents to reassure them their concerns are being addressed.
“Until we get the results of the traffic study back, it’s going to be very difficult to predict what changes may or may not be needed.”
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How are they going to disrupt everyone’s live’s by providing health care to the area. As far as you guy thinking that living 1/4 mile from town is rural, you need to get out of the house more.
by adding 2700 extra cars a day, most on spring valley rd, the entrance on 36 is a service entrance
Thank you aurora health care for disrupting the lives of citizens to make a few extra dollars..THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE DONT WANT YOU THERE!! GO AWAY!! we have hospitals in Burlington and Elkhorn, you’re presence is redundant and unnecessary
In case anyone has not heard yet, the city is planning to rip up basically all of West State Street to lay water and sewer out to this site. They apparently drew up a plan and decided this last spring.
If you are concerned about the noise, traffic, and or possible consequences/costs to your services/property you may want to contact the city. Also remember a TIF is being formed to pay for this work meaning your taxes will be paying for this – unless you believe no medical facility would have ever been built in the non-blighted parts of the surrounding area but for this $5 million incentive/gift. Cheers!
Don’t put a womens shelter near my home/school! Keep those people over in the industrial area. Don’t build a medical center (that will bring jobs and consumers to our area, building the Burlington economy) near my home…etc.
People in Burlington are good with anything as long as it doesn’t affect them directly. The selfish attitudes here are pathetic.
Looks like the ones getting all the freebies from the taxpayers are the selfish ones. But hey, maybe ham’s right. you peons should just fall over like slaughtered pigs and squeal no more while the big boys eat at the trough.
I was just going to say these things. Remember the issues that people had with Gateway buying the Kmart site (which is still vacant)?
Aw Jess , Where were you complainers when the concrete prestress business on Market street started back up. I can hear the backup alarms over on Lewis st. The lights are on all night and I bet if your sitting at home reading a book those light would really be in your eyes. As for pesky rescue sirens and hammerin and nailin . They make new hammers that dont make a sound. As for the Water and sewer route ,they are going down the right of way at the south end of jennifer ct.
Meh, who needs a good paying job anyway?