Based on the Plan Commission meeting of 5/31, it appears as if the Shoppes at Wyndham Village will proceed without substantial changes to its site plan or architecture. In fact, more than one player commented to the effect of "the plan is essentially as it was in the beginning of the process." And they said this proudly.
So the full house assembled were treated to some mighty tasty ingredients. A Starbucks, a spa, a bistro, maybe a Qdoba. Mark Carstensen showed his PowerPoint presentation, peppering his remarks with affirmations; "You ask yourself, why are we even putting landscaping in front of these buildings? That's how beautiful they are." "Looks absolutely great." "Absolutely gorgeous." "Beautiful architecture." And some of it was very nice.
But hardly anyone was buying the line on the crapulent, lazy Target design. "Significant expensive enhancements," we were told. The picture showed a typical Target facade in ugly contrast to the rest of the elevations. The two Target reps who attended the meeting were nearly unable to disguise their condescension; when asked why not a more upscale design to suit the site, the Target suit reminded the assembled that they were, after all, only Franklin. Why waste resources on a community with high property taxes, ready to bite at anything? After all, the mayor himself had inserted a note of desperation by saying at the top of the meeting, "If we don't act quickly, the opportunity will pass."
Fast Track
Clearly, the city of Franklin wants this project to proceed. The possible tax revenue, an (arguable) offset to property taxes, is a powerful carrot. Franklinites - myself included - desire the types of businesses that it may bring in initially, crappy site plan notwithstanding. Who cares about the development of the rest of the City Civic Center District? (To underline the point: Mark Carstensen expressed surprise and claimed ignorance when he was reminded that the site required an easement along its easternmost border for eventual road access to future adjoining developments.)
But Shoppes does not yet have all of its permit and approvals. In fact, the site map that the Plan Commission was there to discuss was new (changes needed to be made when the Army Corps of Engineers forced the developer to recognize an additional wetland) and given to them that evening. So much for having time for close review; Commissioner Kevin Haley - - who should be commended for speaking truth to power in a "done deal" atmosphere - - rightly complained about the 11th hour switch. The change, he explained, forces changes to the site intensity calculations, the natural resource protection plan (specifically changing the woodland impact numbers), the grading plan (basin locations and size), the stormwater basin review by the city's consultant, the landscape plan/landscape ratio, and the mitigation plan.
But, c'mon - - a new Target! A Starbucks! A spa, for gosh sakes!
Bring on the Shopping
The room was filled, and 80% of those attending were elderly people apparently mobilized by Casper Green, president of the Franklin Senior Citizens group and recent inductee into the Milwaukee County Senior Hall of Fame. Evidently, they were there mainly to support the new shopping opportunities that Shoppes would bring to Franklin.
The irony is this: Many of these senior citizens were getting around the room rather slowly, using walkers and canes or toting oxygen tanks. It appeared to bother them not a whit that the Shoppes site plan plainly makes it impossible (or, at the very least, death-defyingly difficult) for many persons of their age to traverse the gauntlet of landscaping islands and curbs that make up the Shoppes' meager “pedestrian plan.” Should they decide they’d like to get a coffee after picking up fresh bagels at Sendik’s, for instance, their only hope is to get back into their car and drive a few hundred yards to another parking space - - if they still own a car. If they're getting there via a scheduled bus from one of the independent living facilities in the area, they will have to be satisfied with a Target/Sendik’s-only excursion (or whichever single destination at which the bus drops of and picks up).
But none of this seemed to concern the seniors, who, seated all around me, offered an ongoing Greek chorus. They grumbled audibly when environmental concerns were brought up. When Commissioner Ritter spoke sensibly about the fact that, no, you will not see immediate magic relief in property taxes just because a big box retailer has come to town, the gentleman next to me groaned, “Does he think we’re stupid?” They had visions of shopping in their heads that could not be jarred by unwelcome intrusions of unpleasant realities.
“We need more shopping in town,” the woman two seats down from me whispered to her husband. He patiently grunted in reply - - evidently used to his wife uttering redundancies. (“Well, that’s why you dragged me here,” he likely thought to himself. Not saying these things out loud is the secret to long marriage.)
Next: Part 2 - The Plan Staff recommendations and "our neighbors to the north" ...
John, you must not forget the infamous words of Joel Dietl - the project had SUPERIOR architecture! No need to even bother giving it a second look!
Superior architecture for the buildings around Target? Possibly.
Superior architecture for the Target? Absolutely not.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | June 05, 2007 at 12:21 AM