The Jefferson city council at its March 12 meeting approved the third reading of an ordinance to rezone property just west of the Hwy 4 overpass from light industrial to RM-3, clearing the way for KCG Properties to construct 40-50 units of affordable housing in a project dubbed The Whelden.
The rezoning has been contentious, with very vocal opposition speaking at a public hearing Feb. 13, at the Feb. 27 meeting at which the second reading of the rezoning ordinance was held, and finally at the March 12 meeting.
The opposition, led by Margaret Saddoris, who doesn’t live in Jefferson but owns Camden Apartments and several rental houses in Jefferson, claimed the project would attract residents who would increase the crime rate, increase the burden on social services and the school district, and change the “character” of the town. Saddoris previously collected enough signatures on a petition to require a super majority of the council (four of the five council members) to approve a rezoning.
At the March 12 meeting Saddoris said she thought the council members had not done their research on KCG, particularly on a much larger project in Madison, WI, which was deemed a public nuisance by the Madison police department. Her opposition to the project, she said, was due to residents adjacent to the property who did not want it built there, not due to the competition KCG would give her rental units. She said the project could possibly serve to increase the rents she can collect for her properties.
Sheriff Jack Williams spoke against the project at the Feb. 27 meeting, opining that even a small increase in the need for law enforcement would be challenging for the Jefferson police department. He also spoke then as county emergency management director.
At the March 12 meeting Williams spoke as Jefferson fire chief. Current plans for The Whelde include three-story buildings. Williams said the Jefferson fire department does not have the ladders needed to fight a fire in a three-story wood frame building.
CJ Lintner of KGC spoke a lot at the Feb. 27 meeting. He spoke at the March 12 meeting only to respond to Williams, saying the project could easily be re-designed to be only two stories, and that fire walls and sprinkler systems are required by state code.
At the beginning of the meeting, city administrator Scott Peterson read from an email sent by Greene County Schools superintendent Brett Abbotts to clarify the district’s position on the project.
Abbotts reaffirmed his position and that of the school board, according to the email. Abbotts wrote he and the board are supportive of affordable living options for new and prospective teachers and employees, as well supporting sustainable enrollment in the schools. “We have the capacity to handle additional growth should that be a result of this project,” Abbotts wrote.
Travis Dvorak, general manager of Wild Rose Casino, spoke of the need for employees at the casino and said Wild Rose is supportive of any project that can increase the number of employees.
Jim Ober of Scranton Manufacturing/New Way Trucks said that his company supports workforce housing, but that their employees would not meet the lower income standards for The Whelden. He said he supports the project personally.
Bill Raney, secretary/treasurer of the Greene County Medical Center board of trustees and a former county supervisor, voiced his support, saying there aren’t many segments in the community that couldn’t use a boost in customers, students, or patients. “We need more people. We need to stabilize our population…. There’s a stigma about who these people are going to be, but we’re just talking about people with lower incomes. We’re thinking they’re bad people we don’t want. They’re just trying to get a start. I think this is the perfect place for them to make their first home. I urge you to support this project,” he said.
Jacque Andrew, another well-known community leader who retired after 25 years at Greene County Medical Center and has volunteered in many positions, said she has met “many hard-working, solid citizens who would meet the criteria for this housing project. They’re good people… they do their jobs. However, their economic circumstances are such that they qualify for apartments in this project. We need housing for them.”
She said any risk of the project is KCG’s. “The council’s responsibility is to evaluate the zoning ordinance, and whether the area being considered is acceptable for residential purposes. I believe the council has done its due diligence on this matter and I support their decision,” Andrew said.
Andrew said the council’s decision would have impact for years to come, and would also “showcase the advantages of living in Jefferson. Future generations will have a clear understanding of what this council stands for, providing opportunity and adequate housing for all.”
The vote to approve the third reading of the ordinance to rezone was the same as the first two readings: council members Darren Jackson, Pat Zmolek, Matt Wetrich and Harry Ahrenholtz voted in favor, and council member Chad Sloan voted against.
Prior to any of the discussion, Greene County Extension director Lori Mannel spoke very briefly, reminding those present that “Growth is hard. It can be challenging,” and thanking all present for caring enough about the community to attend the meeting.
In other business, the council held a public hearing on the proposed project to construct two one-bedroom apartments in the upper story of the Centennial Block building. The city had previously accepted a federally-funded Community Development Block Grant for the project. After the public hearing the council approved the plans and specifications, form of contract, and authorization to take bids. The council’s action was procedural only, necessary because the City is the fiscal agent for the CDBG.
The council accepted the low bid of $833,555 from InRoads, LLC of Des Moines for the E. Lincoln Way resurfacing project. The bid was 9.1 percent more than the engineer’s $764,050 estimate of cost. The city is issuing $1.7 million in debt to cover that cost as well as the cost of an automated garbage truck, a rear-load garbage packer, and 1,500 recycling carts for residential single-stream recycling.
Administrator Peterson said the higher cost of the Lincoln Way project would still be covered by the bond issue, “but there’s no wiggle room on cost.”
