CEDARBURG — A developer has returned to the city of Cedarburg after nearly two years with a large residential development proposal for the site on the north side of Highway 60, west of Sheboygan Road.

The Plan Commission on Monday reviewed Neumann Developments’ conceptual plan for its 481-unit, 2.34 units per acre Covered Bridge Development on the 214 acres. The site, which includes the former Grob Airport property and the Airport Fields soccer fields, is Smart Growth Area 12, which is classified as medium-density residential.

“We know this is a large parcel. It’s going to redefine the north side of Cedarburg,” said Bryan Lindgren, president of Neumann Developments. “We want it also to have a sense of presence, have an identity.”

The project has a mix of housing types with different starting sale prices:

32 townhomes (two-story townhouse-style fourplex condominium units), low $400,000s;
62 towns units (two-story townhouse-style duplex condominiums units), mid-to-upper $400,000s;
50 reserve units (ranch-style duplex condominiums units), mid-to-upper $500,000s;
193 villas (single-family units), mid-to-upper $500,000s;
111 residences (single-family units), mid-to-upper $600,000s; and
33 estates (single-family units), low $800,000s.

In a letter to the city, Lindgren said the mix of housing products allow for a larger pool of potential buyers. All units would be for-sale ownership. In addition, the project includes a variety of neighborhood amenities such as a clubhouse, pools, play equipment, sports courts and fields, community gardens, trails and workout stations and pedestrian bridges. This would be a multi-phased development.

Commission members thought the development was too dense and they wanted more larger homes. Council member Jim Fitzpatrick said he didn’t like the townhomes.

He added that as a plan commissioner, he feels no obligation to build brand new entry-level affordable housing. “I’m a believer, however, that when you bring supply to the market like this, that opens up affordable entry-level housing elsewhere in the community,” he said.

Fitzpatrick also noted that whatever “Cedarburg architecture” is and what architectural elements are desired come at a cost.

Mayor Pat Thome agreed with Fitzpatrick on wanting more larger homes like the residences and estates, and fewer villas and fourplex units. “I grant that you got a lot of room to work here, but I still feel that we’re putting as much as we possibly can in … and I don’t think we need to fill it all out,” she said.

Thome stated the commission will be “very picky” on what the homes will look like. “Maybe that the things we build here, even the smaller houses, aren’t really going to be something somebody can just jump into right out of college or as a 30-year-old,” she said. “We’re filling an important piece of property and I think that they need to be special.”

Commissioner Sherry Bublitz was concerned about repeating things at this development that some members and citizens have taken issue with at Fairway Village — developed by Neumann Developments, such as the density, repetition of homes and the berm not being tall enough along the road.

Lindgren said there is a difference with this new site, given its location along Highway 60, they have to consider more density. “If we consider putting $650,000-plus homes along Highway 60 — it’s not going to be as well received,” he said. “I think what we can do is build in buffers and thoughtfully layer density so that there are greater opportunities.”

Several residents told the commission they also thought the development was too dense. The commission did not take action on this as the project is in a conceptual stage.