Galesville council approves Valley View Estates extensions

Despite pushback from some citizens in attendance and after a lengthy discussion at last Thursday’s Galesville city council meeting, the council ultimately gave its approval to additional apartments as part of the Valley View Estates on North 12th Street — but with a contingency meant to help avoid increased traffic issues in that neighborhood.

The complete plan from Dan Terek of Coulee Development, Inc. includes the construction of two 6-plexes, four 12-plexes and one 11-plex. The two 6-plexes and one of the 12-plexes have already been completed and a permit is pending for the next 12-plex, which could begin construction this summer.

Several community members among the dozen or so present spoke during the public comment portion of Thursday’s meeting to voice their opposition — Jean Mish, Yevette Riedemann and Taylor Blumenstein — with the 11-plex that would be built in 2029 being a major source of contention.

Among the concerns raised during the public comment section were traffic congestion in the area, privacy concerns, a lack of adequate green space and whether those types of apartment buildings are a fit for the neighborhood.

The area in question has been zoned R3 — which allows for higher-density residential development than R1 (single-family homes) or R2 (duplexes) — since the 1980s. While acknowledging that fact and saying she’s not opposed to apartments being built in general, Mish questioned whether those who zoned that particular area as R3 understood how a city should be laid out and pointed out that things can change over the course of 40 years.

“I question why I’m raising these points now,” Mish said. “Why weren’t there other concerns raised when these apartments started being built? I’m asking the city council to stop, take a look at your plans, make sure we’re doing the correct thing for the city.”

Blumenstein asked for more transparency with the project and changes to it. He also reiterated concerns about the effects of increased traffic in that area.

“Another concern of ours in the amount of traffic going through 12th Street right now. The addition of another 11-plex going all through there is going to cause a lot more problems,” Blumenstein said. “West Ridge Avenue is already in a state of disrepair. That road is really bad, 12th Street is really bad, 11th Street is really bad. More traffic on there is going to be an issue.”

During the council discussion on the subject, Alderperson Dave Carlson said he was “torn” on the proposal. Carlson noted that he thinks the city needs more housing of all kinds to give options to a growing population in the area. However, he also said that he felt the current process to approve housing development was all over the place and a product of the city having an outdated comprehensive plan.

“My observation is that development in this community is very haphazard. Things get approved for no logical reason. Like in my neighborhood, a duplex went in right in the middle of single-family homes,” Carlson said. “If you travel around town like I did last spring, there’s just weird stuff, and it’s going to continue to happen until we get an actual well-thought-out, well-constructed plan.”

Alderperson Rob Grover thanked the public for their input and expressed his belief in the need for more housing in the area but also said he wanted to see this development sent back to the plan commission for more public discussion.

Alderperson Ryker Todd said that he sympathizes with the public concern with the project, but that the council was in a “tough spot” because everything in that area is zoned correctly for the project.

On a few occasions, interjections from citizens in attendance caused Mayor Tom Thatcher to step in and remind them that only council members or individuals explicitly recognized for comment by the council can be part of the discussion once public comment has ended.

Alderperson Jesse Swing ultimately proposed an amendment to the motion on the table that would approve the project, but with the contingency that before any new buildings can be constructed, 11th Street must be extended to help alleviate potential traffic issues in that area.

Swing’s amendment to the motion was passed in a unanimous voice vote. When it came time to vote on the amended motion to approve the plan with that 11th Street extension contingency, Carlson requested a roll call vote. The amended motion was approved 4-2. Carlson, Jean Seely, Swing and Todd voted in favor, with Grover and Randy Larson voting against.