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December 25—Expenses mount for school land, Ripon Commonwealth Press. Land to be given to the Green Lake School District within the Estates of Lawsonia is becoming far from free. The school district has spent more than $5,300 on legal fees since October in negotiating six to eight acres to be set aside for school use. But now, the two parties have reached a standstill. School District Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Gordy Farrell said the sides are “miles apart.” Read More December 11-New Sunnyside grant likely, Ripon Commonwealth Press. Officials leading the way in a proposed purchase of the former Sunnyside Farm are confident a state grant will be awarded that would reimburse most or all taxpayer costs. If this confidence turns into reality, it means the Green Lake School District would pay little or nothing to own about 38 acres of the historic property — being offered for $345,000. Read More November 25, 2008—Your vote is needed to help GLA's partners protect and obtain environmentally sensitive land. The Green Lake Conservancy Foundation, the Green Lake Sanitary District, and the Green Lake School District are working together to obtain a combined 80 acres of environmentally sensitive land. Formerly Sunnyside Farm, this area is northwest of the Silver Creek Estuary leading into Big Green Lake and features waterfront property, wetlands, woods, and prairies. Substantial grants have already been awarded to purchase the land, and it's possible that virtually all costs could be reimbursed with alternative grants. Although the GLSD and the Conservancy are confident that they will close their end of the deal to purchase their 40 acres, the Green Lake School District will need to approve their adjacent 38 acre purchase with the school electors . "Our objective in the partnership we're in is to keep the project as close to natural as we can. It will be completely accessible to the public. It's a wonderful deal," stated Charlie Marks, Sanitary District Administrator. If you live in the Green Lake School District, you are encouraged to attend this meeting which will be held Wednesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Green Lake School Library. Meeting topics will include detailed information about the land purchase, an opportunity to ask questions, and a school electorate vote! November 20, 2008—School eyes Sunnyside farm, Ripon Commonwealth Press.Green Lake Public School is poised to capture more than 35 acres of open land that had been planned for development as recently as two years ago. In addition, the Green Lake Sanitary District and Green Lake Conservancy Foundation plan to purchase about 40 acres adjacent to the first parcel from the same corporation. That area borders Sunnyside Channel, featuring more than a mile of waterfront because of the winding terrain. Sunnyside Channel snakes into the Silver Creek estuary.“It is considered an environmentally sensitive area,” Sanitary District Administrator Charlie Marks said. “Our objective in the partnership we’re in is to keep the project as close to natural as we can.” Read Entire Article November 19, 2008—GLA's partners, The Green Lake Conservancy Foundation and Green Lake school students, worked together to install newly purchased signs designating protected land.
September 26, 2008—As previously reported, the Green Lake County Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously voted on September 17, 2008, to approve the preliminary plat submitted by Lindenwood Development, LLC for the proposed Estates of Lawsonia on the east end of the Green Lake Conference Center grounds. Such action was expressly conditioned on compliance by Lindenwood with each of the following conditions before submission of the final plat. READ THE CONDITIONS September 17, 2008—Lindenwood Finally Snags the Brass Ring—Although It Is a Bit Tarnished. After nearly two years on the proverbial development merry-go-round, the Green Lake County Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously voted on Wednesday evening, September 17, 2008, to approve the preliminary plat submitted by Lindenwood Development, LLC for the proposed Estates of Lawsonia on the east end of the Green Lake Conference Center grounds. The Committee’s approval was conditioned on a number of items being satisfied before submission of the final plat. The most significant of these items is a requirement that Lindenwood come to an agreement with the Green Lake School District for the dedication to the public of approximately six to eight acres of “green space” in the new subdivision for use by the School for educational purposes. There have been ongoing discussions between Lindenwood and the School District regarding this land dedication requirement, but the parties have thus far been unable to reach agreement. The Committee has mandated that such an agreement be reached, that it be reported to the Committee when it has been reached and that it be reflected on the final plat. As a result of the Committee’s action, Lindenwood is now allowed to proceed with the construction of the infrastructure necessary for the new subdivision. It is expected that such activity will be commenced soon. A more comprehensive report on the Committee’s approval of the preliminary plat for the Estates of Lawsonia will be posted on the GLA website within the next few days. We will let you know when that is available. September 3, 2008—Lindenwood Development Delayed. On September 3, the Green Lake County's Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee postponed their vote on Lindenwood's preliminary plat until, at least, September 17. According to Committee Chairman Sue McConnell, all of the development's previous sticking points have been addressed with the exception of 6-8 acres. Lindenwood is expected to create a proposal to dedicate this acreage to the Green Lake School District for educational purposes. The committee will view the dedication proposal at its September 17 meeting. On Thursday, August 14, 2008 GLA held a raffle drawing following its Marine Mail lecture. More than 150 people packed the Thrasher Opera House to hear about the history of marine mail delivery on Green Lake. Raffle prizes and winners included:
Sue Brenner has graciously donated to display the boat for one year at various locations (yet to be determined) around Green Lake. June 25, 2008—Natural Resources Board approves major mercury reduction rule. On June 25th, the Natural Resources Board gave the nod to a new mercury rule that aims to slash the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere from Wisconsin coal fired power plants by 90%. Coal fired power plants are the largest source of mercury, which is a released when coal is burned to generate electricity. Mercury settles into inland waters as it floats back down to earth, and as it mixes with rain and snow to wash into our lakes and rivers. Much of this mercury is converted by bacteria in the soil and sediment into its toxic form, methylmercury. Methylmercury is easily absorbable by animals and works up the food chain becoming more and more concentrated as it progresses to larger species. Mercury levels in Wisconsin fish have necessitated a statewide fish advisory warning for all inland waters that urges consumers--especially children and women of childbearing age--to limit consumption of fish such as walleye or northern which tend to have higher levels of mercury.The rule would target emissions from utilities and offers two options for meeting the 90% reduction requirement. Under the first option, which targets only mercury, coal fired power plants have until 2015 to meet the 90% reduction. The second option gives a longer window for meeting the mercury reduction (2021), but also requires dramatic reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide are the three pollutants most responsible for smog and fish consumption advisories. The administrative rule now progresses to the legislature, where it may pass or environmental committee chairs may call for additional public hearings or request further changes to the rule requirements. Keep Green Lake Free From Hazardous Waste! If you have unwanted agricultural or household hazardous waste, now is the time to register for Green Lake County's Clean Sweep. Clean Sweep provides an opportunity to dispose of unwanted and unused agricultural and household chemicals in an environmentally friendly manner. All Green Lake County residents and landowners may participate. Registration is required by August 1. Disposal is free. Visit Green Lake County's website for detailed information. July 10, 2008—In the wake of the devastating rains of late June, many restoration plantings on shorelines/ slopes around the lake have been eroded. RSVP is prepared to assist as we are able, prioritizing projects based on erosion severity, project size, and the stabilization methodology before committing funding. July 1, 2008—Can't keep up with this year's updates regarding the Estates of Lawsonia development? GLA's JACLUM Chair, Steve Wood, provides GLA annual meeting attendees with a complete year to date summary. Read the summary June 17, 2008—Flooding in Green Lake
June 10, 2008—At a meeting of the Green Lake County Land Use Planning and Zoning (“LUPZ”) Committee held on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, the Committee denied several requests made by the Green Lake Conference Center (“GLCC”) and Lindenwood Development, LLC for the rezoning of certain parcels of the Conference Center property to facilitate their proposed development of the Estates of Lawsonia. The Committee also deferred approval of the preliminary plat plan for a period of 90 to 120 days. Read GLA's Lawsonia Estates Development Update April 24, 2008—ABA residents, Developer Spar Over Tree Cutting. Private homeowners from the Green Lake Conference Center are calling into question the actions of Lindenwood Development, saying the firm is not following proper procedure as it begins removing trees from a proposed subdivision. Read More April 24, 2008—Annexation Tossed, but Housing Debate Prevails. The annexation petition is dead. The Green Lake Conference Center — along with land slated for development — will stay in the town of Brooklyn. After more than six months of meetings, discussions, fact-gathering and rumors, the city of Green Lake has decided to drop the annexation and recoup its remaining costs. Read More April 22, 2008—GLA's 2nd Green Lake Conference Development Summary. Read More April 17, 2008—City Tells Annexation Petitioners to Pay Up. After heated discussion, the Common Council voted to seek reimbursement of all the city’s expenses, regardless of whether the city annexes the 900-plus-acre property. Read More April 10, 2008—City, Developer Clash on Annexation's Legality. A housing developer and the Green Lake Conference Center are stepping up efforts to have the city of Green Lake release the annexation request, calling their own petition defective. Read More March 25, 2008—GLA's 1st Summary Update Regarding the Proposed Green Lake Conference Center Development. The purpose of this Update is to summarize certain recent developments that significantly affect the proposed Estates of Lawsonia subdivision and the related petition to annex approximately 900 acres of Green Lake Conference Center (“GLCC”) property to the City of Green Lake. Read Entire Summary March 18, 2008—Developer, Green Lake Conference Center Withdraw Annexation Request. In a surprise move, Lindenwood Development and the Green Lake Conference Center have withdrawn their request to annex land from the town of Brooklyn to the city of Green Lake.They had wanted the annexation to pave the way for the development of Estates of Lawsonia, a luxury subdivision on the grounds of the Christian retreat on the shores of Big Green Lake. Read Entire Article March 10, 2008—The Green Lake Sanitary District Enters Into An Agreement with the City of Green Lake to Establish a Cooperative Program for Water Quality Protection in the Proposed Lindenwood Development. The Green Lake Sanitary District, one of Green Lake Association's partners, has entered into an agreement with the City of Green Lake to establish a cooperative program for the water quality protection and for the transportation and treatment of wastewater on lands owned by the ABA, Lawsonia, and Lindenwood. This agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the District and the City will establish a boundary separating their respective Sewer Service Areas in the portion of the District located North of Big Green Lake, provides for the transport and treatment of wastewater generated within the Territory and provide for the cooperative wastewater and stormwater management, erosion, and runoff control and water quality programs by the City and the District in order to protect and enhance Big Green Lake and its tributary waterways. This agreement will help protect the integrity of local ordinances, which in turn will help protect the integrity of Big Green Lake. February 20, 2008—JACLUM Meets with Lindenwood Representatives to Discuss Environmental Issues Surrounding Proposed Development. Since submitting GLA's Position Statement to the City of Green Lake (the “City”) regarding the pending petition for annexation, the Joint Advisory Committee on Land Use Matters (JACLUM) met with representatives of Lindenwood to assure to the extent possible that land development proposals in the Green Lake area are undertaken in a responsible and environmentally sensible manner. There then ensued a general discussion of the proposed development with an emphasis on environmental issues. The members of JACLUM provided examples of how we have been able to make environmental enhancements to other recent development plans and how we could possibly provide such enhancements to the plans for Lawsonia Estates. Read Entire Supplemental Statement February 6, 2008—GLA Submits Position Statement to the City of Green Lake Common Council Regarding the Pending Petition to Annex Portions of the Green Lake Conference Center. As the City of Green Lake continues to consider the annexation petition, the GLA is of the opinion that there are a number of critical environmental, safety and other compelling issues that you should bear in mind to assure that the development plans being proposed by the GLCC and Lindenwood on the property for which they seek annexation to the City will in fact be “[well] planned and orderly”. Moreover, we most emphatically recommend that these issues be addressed in an Annexation Agreement to be entered into between the City and the developers prior to completion of the proposed annexation. The purpose of this Statement is to summarize these issues. Read GLA's Entire Position Statement |
