Big Cedar Property Owners Association
July 2021 Newsletter
ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting was held on June 27, 2021, with about 75 attendees. Minutes of the meeting will be posted on our website.
Our meeting included introduction of the new DNR Aquatic Invasive Species coordinator for Washington County, Erik Hanson. He is quite new to this assignment and is learning about Big Cedar. He has responsibility for two counties. Erik indicated he is happy to get questions or comments from the public. He can be reached at: Erik.Hanson@washcowisco.gov
Gary Casper presented an overview of his Biodiversity and Bird Breeding studies on Big Cedar. The POA is providing some of the funds for each of these studies.
Four POA directors whose terms expire this year have agreed to continue their work for the POA for another year. Kelly Egan, Mark Nielsen, Bruce Reynolds, and Jim Tews have all accepted a three-year term. We appreciate their service.
Cedar Community Update
Dave Baldus reported on the status of the Cedar Community development plan. The POA has been following this situation since we learned of the development plan in 2017. The POA committee working on this issue (Mike Nast, Dave Baldus, Steve Simon) have been in numerous meetings with Cedar Community over the past four years. There was a recent lull in the communication between these groups. At the March 25, 2021, town planning meeting Cedar Community presented a plan for 54 homes and two 12-unit apartment buildings. We reminded Cedar Community administration and their board of directors of our concerns and our position. Recently they have agreed to meet with us, and a meeting is scheduled for early July.
The goal of the POA is to preserve the agreements made years ago by Cedar Community. They were granted conditional use permits to expand their facilities. The conditions imposed were that the shoreline remained undeveloped as well as roughly 100 acres within the DNR environmental corridor. Those conditional use permits are no longer legally binding because of Wisconsin ACT 67 and the town rezoning ordinance. The POA wants Cedar Community to agree to a conservation easement that would protect the same shoreline and acreage as previously protected by the conditional use permits. Cedar Community has stated at numerous meeting that they have no plans to develop those areas. However, so far, they are not willing to commit to that through a conservation easement.
We understand the Town of West Bend is reviewing the site plan. As part of the review, they have engaged legal counsel. We believe the review will look at the housing density that would exceed town zoning regulations.
Proposed Town of West Bend Ordinance Update
Rick Gale reported on the ordinance proposal to the Town of West Bend. The proposal follows quite closely DNR lake and boating rules. Part of the proposal includes inter-agency agreement. The purpose of the proposal is to get the town and the PRD to agree on regulations as well as agree to who should have authority to enforce them. The town is reviewing the proposal.
Olympic Rowing News
Alie Rusher, the daughter of lake residents Cindy and Jack Rusher has made the Olympic rowing team. She will be competing in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls, July 23 – July 27. We wish her the best of luck at the Olympics.