Northern Gear Moves Ahead, But Neighbors Aren't Happy

The City of Muskego has undoubtedly been happy about the arrival of Northern Gear, a machining facility that will be built to the south of GE Medical along Moorland Road. But it became equally apparent Tuesday night that some residents didn't share that point of view.

As the site plans were revealed to the Plan Commission, residents located to the south and west of the facility voiced their concerns over noise, sight lines and the proximity of the structure to their properties located on Chestnut Ridge Court.

John Famularo, a resident on Chestnut Ridge Court, asked whether additional shifts would impact noise or other disturbances, and was concerned about the back of the building having windows, as he felt sound would be more likely to carry. However, designers from Briohn construction assured him that employee parking was designed away from residential lots and that the back exterior would not feature windows.

Others were not easily convinced.

"It's like a nightmare — it's not suitable for this lot size," argued Tom Scheitel. "I've never seen a building pushed up against residential property like this. We're not against progress, but this is putting a lot of building into this lot."

The site plan indicated an employee lot for 134 cars on the east side of the building, closer to Moorland Road. On the west side, a loading dock would allow trucks, most of which would be box trucks to deliver equipment between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dan Roskopf of Northern Gear explained that most deliveries come before 4 p.m.

Subdivision developer unhappy

But developer Wayne Borchardt, who is looking to sell properties in the subdivision along Chestnut Ridge, demanded that the city force Northern to "flip" the site plan to move the loading dock to the opposite side and away from the residences.

Borchardt also said that despite promises from the city and Northern to add landscaping along the western side of the property to provide a buffer, similar promises by GE Medical were made but not kept. He and other residents were also concerned that future expansion would bring the rear of the building even closer to their properties.

"There's a bad track record here — everything we expected, we didn't get and the city didn't back us up," Borchert said. "This is a bad design and it's a very stupid plan."

Alderman Dan Soltysiak explained to Borchert and the other residents that the traffic would actually be far less for residents as the site plan was currently set up. Truck traffic would only be until about 4 p.m., he said, versus having two shifts of about 90 or more employees coming and going until much later in the evening.

The site will be regraded down to level off the hill before construction can begin, meaning the base of the building will rest about 30 feet lower than nearby homes, and placing the rooftop at about the same level as their backyards. With a 10 foot barrier wall, six feet of fencing and additional trees to fill in, the company and designers explained that there should be little to no issue with an unpleasant view.

Prior to approving the site plan the commission amended it to include additional barrier landscaping along the west side of the property, and to review the site annually, beginning six months after occupancy is established. If plans move as hoped, the company expects to complete construction as soon as December 2013 or January 2014.

However, there seemed to be little that the city or Northern Gear representatives could do or say to placate Borchert or other residents. Commissioner Gerry Jacques eventually told the group that the land had been zoned first before homes were built, and there wasn't anything that Northern had done outside of current zoning ordinances.

"I have to tell you as a homeowner, I wouldn't want to be in your position," she said. "However, I need to ask if you had done your homework before purchasing your properties. That land was zoned commercial before you bought your lots. (Northern Gear) has done everything we've asked them to and more based on the amendment we've agreed on tonight."