WISPARK THREATENS OAK CREEK WITH BUSINESS "PARK" PLAN

ABOVE: Typical WISPARK development, coming soon to Oak Creek, courtesy taxpayers

ARM OF ENERGY FIRM PLANS SINGLE-USE BUSINESS PARK


WISPARK SEEMS TO HAVE ABANDONED PRETENSE OF URBAN REDEVELOPMENT as SUBURB GROVELS FOR TAX REVENUE

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Wispark, LLC., the development arm of Wisconsin Energy Corporation, [NYSE:WEC] has made good on its threat to create a business park in the City of Oak Creek [Pop. 35,223] as compensation for the expansion of a coal-fired power plant now under way there. The company promised to invest $20 million in Oak Creek by 2013.

I thought Wispark disappeared after the Pabst City debacle. They're back, with another horrible single-use proposal -- a 169 acre Business Park.

This time, Wispark bought 169 acres of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District land at the southwest corner of South Howell Ave. and West Oakwood Rd. for $5.4 million. The city bought 36-acres as a conservation easement, and Wispark will build their land-eating monster on the remainder.
As part of the deal, the Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District taxpayers also purchased 50 acres for a school site, paying $1.6 million. The lands were sold to the city and then to Wispark in a complex transaction I can't find on the community's website. In all MMSD sold 255 acres.

Oak Creek officials are saddling the citizens with an unsustainable development, even if they cover every square inch with green roofs, permeable pavement and solar panels. Why is New Urbanism observed only in the breach? We're talking about 1.4% of Oak Creek's total area in this development -- that is a large amount of space for an exceedingly limited use.
The city is giddy about attracting high paying jobs to the office park, which, according to Oak Creek standards, should lead to further sprawl.
You can be sure the development will not be tied into light rail or other transit, and that its convenience to the Interstate Highway system will be judged high among its attributes.

Wispark, of course, will ask the city to create a Tax Incremental Finance District to finance road improvements in the business park. Why not stick it to the taxpayers? The roads, to be sure, will be undulating and cul-de-saccharine. There will be parking lots, pretty flower beds, flags aplenty and lots of lawn to mow.

Above: Vexilloligist's Delight at LakeView Corporate Park

The land will doubtless become more valuable than it is now, but why doesn't the city demand a mixed-use development that will truly achieve a genuine high increment of value?

[In 2005 the City of Milwaukee Common Council voted down $41 million in TIF funds Wispark requested for the construction of an "entertainment district" at the former Pabst Brewery.]

Instead of learning a lesson, it's business as usual for the electric company, and another troubling sign that a Milwaukee County community cares more for unsustainable suburban development than for creating a vibrant, healthy community.

Let's hope the taxpayer victims take heed from the forces that rallied against -- and stopped -- Wispark's 2005 assault on the Pabst Brewery and halt this outrage.

From Wispark's website:

"Past efforts focused on development of master-planned business parks, many of which are the most successful in Southeastern Wisconsin. Development of more than 9 million square feet of buildings in these business parks puts WISPARK in an elite class of developers.

Recent efforts focus on redevelopment projects in urban settings, particularly in the Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha areas."

It looks to me like Wispark better update their website to let us know they are back among the "elite class of developers" with no interest in redevelopment projects in urban settings. Wispark just wants more of the easy money that comes from government-financed and subsidized single use office parks.

Oak Creek officials just do not seem to get it. This is a terrible plan, a waste of land, and will be a burden to the taxpayers long after Wispark has left. City officials referred Milwaukeeworld to City Attorney Larry Haskin [Marquette U '76] for information on the proposal. Haskin, Oak Creek City Attorney since 1985, and Oak Creek Citizen of the Year 1995, was not immediately available for comment.

Wispark's Agent:

Registered agent Keith H. Ecke Assistant Corporate Secretary, Wisconsin Energy Corporation and of WE Energies.

The City Plan Commission occasionally meets to discuss compliance with State of Wisconsin Smart Growth Law and the "City of Oak Creek Comprehensive Plan (A 2020 Vision for the City of Oak Creek)." Perhaps they should discuss how this proposal conforms to either of them.

Here is a map of the area.

Daily Reporter article announcing the development.

Business Journal article announcing the development.