City says "no" to Mirbeau-Hummel
LAKE GENEVA — No boutique hotel.
No vineyard and winery.
No cottages, townhouses or duplexes.
The city council unanimously denied Monday night the proposed Mirbeau-Hummel development, overturning the plan commission’s narrow approval in November of the rezone and general development plan.
Resounding applause followed the decision.
The Mirbeau-Hummel plan goes against the requirements of the city’s master plan and south neighborhood plan, said Alderman Gary Dunham, who moved to deny the rezone and general development plan. There was no other discussion.
But that’s likely not the last the city will hear from Mirbeau-Hummel representatives. The developers filed a notice of injury against the city April 7, saying the city council violated their rights by asking voters to weigh in on the proposed development.
“We’re not going anywhere,” project executive John Terrell told The Janesville Gazette upon filing the notice. “We intend on protecting our property and procedural rights.”
Voters overwhelmingly defeated the advisory referendum, 1,377-414, on April 1.
To bring legal action against the city, Mirbeau-Hummel has to file a notice of claim. The city could then deny the claim, which would give Mirbeau-Hummel six months to file a lawsuit.
The developers were confident the city council would approve the plan because it “meets and exceeds” the requirements of the city’s master plan, Terrell said.
The proposed Mirbeau-Hummel development divided city residents from the start.
Some said it would be too much, too fast. Some said it would be detrimental to the environment. Others said the proposal would allow the city to control its growth through one developer over the next 15 to 20 years.
The Mirbeau-Hummel plan calls for a 100-room boutique hotel with 12 villas, a spa, banquet and conference facilities, 57 single-family cottages, a vineyard and winery, a restaurant, retail and 882 homes on 710 acres on the city’s south side.
Aug 26, 2008 at 10:48 p.m.
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happy camper, have you been to Lake Geneva in the last 100 years? it's a nightmare going through town. I grew up 30 minutes away and we ALWAYS waited until the off-season to do anything in the area.
May 1, 2008 at 8:15 a.m.
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Smitty,
I'm so glad Lake Geneva residents weren't swayed by slick talking New York and Illinois developers with a shady past.
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:24 p.m.
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I guess I've never viewed added jobs and more tourism as being bad for the local economy. Yes, the traffic congestion in Lake Geneva is horrible. That land is not going away. It's been bought and annexed into Lake Geneva. There will be a developement there, and it will bring traffic. Why not have a vineyard, winery and smaller hotel?
Apr 30, 2008 at 9 p.m.
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You people are idiots. Seriously.
Apr 30, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.
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I agree with Pablo. Why does Walworth County need more seasonal, minimum wage jobs? And anyone who thinks Lake Geneva needs more tourism hasn't tried to drive across town in the summer. You can hardly get from point A to point B any more with all of the tourist traffic. Walworth COunty needs to encourage other kinds of business besides tourism.
Apr 29, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.
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Smitty you talk about the jobs that would be brought in. The majority of those jobs would be minimum wage. I don't think that this project was going to offset the thousands of jobs being cut across the state. Maybe if the governor would stop proposing new taxes businesses would want to stay here. The council did what they had to do and that's represent what the people wanted.
Apr 29, 2008 at 5:03 p.m.
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These types of villages are popular in expensive resorts. I feel Lake Geneva dropped the ball on this. These generally bring tourism, jobs and imiganation to an area. Oh well, I still like Geneva they way it is.
Apr 29, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.
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The people decided this in a referendum -- the council could hardly go the other direction. It isn't logical to only count the potential benefits and discount any potential costs, which were considerable (including indirect costs such as congestion and lost opportunity to expand per a longstanding master plan).
Apr 29, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
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I'm glad the City of Lake Geneva officials and their residents are so easily swayed by Linn Twsp residents
Apr 29, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.
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Why bring in this monster of a project when its clear the majority of people did not want it. Hopefully this is a turn in the way cities deal with developers. Stop being in awe of the projects that don't match what the city wants.
Good for you city officials. Doing what you were elected to do , watch out for the city and doing what the people want.
Apr 29, 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
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Way to go Lake Geneva!!! When thousands of jobs are being cut all over the state you turn away a business that would create dozens if not hundreds of jobs. Smart thinking.
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