Too Many Unknowns in NEN Plan

My name is Phyllis Hasbrouck, and I’m the chair of the West Waubesa Preservation Coalition. We are in favor of preserving farmland, preserving and improving the quality of Lake Waubesa, its wetlands and tributary streams, of creating a dense city core near Fitchburg’s City Hall, promoting the use of trains and buses instead of cars, and of helping farmers stay on the land, make a decent living, and find another farmer to sell their farm to if they want to retire.

We are not in favor of development that proceeds without any assurance that the land and waters nearby won’t be harmed. This neighborhood plan and map, and this conceptual storm water plan, for the Northeast Neighborhood, give no such assurances. Dr. Cal DeWitt, professor of environmental sciences at the Gaylord Nelson Institute of the UW Madison, says that this development could damage the lake in several ways, including:

- runoff polluted by gasoline, anti-freeze, lawn pesticides, etc. damaging the plant and animal life downstream, including the Northern Pike hatchery in Swan Creek;

- floodwaters from all the impervious surfaces causing erosion and silting of Lake Waubesa, which is only 33 ft. deep (if it gets too shallow, wetland plants can take hold and turn the southern end into a wetland.);

- phosphorus from manicured lawns washing downstream and contribute to eutrophication of Lake Waubesa, which means it would become a big stinking mess of algae, with all other life destroyed;

- the water necessary for 1432 residences and 103 acres of commercial establishments robbing the Waubesa wetlands and the southern half of Lake Waubesa of water, which would also encourage eutrophication;

Given all these unknowns, it would be irresponsible for the city of Fitchburg to approve this or any other development near bodies of water or wetlands. Instead of committing $8 million to a highway interchange to open up this far corner of Fitchburg, they should spend a much smaller amount on the studies that would show them where and how to develop responsibly.

We urge the citizens of Fitchburg to learn more about this costly and unnecessary development, and to tell their leaders that they expect them to be better stewards of our land, water, and money! People can visit our website at www.westwaubesa.org. Thank you.

Phyllis Hasbrouck, Town of Dunn