Politics & Government

Ad Hoc Committee to Discuss Possible Extension of I-794

Board members to look for ways to link I-794 and Highway 31 together.

If you have concerns about development along Highway 31, you might want to learn more about the possible extension of I-794 through Caledonia.

In January, Ron Coutts, the Village President, established an ad hoc committee to look at how the Interstate might extend from Oak Creek through Caledonia via Highway 31.

Board Members Tom Weatherston and Kevin Wanggaard will be on the Committee, which will meet for the first time Wednesday.

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Weatherston said he would like to find a way for I-794 and Highway 31 to link up because it creates a link between Milwaukee and Chicago.

“This means opportunities exist here for business growth,” Weatherston said.

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However, if changes are to be considered, the land use plan would also need to be reconsidered because when the land use plan was done, Highway 31 was still a two-lane road.

“We’ve been talking about updating the land use plan and looking at where we want to be,” Weatherston said. “With Wal-Mart proposing to build an 115,000 square-foot store last week, this has the potential for other properties on 31 that should be commercial.”

But Weatherston said many people living near the proposed Wal-Mart have already voiced opposition.

“The people on Highway 31 want the development to be on Highway 32,” Weatherston said. “But a development this large is hard to do on 32.”

In January, the Community Development Authority from Julie Anderson, director of Racine County Planning and Caledonia's zoning administrator and Peter Glaser, of CB Richard Ellis Real Estate, about that very topic.

Anderson said in January that the Highway 32 the corridor has several development difficulties, including where the corridor is located and low traffic counts.

With heavy development occurring on Highway 38 in Oak Creek, 27th Avenue in Franklin and Highway 31 in Racine, Caledonia residents are already used to traveling to those areas to shop and there's just not enough residential growth to support retailers here, Anderson said.

Glaser agreed.

"Caledonia is close enough, but kind of far away and retailers just don't see a reason to come here," he said.

"Another problem you have is assembling desirable acreage," Julie Anderson said. "Buying buildings is just not that easy to do right now."

But bringing more traffic flow through the area via I-794 could change that dynamic significantly, which is what Weatherston and Wanggaard will be discussing at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave.


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