Is a Planning Department in Caledonia's Future?

After Caledonia trustees voted unanimously Monday to designate the corner of 4-Mile and Green Bay roads as an office park, residents applauded.

The move effectively killed Walmart's plans to build a 182,000 square foot supercenter there.

But now what? 

Designating the area as an office park is one thing; attracting development is quite another. Trustee Kathy Trentadue admitted the office park market isn't currently experiencing a growth trend.

"You never know," she said. "(The chances) for an office park development probably aren't great because that market isn't growing right now."

Caledonia does not have a planning department and instead contracts out with Racine County. Trustees Kevin Wanggaard and Tom Weatherston say it's time for that to change to help attract diverse business development.

"We need people focused on the pieces of Caledonia that are primed for development both now and in the future," Wanggaard said.

Weatherston agreed.

"We're a village now and it's time for us to act like one instead of like a town," Weatherston noted.

Trustee Jim Dobbs said planning can be complicated and funding the position even worse. Still, he sees the potential benefits.

"I don't know if we'll get there or not," he said. "But I can see the need though we might not need anyone full-time."

As for whether or not its financial feasible for Caledonia to hire a planner, Trentadue is erring on the side of probably not.

"I just don't know how we could afford it," she said.