Questions Raised about Land Use Group's Makeup

The Caledonia land use plan work group will meet for the first time Wednesday, and not everyone is happy with the way the group was put together.

The work group assembled to look at the village’s land use plan after Walmart applied to build a supercenter on land formerly designated for a village center. More specifically, the group is tasked with looking at both the zoning and county overlay plan for the site at 4-Mile and Green Bay Roads.

Katie Tiderman, a vocal big box opponent, questions the way the work group was assembled, pointing out that residents who were members of the previous Plan Commission were never contacted and neither was the general manager of KMart, a business representative on the original group as well.

"The process of re-convening this workgroup is suspicious at best. Several previous members were not contacted," she said. "No criteria was established on how to deal with those who had left the Caledonia area."

Village Clerk Karie Torkilsen, though, confirmed to Patch in an email that letters went out as planned to everyone on the list of prior workgroup members.

"Everyone got a letter," she wrote. 

Susan Greenfield, former town president, said she is looking forward to participating in the planning group. She was part of the original land use group and said she didn't get a letter until she called Village Hall and spoke to Village Administrator Mark Janiuk.

"I know Mark is truthful so when he said some letters hadn't been sent yet, I was fine with that. I think the new group is good so people can get an understanding of the thinking that was used for that original plan," she said. "I'm hopeful our participation will shed new light to get a new recommendation to the village board."

Former Plan Commission member Bill Sasse confirmed he got a letter, but he will not participate because of scheduling conflicts.

"I have a full schedule and can't commit the time right now," he said.

Most concerning to Tiderman is that Deb Tomczyk, an attorney for Walmart, is participating in the work group. During the March 13 commission meeting, members agreed that because Walmart is interested in buying the land, Tomczyk is acting as the property owners' agent and those residents deserve a voice even if that voice is also from Walmart.

"(Tomczyk) is unlike ANY OTHER applicant in that she is paid and she represents the residents who are applying for the amendment," Tiderman wrote in an email. "Any other resident has a vested interest most likely because they own a home or a business. They are not paid, they are not asking for a change."

Greenfield is also concerned about Walmart's involvement in the group.

"That seems odd," she said. "If the landowners want a voice, then they should participate, not Walmart."

But Plan Commission member Bill Folk downplays Tomczyk's involvement because, in the end, hers is just one voice among many.

"Yes, she's going to be representing the company and the landowners, but she is only one voice in the discussion, not the deciding voice," he said.