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Dear Friend, On Jan. 2 a front page article in the Wisconsin State Journal was headlined, "Fitchburg wants Lake Waubesa construction zone approved –
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Fitchburg's mayor pushes for NEN development, hopes the voters won't notice.
Shawn Pfaff was hoping the DNR would just automatically review CARPC's rejection of his NEN proposal, and that he wouldn't have to take a deeply unpopular stand in favor of this risky and unnecessary development scheme that will benefit politically connected developers, just before the mayoral elections on Feb. 17 (primary) and April 7 (general).
But the DNR said a formal request was necessary (see below for more details) and so at the direction of Shawn Pfaff, Administrator Tony Roach made the request ever so quietly on Jan. 7, and the DNR agreed to move ahead with the review. |
Background:
Here are the first two paragraphs of the WSJ article:
"Fitchburg leaders want the state Department of Natural Resources to approve a controversial development plan for 924 acres of environmentally sensitive land near Lake Waubesa, but they aren’t asking very loudly.
Mayor Shawn Pfaff says the state should approve the plan without another formal request by the City Council. But his opponent in the spring election charged that Pfaff is seeking to avoid public action that could rile hundreds of potential voters who oppose the development."
To read more, click here. |
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has the final say over Urban Service Area amendments, and overturned two rejections by the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) in 2011 (Mazomanie) and 2012 (Verona).
"But in those cases, the municipalities made formal appeals. DNR water quality bureau director Susan Sylvester said Friday that without such a request, the agency doesn’t review regional planning commission decisions."
So without telling anyone, even the Common Council, Pfaff had Tony Roach request the review. Why doesn't he want the public to know what he's doing? |
 Dane County Executive Joe Parisi |
Joe Parisi urges transparency
On Jan. 8, in response to the WSJ article, (and not knowing that Fitchburg had already made its formal request) Dane County Executive Joe Parisi sent a letter to DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, urging that the DNR formally set forth the procedures that Fitchburg (and any municipality) must follow if they want the DNR to review a CARPC decision. Click here to read the whole letter. |
 Deep Spring Creek in the Waubesa Wetlands.
Photo by Cal DeWitt |
His letter concludes with this important observation:
"Dane County's citizens spend approximately $800,000 on CARPC's operation, and at a minimum, they are entitled to a transparent and fair process when it comes to amending, sometimes in radical ways, its Water Quality Plan. Without clarity in process, municipalities could utilize the DNR to avoid public scrutiny of controversial amendments to Dane County's Water Quality Plan."
We thank County Executive Parisi for his many actions over the years to protect Lake Waubesa and all of our lakes and wetlands! |
 Alder Steve Arnold is running against the incumbent Shawn Pfaff, and we support him! |
Elections offer voters a chance to decide Fitchburg's future
This spring's mayoral election in Fitchburg is a lot more exciting than past elections, especially for those who care about good planning, taxpayer's pocketbooks, and the environment! There are four candidates for mayor (in alphabetical order):
Jay Allen, former Fitchburg alder (1993-2009) and Fitchburg mayor (2009-2011). Website
Steve Arnold, Fitchburg alder from 2005 to the present. Website
Shawn Pfaff, former Fitchburg alder (2009-2011) and current Fitchburg mayor (2011-present). Website
Janelle Rice, Fitchburg resident and former neighborhood president. No website at presstime.
There will be a nonpartisan primary election on Tues. Feb. 17.
The two top vote-getters in the primary will then run in the April 7 general election. |
The West Waubesa Preservation Coalition's Board of Directors has voted to endorse Steve Arnold for mayor of Fitchburg.
Since our founding in 2005, the WWPC has been impressed with Alder Steve Arnold's integrity, intelligence, hard work, and dedication to his values. We haven't always agreed with him on everything, but especially over the last several years, as the current mayor began to push to develop the Northeast Neighborhood and the North Stoner Prairie Neighborhood, Steve has been our staunchest ally.
Along with Alder Dorothy Krause, he has consistently testified against and voted against bringing these two rural areas into the Urban Service Area, and has been an eloquent, determined, and indefatigable proponent of responsible city planning that preserves our precious lands and waters and serves the entire community.
Steve cares deeply about the Yahara chain of lakes, our fragile planet, and the residents of Fitchburg. He sums up his values this way:
"I believe that Fitchburg's local government should protect and empower every resident, not just the politically well-connected. I will work to make Fitchburg ever more beautiful, livable, and sustainable for all residents, now and in the future."
Our best chance to preserve Lake Waubesa and the Waubesa Wetlands is to elect Steve Arnold as mayor, and a majority on the city council who share his values. Please vote on Feb. 17 and April 7! |
 Michael Childers is running against incumbent Carol Poole in District 1. |
Aldermanic races
There are also 6 contested, and 2 uncontested aldermanic races in Fitchburg. Here are the candidates. If you are a Fitchburg resident and want to know who your aldermanic choices are, click here to see a map of the four aldermanic districts. If you are not sure which district you are in, click here and enter your address to learn your district and your voting place.
Each district is represented by two alders, who run for different seats. So, for example, in District 2 you can vote for either Gary Hoerchner or Patrick Stern, AND you can vote for either Julia Arata-Fratta or Roger Backes or Matthew Pulda. |
 Roger Backes, aldermanic candidate in District 2 |
D1- running unopposed is Dorothy Krause (incumbent)
D1 – Michael Childers vs. Carol Poole (incumbent)
D2 - Gary Hoerchner vs. Patrick Stern (incumbent)
D2 – Julia Arata-Fratta vs. Roger Backes vs. Matthew Pulda
D3 – Jason Gonzalez (incumbent) vs. Roger Laurel Tesch
D3 - Dan Carpenter (incumbent) vs. Zyronia Mims
D4 - running unopposed is Jacob "Jake" Johnson
D4 - Michael Gernetzke vs. Henrick "Tony" Hartmann
We will be sending the aldermanic candidates a questionnaire to find out their views on the issues that are important to us, and we'll endorse some of them in later e-newsletters. Stay tuned! |
 Tony Hartmann, aldermanic candidate in District 4 |
Elections have consequences!
The outcome of these elections will likely decide the future of the Northeast Neighborhood, the Waubesa Wetlands, and Lake Waubesa. Please take the time to educate yourselves about how these people have voted in the past (if they are incumbents), and ask the challengers in your district how they will vote in the future on these issues. |
 Zyronia Mims is running against incumbent Dan Carpenter in District 3. |
The current mayor and council majority have shown they are in favor of developing the Northeast Neighborhood. But with Steve Arnold as mayor and a new council majority, this fiscally and environmentally risky development can be stopped. Use your vote to protect your environment and your pocketbook! |
Mayoral candidates' forum Thurs., Feb. 5!
The Fitchburg Star will hold a forum at the Fitchburg Senior Center (enter at the back of the Community Center at 5510 Lacy Rd.) on Thursday, Feb. 5. We'll let you know the details as soon as they are announced.
What questions should the Fitchburg Star ask the mayoral candidates? They are asking for ideas on their Facebook page, so if you do Facebook, please give them suggestions! You can also email the Star at fitchburgstar@wcinet.com.
Not many people vote in primary elections, so your vote will be even more significant than usual. Please encourage all your Fitchburg friends who care about our lakes and wetlands to vote for Steve Arnold for mayor on Feb. 17 and again on April 7! |
 The southern end of Lake Waubesa, looking northwesterly towards the Northeast Neighborhood.
Photo © Nadia Olker |
Thank you for all you have done and will do. We've gotten farther than anyone thought possible, so hang in there 'til we win!
Yours,
Phyllis Hasbrouck
Chair of the West Waubesa Preservation Coalition
www.westwaubesa.org
westwaubesa@gmail.org |
 The Waubesa Wetlands after a storm. Thanks for helping us to protect them!
Photo by Cal DeWitt |
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