People:
I'm unable to attend the meeting tonight due to a previous
commitment. Hence this e-mail.
It's time, as they say, to fish or cut bait on the Military
Ridge State Trail-Cannonball Path bridge access to the McKee Road
bicycle lanes.
Initially, I favored the west plan, and still think
that's the best option. But we have a bad neighbor (General Beverage)
there, interested only in itself. On the east we have a good neighbor
(Midwest Decorative Stone) which worked with everyone and even kicked
in $46,750 for a re-design to protect the firm's visibility.
While the east plan has some obvious shortcomings in
path width and proximity to things that will need some sort of a
barrier, I believe it is the path of least resistance. With paving
of Cannonball imminent, it's important to get this done ASAP. This is
a major link in the network of trails and paths that make Fitchburg
stand out in bicycle transportation. It's here now and inaction and
delay are not good options.
So, my thinking has evolved to the point at which we
need to just go ahead with what appears to be the latest, which calls
for an east access path. In doing that the city should work closely
with the good neighbor, Midwest Decorative Stone, to make sure the
desires and interests of that company are taken into consideration.
It's been suggested to me by an engineer familiar
with bike path design that the high cyclone fence idea be discarded
in favor of a more aesthetic and less hazardous separation barrier,
perhaps even low shrubbery. Better to crash in bushes than contact a
steel fence. And with good landscaping it would enhance the view of
the good neighbor from McKee Road.
On the west it appears the bad neighbor simply wants
to grab property purchased with Stewardship dollars and use it for
beer truck parking purposes. I'm advised by DNR that's technically
possible if Fitchburg comes up with replacement property of equal
value. How that would even happen, I don't know. But the city
remains the key decision maker here.
Meantime, I strongly oppose ANY effort by Fitchburg to
turn over ANY property acquired by Stewardship money to a private
business. This money was not allocated to promote private enterprise.
These are my personal views as an interested party and
resident of Fitchburg and not those of any organization in which I serve.
"Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia." -- H.G Wells, A Modern Utopia, 1905
Bill Hauda
14 Northlight Way
Fitchburg, WI 53711
608-574-4471
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