DOOR COUNTY (NBC 26) — The Village of Egg Harbor Board of Trustees has delayed a decision on whether to approve a 50-unit condominium development at the Alpine golf course.
- At Wednesday's meeting, the board tabled the vote until May.
- Neighbors spoke both in favor of and against the proposed condo development.
- The 50 units would be located on part of the existing course along Horseshoe Bay Road.
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.)
"I'd like to make a motion to table this discussion," said Village President John Heller.
The Village Board delayed the vote, saying that they need more time to review the plans they received only last week.
Chad Fradette, the developoment project manager, said he understands the need for the pause.
"You can't expect the Village Board to take such a big project and have all this public testimony against it, few were for it, but you can't expect them to digest that in a matter of just a few days," said Fradette.
Developer Randy Abrahams is seeking approval to build 50 condos along a stretch of the Alpine Golf Course that he owns on Horseshoe Bay Road.
According to the village, Abrahams plans to use the proceeds from condo sales to fund upgrades to the golf course.
Neighbor Scott Rasmussen believes that units converted into long-term vacation homes could help boost the local economy.
"There's a lot of spending that happens on a vacation home and when you visit on a weekend," said Rasmussen.
But others in Egg Harbor, like Kathy Navis, a member of the Plan Commission, voted against the project.
"The residents of this community don't want to see beautiful open space turned into more housing that isn't actually housing for people who live here. It would be second homes, third homes," said Navis.
Former Wisconsin State Senator Rob Cowles, who owns rental cottages in Egg Harbor, says he would prefer to see the space used for something else.
"We don't have Peninsula State Park, we don't have any of that. Wouldn't it be nice for this region, the Egg Harbor complex, to have a natural area," said Cowles.
Cowles says he has spoken with neighbors about raising money to purchase the golf course.
Fradette, says the course is not for sale, but the Alpine team would consider selling the land where the development would be built.
The board now has more than a month to carefully consider the project and address the many concerns before the vote, which is scheduled for May 14.
