Neighbors speak out against developer idea for multifamily complex in Trempealeau

More than 30 neighbors filled Trempealeau Village Hall last Thursday to share the same feeling — they will fight every step of the process should somebody attempt to bring an apartment complex to their neighborhood.

The village board voted unanimously to approve a certified survey map — or the splitting into two lots — of the property at 24314 10th Street, owned by Jane Wood. The property was split into a 0.38 acre lot, where Wood’s home sits, as well as an open 1.28 acres of land.

The bigger lot could be sold, and potential buyer Will Hilton has floated the idea of possibly proposing a two-story, 55-and-over apartment complex on the property if he buys it, according to discussions at Thursday’s meeting. No official proposal or sale has occurred.

Hilton was not at the meeting, but neighbors of the property say they won’t stand for it, especially since the land is zoned for single-family homes. Added traffic flow was a repeated concern.

“You can’t control that they stay 55-and-older,” neighbor Charlene Nelson told the board of the idea. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve lived in apartment buildings before we bought our home, and there were times I haven’t even felt safe with deadbolts on the door and secure entrances. So the fact that that could come two blocks from my home and put my kids at risk (is concerning),” she said.

Jim Schultz lives close to the property, and he said the value of his home could “plummet” if such a complex was built. Another resident read a letter from neighbor James Benkowski opposing any future zoning change, and about 10 others spoke against the idea.

A developer such as Hilton would have to purchase the land and then come back to the village for a rezoning of the property and get the complex approved. A buyer could also purchase the property and sell the land for single-family homes.

The board approved the splitting of the lots for Wood but would need to vote again before any development occurs.

Hilton was asked to talk to neighbors about his idea ahead of the meeting, village president Kurt Wood said, but multiple neighbors said they hadn’t heard from him. An acquaintance of Hilton said he planned to reach out after he bought the property, to which the audience became animated.

Multiple board members said they were glad to see the community speak on the idea and show what they are feeling. None of them took issue with Jane Wood selling the property, but they wanted assurance from the village that the complex wasn’t coming.

Board member Jeff Barry said he understands the concerns and told the neighbors that they needed to continue to voice them as the process unfolds if the buyer chooses to pursue the idea. 

But he and other members also supported Jane Wood’s right to sell her property, and the complex has no guarantee or promise of moving forward.

“I personally appreciate the community coming to show their viewpoint on this property and letting the potential buyer of the property know exactly how the community feels and what opposition he’s going to have, whether it’s sold to that person or somebody else,” Barry said. “It’s also their right to divide their property and move to sell that property.”