Politics & Government
Village Hall Parking Expansion on the Horizon
The Plan Commission will have the final say on whether to approve a $417,500 offer to purchase 7 acres of property adjacent to Village Hall to add 40 to 50 parking stalls.
Village leaders are hoping to purchase a vacant property adjacent to the to expand parking.
The Village Board this week approved a $417,500 offer to purchase seven acres, which includes a home, at W156N8514 Pilgrim Rd. The offer is based on the property’s appraised value. The vacant home would be demolished to make room for a new parking lot. Open space on the property would also be preserved.
The total assessed value of the property is $291,100, which is significantly lower than the offer. While assessed values are based on the land’s current use, which is a single-family residential home, the village approved a condominium plan for the site in 2006, which is the reason for the larger appraised value.
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In 2010, an independent appraisal firm put a price tag of $420,000 on the property.
“That’s the basis for the distinction between the assessed and appraised values,” Fitzgerald said. “Clearly we are purchasing the land closer to the appraised value, which is not atypical relative to these circumstances.”
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The Civic Center is home to Village Hall, the library, municipal court, the police department and recently the administration offices for the Menomonee Falls School District. As the center for so much activity, parking has become an issue in the lot along Pilgrim Road for employees in the many departments, said Johnson.
“We believe we could fit about 40 to 50 parking stalls over there, so this would be a significant addition to our parking,” said Utilities and Public Works Director Arlyn Johnson.
Monies for the property purchase would come from a municipal facilities improvement fund, which Johnson said has available capital.
Village leaders expedited the approval process for the purchase offer because the current owner might have a potential tenant. Rather than going to the Plan Commission and then to the Village Board, the process was reversed. The purchase offer will go to the Plan Commission for a final approval at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall.
If commissioners vote against the purchase offer, it would go back to the Village Board for consideration.
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