North Cape residents win round one

At tonight's Franklin common council meeting, residents affected by the North Cape Road construction were told their trees would be saved. The city informed the county that they did not want to use state money that required the widening of the road, adding curb and gutter and sidewalks. Those impovements would have changed the character of this rustic road in a rural setting.

Over 300 trees would have been destroyed. Many of the trees were several hundred years old. Residents told the common council at earlier meetings they woud prefer to live with a road in disrepair rather than loose their trees and the character of their neighborhood.

The actual reconstruction of this road now lies in the hands of county officials. The county must approve funds to go forward with road construction. Originally, the county wanted to use state funds to reconstuct North Cape Road. Now the county will have to find the funding within their own budget. So it' not a done deal yet.

North Cape Road residents speak out

At Tuesday's common council meeting, residents learned more details about the S. North Cape Road project. People who spoke to the common council were opposed to the character change of their neighboorhood and losing their mature trees. Those who spoke were opposed to sidewalks, curbs and gutters, all designed toward an urban setting.     

Residents learned that Milwaukee County was using state funding to reconstruct S. North Cape Road. It is the State of Wisconsin that was requiring the sidewalks, curbs and gutters as part of a requirement for the money.

Residents made it clear that if they had to accept the requirements of the state for the urban setting, they would prefer to leave the road in its current condition. The common council postponed the issue to February 4. The mayor and common council directed staff and the city attorney to determine if there was another way to obtain the money without the requirements the residents don't want.

Neighbors fight for a voice on local issue

Tonight's common council meeting agenda includes Item G7: Selection of alternate design for reconstruction of S. North Cape Road. This should be an interesting discussion.  The last time the city held a meeting on this topic over 100 residents attended. The real issue is whether or not residents have a say in issues that affect them and their neighborhood. The residents on N. Cape Road were presented with two plans. It appears that the city is steering residents toward the plan the city wants, not the plan the residents want.

At the recent city meeting, comment sheets were provided. The majority of comments are opposed to the plan the city is proposing.

North Cape Road Neighborhood Meeting Draws Large Crowd

Over 100 residents turned out for a neighborhood meeting tonight. The meeting was sponsored by the Milwaukee County Dept. of Transportation and the City of Franklin. The purpose of the meeting was to get local input on two design alternatives for a section of North Cape Road from Hi View Drive to S. Carroll Circle. Milwaukee County wants to give North Cape Road to the City of Franklin. The City of Franklin is willing to take it but they want the county to make improvements on the road first before the judicial transfer takes place.

Concerned residents were vocal in expressing their opinions. One of the plans for this rural area of Franklin is to install sidewalks, curbs and gutters to make it an urban setting. Many of the homeowners in attendance want to keep the rural setting but don't want the ditch expanded and the loss of trees on their properties. The Franklin common council will take up this issue at the January 21, 2014 meeting.