The Truth About Forest Park Controversy

The Simple Facts about the Forest Park Neighborhood Controversy
Double Standard of Arboretum Homeowners Assoc. Offends All Dane Co. Landowners

1. Issue: The UW Arboretum Neighborhood Association does not want two new homes built in the Forest Park neighborhood, as well as the remodeling of an existing home adjacent to the UW Arboretum. They are claiming that any new construction or remodeling projects will hurt the environment.

Fact: A building permit was issued on 8/24/2006 for an existing home literally across the street from the proposed site of the two new homes. The extensive remodeling which is currently underway on this existing home, which is actually closer to Lake Wingra, includes the addition of a two car garage, an additional bedroom, additional bathroom and deck. It seems construction under their terms is ok, but not for anyone else. This clearly is a double standard and not the way Dane County operates.

“Clearly this group has no trouble with construction on their neighbor’s homes and on their terms. If they did, they would have vehemently opposed this extensive remodeling job at 2601 Arboretum Drive,” said Darren Kittleson. “They are just opposed to the homes they don’t like or want in their neighborhood. This is a neighborhood filled with UW professors and intellectuals who clearly feel they have a right to dictate who lives in this pristine area. Dane County residents should be outraged at their elitist actions.”

2. Issue: The neighborhood association has stated that the septic systems of any new construction would tax the environment and hurt Lake Wingra.

Fact: Many homes in the neighborhood have aging septic systems, including some thought to be over 60 years old. Even Ronald Kalil, a prominent UW professor and the head of the neighborhood association on his website, states “…the capacity of the land in the unsewered segment of the Arboretum Neighborhood to filter waste water is being stressed by the existing septic systems. Adding three new septic systems likely will increase the leakage of contaminants into the soil, compounding the adverse affects on the UW Arboretum and Lake Wingra that already may be underway.”

There has been no discussion in the press from the neighborhood association about replacing their aging septic systems. According to the “Water Supply in Dane County” report by the Dane County Regional Planning Commission, failing septic systems are cited as a main cause of elevated nitrate levels. On the contrary, any new homes built will have state-of-the-art systems that are not leeching into the environment.

“The neighborhood association appears more than willing to fight to stop two new homes from being built, but is unwilling to do their part to stop their polluting of Lake Wingra with aging septic systems,” said Kittleson.

“If they were true guardians of the lake, then they would do whatever possible, be it new septic systems, hooking up to City of Madison sewer, or as we proposed to Kevin McSweeney, the Director of UW Arboretum, creating an association-wide covenant that would put in place regulations for building size, materials and green space.”

“The neighbors know full well it is not about the protection of the environment,” he continued. “The issue is they don’t want these two homes going up and blocking their view of the lake.”

3. Issue: Because other routes have failed, the neighborhood association is attempting to change Dane County Zoning Ordinances to prohibit these two homes from being built. The amendment proposed would impact over 900 parcels of land and over 350 land owners.

Fact: When the land was purchased, it was zoned residential, as it has been since homes began being built in this neighborhood in the 1930s. Desperate to do whatever they can to stop the building of two eco-friendly homes that are actually smaller than many homes in the neighborhood, they are attempting to change Dane County’s zoning laws.

“Once again, this group has proven it will do whatever it takes to stop these two homes from being built in their neighborhood. They have seen our blueprints and know we are proposing homes that fit perfectly into the neighborhood both size and material wise,” said Kittleson. “Since they saw we were in compliance with all county zoning laws, they have attempted to legislate this issue and don’t seem to care it will impact over 900 other lots in Dane County. Most of those property owners have no idea this will impact them.”

The Dane County Board of Adjustments will vote on the amendment that will impact these 900 parcels of land on October 26, 2006
The Dane County Zoning and Land Regulation Committee and Environmental, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will hold a public hearing on this Ordinance Amendment on October 18, 2006 , at the City-County Building beginning at 5:30 p.m.

4. Issue: The Homeowner’s Association has stressed that the sole purpose of this project is for the profit of the developers.

Fact: Every home in the Arboretum that has sold over the past 20 years has been sold for a profit. To illustrate, a home sold in 1991 on 2510 Marshall Parkway for $250,000, then sold again in 2005 for $803,000. “I think those sitting in expensive glass houses should not be throwing stones,” said Kittleson.

5. Issue: The association is stating that these homes are within 1,000 ft. of shoreland and are on substandard sized lots and because of this, they should not be built.

Fact: Since 1950, under the exact same laws that are in place today, five other homes that meet the same criteria of the proposed homes have been built. If the intention of the current ordinance was to prevent building, these five homes would not have gone upbeen built. In addition, the home undergoing an extensive remodeling on 2601 Arboretum Drive is actually closer to the lake than the proposed site of the two new homes.

“We have followed every channel to the letter of the law, applied for all necessary permits and have already been granted our zoning permits,” says Kittleson. “At every opportunity the facts have been terribly misrepresented by the neighborhood association. Plain and simple, they are not against building in the arboretum. Rather, they are against these two homes being built in their neighborhood. Perhaps they don’t want a home blocking their view. Or even worse, now that they have secured their own spot in one of the most premier areas of Dane County, they don’t want to let anyone else in.”