Mequon petitions MMSD for sewer service expansion with eye toward smaller lots

Mequon - The city will ask the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for permission to expand its sewer service area, the first step toward the creation of subdivisions that would have smaller lots and houses that would appeal to empty-nesters or young families.

The city is at the head of the system that flows south to treatment plants in Milwaukee. The sewer system south of Mequon must have the capacity to handle additional flows for approval to come, a question that will be answered by MMSD.

City staff estimates that a zoning change to either half-acre or three-quarter-acre lots in the west end of the city would allow new subdivisions with houses in the $375,000 price range. The new housing could benefit the Mequon-Thiensville School District, which is facing declining enrollment.

Community Development Director Kim Tollefson said there are two potential areas for housing development. One is the central growth area between Mequon and Donges Bay roads and between Swan and Wauwatosa roads. The second, or west, growth area is between Mequon and Donges Bay roads and Wausaukee and Granville roads.

Both areas are close to existing sewers and subdivisions similar to those envisioned by city planners.

The estimated cost of sewer expansion in those areas, $11 million for the west growth area and $3 million for the central area, point to development first in the central area.

Tollefson told the council Tuesday night that two developers have expressed an interest in the central area.

The land in the southwest portion of the city, along Wausaukee Road, would likely be developed as industrial property, Alderwoman Pam Adams said, because it is adjacent to similar uses in Milwaukee and Germantown.

Tollefson said sewer expansion would likely be done in stages as developers come forward with projects.

Council members want to avoid an expansion of the sewer district without accompanying development, as the burden of funding the expansion would fall on existing sewer customers following past practice with expansion.

However, Finance Director Tom Watson said he would investigate alternative funding for a future meeting.

If MMSD agrees to the expansion of the district, the city would also have to formally accept it. Tollefson said it will likely take four to six months for MMSD to make a decision.