Commission Approves Near South Side Area Plan
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Although this meeting of the City Plan Commission was light on large scale development projects, there were two items of interest on the agenda.
First up were long over due improvements, or repairs, for the Schlitz Park Riverwalk This section of the Riverwalk dates to 1988 and is considered “the original district.” The plan includes adding a low retaining wall of poured in place concrete that will be landscaped with trees and shrubs along 1100 linear feet of the river. This file was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.
The other item of interest was the presentation of the
Near South Side Area Plan. The planning team included members from the Department of City Development, the consulting firm HNTB, and a variety of members from the community. The group explained that this process has gone on for over a year and that over 140 people attend their March 17th, 2009 public meeting. The plan included a long list of of catalytic projects, and suggestions to develop the area. It recommended that S. 2nd St become more of a main street, with narrower streets, improved streetscape, and there should be efforts to attract local retail operators. In the Mitchell St. area the plan included improving pedestrian access to parking in the rear of the buildings, the development of market rate or subsidized housing on the block, and the possible creation of a Mitchell Street Market. Another project included the creation of the Ceasar Chavez Signature Development which would be a mixed use building with retail on the first floor and subsidized housing above. The most significant redevelopment plan involved the Reed Street Yards. The plan suggested reconnecting the site with the surrounding street grid, providing open space and access to the water, encouraged taller building configurations, and suggested that attracting research based business should be explored. Other suggestions included improved connections to the Menomonee Valley, a new Urban Ecology branch, the creation of a dedicated non-profit organization to develop the 5th and National cultural, arts, and entertainment district, creation of river node parks, and an extension of the Riverwalk system.
This plan wasn’t without opposition. A couple of residents spoke in opposition explaining they felt there wasn’t enough community involvement. One resident asked “why fix something that doesn’t need to be fixed?” He went on to say that “if you approve it, it will cause a lot of racial and economic disparity in the district.” Despite these concerns the plan was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.
City Plan Commission Approves South Side Comprehensive Plan
Menomonee Valley proposed development would not provide enough jobs needed for the district, according to Carolyn Seboe, HNTB Consulting
Milwaukee (ECNN)-On Monday, members of City Plan Commission chaired by Patricia Torres Najera unanimously decided to approve the controversial South Side Comprehensive Plan despite opposition to approve it. The plan has come underfire for the lack of community awareness of the plan, affects, and possible gentrification affect it will have in the predominately Hispanic area.
The planning advisory group in favor of the plan was led by Michael J. Maierle, Strategic Planning Manager for the Milwaukee Department of City Development. Maierle told the commission the plan had been in the works for two years and the community had been informed. Dr. Tony Baez, executive director for the Center of the Spanish Speaking who spoke in favor of the plan said that El Conquistador Newspaper was used to advertise the plan and meetings. Baez also said that Maria Cameron-Monreal was in favor along with others who participated in the planning, but Maria was not present at the meeting.
Victor Huyke, Publisher of El Conquistador Newspaper said, “I published the ad the weekend before they unveiled the plan at the Harley Davidson museum. The city didn’t pay for the ad, I paid for the ad to let the community known how important it was for them to participate.” The Department of City Development has had no ads published in El Conquistador within the last two years concerning the South side Comprehensive Plan, according to Huyke.
Another member of the Maierle’s advisory group, Carolyn Seboe from HNTB Consulting said that the South side was predominately residential and the advisory plan would bring jobs to the area although the Menomonee Valley proposed development would not provide enough jobs needed for the district. Maierle said, the South side “provides the labor force for most of the metro area.”
In opposition, H. Nelson Goodson who resides in the area where the comprehensive plan is being proposed says, the community just became aware of the proposed advisory plan last month when it was unveiled at the Harley Davidson museum. The lack of awareness was contributed to a lack of advertising in the Latino community. Goodson told the commission that the plan failed to mention the taxes and revenues generated from the South side district for the city. “The city of Milwaukee needs transparency and the public needs to know how much tax revenue has been generated in the area to benefit the city, compared to other districts. I don’t believe the plan will actually benefit our community in the South side, if aldermen and developers use it as a tool to try and force small businesses and residents from the area just because they no longer fit in the plan. I suspect, if an audit would be requested on how much money was actually used from the $150,000 to fund the advisory Near South Side Area Plan was geared for advertising in the Latino community, we would be surprised to learn very minimal or none advertising dollars were used,” Goodson said.
Goodson emphasized, the 12th Aldermanic district alone is not just residential, but has at least fifteen business districts within and some of those Business Improvement Districts (BID) including the Cesar E. Drive was not included in the planning. The plan shows a new market place between S. 5th St. to S. 6th St. on the South side of W. Historic Mitchell St., which Alderman Jim Witkowiak owns most of the block.
On Tuesday, Witkowiak said he learned about the proposed market on his property on March 17, when the plan was first unveiled at the Harley Davidson Museum. Baez told the commission that he personally met and talked to Witkowiak various times and he knew about the market from the beginning. Witkowiak denied Baez statement, but said he was aware that an arch with the named of W. Historic Mitchell St. was proposed on Mitchell.
In brief, the conceptual plan eliminated Witkowiak Funeral Home, the SER Jobs for Progress building and various other businesses on W. Historic Mitchell St. and replaces those businesses with a Market place. The plan eliminates the Milwaukee Ballet School, La Perla Restaurant, La Fuente Restaurant, Texture night club and other businesses from W. National Ave. to W. Priece St. along S. 5th St. and replacing them with other buildings and residential lofts. On S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr., the South West corner where the Old El Rey Super Market parking lot is located at on W. Walker St. is replaced by a three story apartment complex.
The plan has no reference to naming streets in Spanish, Latino leaders monuments or any historical markers identifying the area predominately Hispanic and its reach culture.
No Spanish interpreters were available at the City Plan Commission meeting. Few Latinos that attended could not speak because of the lack of an interpreter. Maierle told the commission a short summary version of the proposed plan was available in Spanish, but on Tuesday Karen Mierow, Project Manager for the Near South Side Plan said there is no summary plan in Spanish yet until the final project approval is granted by the Common Council. The project summary in Spanish would then be posted on the web for the Department of City Development site, according to Mierow. “This is one of the reasons I’m opposing the plan, because people, residents, and businesses in the district are being excluded from participating in the plan. It’s unfortunate that Mr. Maierle and Dr. Baez say advertisement was made in the Latino community for the plan, and for Mr. Maierle to actually tell the commission that a Spanish summary of the plan was available, when none is available yet,” Goodson said.
Ernesto Nava who lives in the South side also opposes the current advisory plan. Nava told the commission Maierle’s advisory group failed to properly inform the public about the proposed plan, because in our community there are multiple media outlets in Spanish, television, radio, magazines, newspaper, and none were used to inform the Latino community in last few years. “The project sounds to good and beautiful, but it doesn’t cover our needs in the area. We need development in the area of providing hospitals, clinics, gyms for teenagers, newer schools, and to repair our streets and side walks. One of my major concerns is how low income families are going to afford to live in the area and to keep up with the proposed development and also how small businesses are going to fit in the plan. Non of these concerns were addressed in the plan by Maierle’s advisory group,” Nava said.
Both, Goodson and Nava requested the commission to postpone or table approval of the plan until the community and the BIDs in the area participate. The request fell on deaf ears.
Juan Luis Gutierrez, a South side resident was also present and opposed the plan, but did not speak.
The commission allowed Maierle, Baez, and members of their advisory group to speak various times while Goodson and Nava were denied by the commission any further comment to tried to clarify and provide information that would contradict the advisory group comments. Why?, probably the commission is rubber stamping the proposed South side project.
The plan controversy ignited back in December when the South East Comprehensive Plan approved by the Common Council was used by an alderman to keep AK Food Mart in Bay View from getting a Class “A” Malt license. At a License Committee hearing on December 15, 2008 they even brought Michael J. Maierle, Urban Planner from DCD to testify that it wouldn’t further the development plan, if a license was granted.
But a month later Ald. Tony Zielinski spear headed the approval of a liquor license to another business under construction called the Tonic Tavern in the 2300 block of S. KK without advising the neighborhood residents as required by law. Currently, Zielinski is a member of the License Committee and why hasn’t the DCD filed a formal complaint against Ald. Zielinski with the Common Council for violating the approved plan.
The South side Comprehensive plan which includes the 12th Aldermanic district and portions of Aldermanic districts 8, 11, 13, and 14 goes before the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee, on May 19, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 301 B, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. Finally, the Common Council is scheduled to vote on the plan on May 27, at 9:00 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers in Room 301 B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Thanks for the followup… I’m curious what specifically is of concern within the plan?
City Zoning Committee Unanimously Adopted Resolution
Spanish speaking taxpayers left out of the planning process
May 21, 2009
Milwaukee (ECNN) -Numerous Latino residents went before the City Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee on Tuesday to express opposition to the Near South Side Plan. Residents said the lack of information and a Spanish version of the plan left a majority of the community out of the process. The Near South Side district is a diverse, but predominantly Hispanic community, a population of 56% according to Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD).
The residents addressed their concerns to the five member panel of Aldermen James Witkowiak, Tony Zielinski, Robert J. Bauman, Willie C. Wade, and Michael Murphy that the plan was not provided in Spanish prior to the April 20 City Plan Commission approval. A four-page summary of the 200-page plan was later posted in Spanish on the DCD web site.
H. Nelson Goodson, a South side resident said, complained to the City Plan Commission in April that a majority of the Latino community was left out of the planning process, due to the lack of information about the plan in Spanish.
“Historic Mitchell, W. National and W. Lincoln business districts were seen as mix commercial, and the plan failed to acknowledge the present Latino businesses or to enhance their growth along these corridors. Also, the planners wrote, ‘the area is home to many new immigrants some are legal and some are illegal.’ But did not mention that many of the immigrants are tax paying residents and property owners on the South Side. The statement should not have been included in the plan, and should be removed. The plan should be tabled or postpone until the revisions and amendments are included,” Goodson said. Alderman Wade agreed with Goodson and instructed the planners to remove the statement about identifying new Immigrants as “legal and illegal.”
Other concerns from area residents were the lack of green space, and youth recreation. Ald. Zielinski told the planners that his task force had acquired five acres on S. 5th St. and W. Harrison St. for an indoor soccer field and wanted it added on the plan.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera told the Zoning Committee, that the plan wasn’t in Spanish to help inform the Latino community. “If the emphasis is going to be in any language, it should be in Spanish. If it’s not going to be bilingual…make the forums in Spanish, because that’s the bulk of the majority that have to give input,” Neumann-Ortiz said.
Juan Luis Gutierrez, Board Vice President of Voces de la Frontera said, “the people that live in my district weren’t fully informed. It’s unjust for the people who work so hard to provide a future for their children, and pay taxes were wiped of the map by not informing them about the plan in Spanish. The proof is evident, that there was no information provided in Spanish before it was approved by the City Plan Commission meeting in April. The Latino community is not being taken into account in the plan. The committee should table the plan and inform the community and let the community decide their future and if the community approves the plan later, Voces de la Frontera will support it.” Neumann-Ortiz translated for Gutierrez.
Maria Monreal-Cameron, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Management Contract Team for the plan, unexpectedly interrupted the meeting by standing up and asking Gutierrez if he spoke any English. Gutierrez responded very limited English. Alderman Wade asked Ald. Witkowiak to restore order. Monreal-Cameron apologized and said her action was out of habit.
Juana Mora, a South side resident also said, she went throughout the neighborhood and asked people if they knew anything about the plan. “None of the people I spoke with were aware of the plan.” The only source of information available was El Conquistador Newspaper who was informing the community about the plan and how it was real important to get involve. Why didn’t the planners provide any information in Spanish? Why wasn’t the Spanish media contacted?
Alderman Witkowiak, Committee Chair said, the planning meetings weren’t covered by the English media, neither. He didn’t know why?
“There was absolutely no purpose in translating a huge draft and you have to underscore draft into Spanish. Once all the input was gathered; once all the meetings were done; once all the tours had been done, then there would be a document summary in Spanish and now currently its on the web site (DCD)… The plan is just that, it’s a plan and it’s not a mandate written in stone… What I don’t want to see here gentlemen, and truly don’t want to see here is the crab mentality to surface once again and will pull those down and contain them, and will not let progress happen. We are open to all legitimate points. We know there’s going to be controversy, we know there is going to be opposition, we know that, and underscore legitimate, we are open to any legitimate concerns, and certainly we would work as group. We would bring people into committee and they can be part of the committee,” Monreal-Cameron, said. Monreal-Cameron’s offer comes to late since both the City Plan Commission and the Zoning Committee have already approved the plan.
Ald. Wade disagreed with Monreal-Cameron and asked, why is it a problem to have information translated? “It should be a priority.” Monreal-Cameron said, “we did our very, very, very best to try to be as inclusive as humanly possible.” Which Ald. Wade responded, “you may have done your best, but in my estimation your best was not good enough.”
“The Hmong people should have been represented too. They need to know it’s their houses, it’s their kids, it’s their grand kids, it’s their investment, it’s their future, it’s their tax dollars, they need to know what’s going on from the beginning,” said Ald. Wade as his statement drew applauds from the public.
Despite the South Side Area Plan has not been translated into Spanish, Ald. Wade moved to approve the plan and Ald. Murphy second the approval of the Near South Side Comprehensive Plan resolution. The plan passed unanimously.
The Zoning, Neighborhoods, & Development Committee replay of the 5/19/09 meeting will be aired in the City Channel 25 on cable on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
The plan now goes before the Common Council to vote on the plan on May 27, at 9:00 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers in Room 301 B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
@H. Nelson Goodson Thanks i didn’t need to write it up:)
Milwaukee Common Council Approves Near South Side Area Plan
Development plan considered discriminatory towards new immigrants, low-income residents, and Latino businesses along the Historic Mitchell, W. National and W. Lincoln Ave. corridors
May 29, 2009
Milwaukee (ECNN)- On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Common Council on a vote of 14-0 adopted the Near South Side Comprehensive Area Plan resolution. The crafters of the plan include, the consulting firm of HNTB, Department of City Development (DCD) planners, the Contract Management Team, and funding partners. The planners have been criticized by South side residents for creating one of the most controversial development plans in Milwaukee’s history. “I strongly believe, crafters of the plan discriminated against Spanish speaking taxpayers. The mere fact, that no public announcements about the planning sessions and invitations were ever provided in Spanish when the planning initially began in 2007 proves a majority of the Spanish speaking community were left out of the process. In April 20, the City Plan Commission approved the plan even though complaints were made about the lack of information in Spanish concerning the plan. Historic Mitchell, W. National and W. Lincoln business districts were seen as mix commercial, and the plan failed to acknowledge the present Latino businesses or to enhance their growth along these corridors. Also, the planners wrote, ‘the area is home to many new immigrants some are legal and some are illegal.’ The statement should not have been included in the plan, and should have been removed,” H. Nelson Goodson, a South side resident said.
On May 19, the Zoning Committee headed by Alderman James Witkowiak who represents the 12th Aldermanic District where the predominately Hispanic community resides approved the plan unanimously.
The only positive change was to provide a four-page summary of the 200-page plan, which was later posted in Spanish on the DCD web site, according to Goodson. The planners have been reluctant to make any changes and have failed to amend the plan to include aldermen requests. Alderman Tony Zielinski wanted an indoor Soccer Complex included in the plan on S. 5th St. and W. Harrison St. and Ald. Michael Murphy wanted to promote Latino Arts Council in the plan. The plan passed ‘as is’ on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Zoning Committee Approves Use Of Eminent Domain To Take Land
Aldermen passed land acquisition after proposed Latino restaurant and nightclub denied liquor license
By H. Nelson Goodson
June 11, 2009
Milwaukee – Last Tuesday, the city’s Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee decided on a 4-0 to approve a land acquisition resolution for job creation and development growth in the S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. corridor. The Zoning committee is chaired by South side 12th District Alderman James Witkowiak.
During the meeting, Elaine Miller from the Department of City Development (DCD) told the the committee members that “the city is exercising eminent domain…that will facilitate the expansion of Pete’s Fruit Market in the area of 16th and Greenfield and will contribute to the revitalization of the area.” The privately owned properties at 1443 and 1445-47 South Muskego Avenue were blight designated to facilitate the acquisition of the land by the Redevelopment Authority two weeks ago, according to Miller. The properties are currently owned by Anna and Eligio Cetina. The Cetina’s bought the land in 2002 and their business plan was to built a Mayan flavor food restaurant and night club. They previously received a liquor license, but expired due to various requests for basic improvements of their property by the DCD, which prevented them from developing their land, according to the Cetina’s. The property is not considered a nuisance and has never been cited as such.
The Cetina’s land acquisition resolution now goes before the full Common Council for approval on June 16th. The Cetina family plans to file a civil suit once the city takes final action to seize the land.
This action by the City of Milwaukee caught the attention of former U.S. Attorney and radio talk show host Jeff Wagner who said on Wednesday during his radio show on WTMJ 620 AM, “I think is shameful, I think this is gross abuse of eminent domain.”
Eminent Domain is used to purchase land for public interest such as building highways, public schools, hospitals and government facilities.
Pete Tsitiridis, owner and operator of Pete’s Fruit Market at 1400 S. Union St. wants to built a $5.7 million, 51,790-square-foot expansion of his business. Ald. Witkowiak said he supports the expansion, which is not surprising considering that Witkowiak’s campaign contribution records indicate that three members of the Tsitiridis family have donated the $2,000 collectively to Witkowiak’s campaign in 2008.
In May, the Zoning Committee also approved the South side Comprehensive Area Plan considered discriminatory towards new immigrants, low-income residents, and Latino business growth.
The crafters of the plan included, the consulting firm of HNTB, Department of City Development (DCD) planners, the Contract Management Team, and funding partners. The planners have been criticized by South side residents for creating one of the most controversial development plans in Milwaukee’s history.
In April 20th, the City Plan Commission approved the plan even though complaints were made about the lack of information in Spanish concerning the plan.
The DCD and the planners failed to included the proposed Pete’s Market expansion in the S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. corridor and in the South side comprehensive plan when it was finally approved by the Common Council on May 27th. Implying, the HNTB Consulting and DCD’s continued practice of deceit and not providing information to the public and taxpayers they are paid to serve.
@H. Nelson I had to reply to your comment as well it draws some conclusions and states somethings as facts that are questionable.
1st Is it not possible that Alderman Witkowiak and the rest of ZND approved the eminent domain because they want the land developed? Instead of sitting vacant? It seems to me that is a goal of ZND. And really is a goal for the City of Milwaukee.
2nd The last request the family put in for a liquor license was a nightclub, which drew neighborhood opposition, for better or worse that is how the license process works.
3rd To call the South Side Plan the most controversial in Milwaukee history is over the top. For example, more people showed up to oppose a house with driveways at BOZA yesterday than opposed the South Side Plan.
4th Pete’s Market not being in the plan isn’t an indication of “deceit,” it simply means it wasn’t in the plan… All sorts of development projects come up, all the time, all over the city, not all of them will be in some neighborhood plan.
For your information Dave,
1st: Eminent Domain is usually used if the city wants the land to build a highway, hospital, a public school and city facility for the public good. In this case, even a former U.S. Attorney even said it’s a gross abuse of eminent domain. For the city to take the Cetina’s land to sell to a next door business is outrages and if not, questionable and legal action is warranted as the Cetina’s will take action after Tuesday. A court will certainly decide, if eminent domain is just in this case.
2nd: The Cetina’s said a person in the licensing department told them they didn’t have to renew, since they hadn’t built the establishment yet, so they didn’t renew. Afterwards, they did try to renew again, but weren’t approved. Possibly, because the city didn’t want the family to build an exclusive restaurant and construct the land.
3rd: Well you might not leave in the South side, I do. For Department of City Development and the planners not to promote Latino business growth in the South side in areas such National, Lincoln and Mitchell and now on Muskego is questionable and calls for public concern. The Cetina’s have tried to work with the city to construct their Mayan restaurant, but the city never authorized them the permits to begin ground work to develop. Why? We sure know why now, don’t we.
4th: The Cetina’s plight has been taking place for several years, Pete’s Fruit Market in the S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. corridor wants to expand, and the DCD, HNTB Consulting and the planners of the South Side Comprehensive Plan missed to mention it on the plan especially when Pete says the expansion will be worth $5 Mil. Not worth enough money to mention it in the plan? But, you did mention some developments will not be mentioned. I’m sure they all knew about this plan and didn’t want the public to know eminent domain was being planned by the City of Milwaukee to land grab the Cetina’s well kept land.
With legal action to be taken by the Cetina family, it will sure open a can of worms and expose how the Department and City Development and the Aldermen involved enter into scrupulous tactics that warrant reform.
Dave to get more facts, you might want to contact the Cetina family. I’m glad the City of Milwaukee is on the front line and being exposed nationally for such action. Shame on them for not letting a Latino family build their dream Mayan Flavor Restaurant.
Added information, here’s a letter that the Cetina’s sent.
Communism in Milwaukee?
My family owns 3 vacant city lots at the 1443,1445-47 block of Muskego Ave. Our dreams and property were both taken away by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM). 3 well maintained lots with grass has now been declared by RACM to be “blighted”. This means green open space is somehow “detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare.” Now that RACM has declared our property to be blighted, they are taking it by eminent domain. They have become the arm twisting hand of Pete’s Marketplace that will force the sale of our property. What happened to the rights of property owners to develop their own property and fulfill their dreams? Why is my family punished for being a working class family that does not have millions available for development? Why has RACM taken away my family’s rights as property owners and given them to a rich developer? If RACM decides your neighbor has better plans for development, beware, as your ownership rights may be taken away too. The protections of the law which prohibits the government from taking unblighted property in order to convey it to a private entity apparently no longer applies to RACM. [32.03(6)(b)].[wis.stat]
Sincerely from a Hispanic Family,
Rafael Cetina and Familia
June 11, 2009
@H. Nelson Goodson
Eminent Domain is of course usually used for “public” improvements but this type of eminent domain action has been used both by the City of Milwaukee and other cities (note the Kelo case) in the past. No doubt it is unusual, but to indicate it is “deceitful” or due to campaign contributions is well dangerous and requires careful scrutiny. To be clear I didn’t say I agree with the action or disagree with it, but well that’s all I have to say.
South Side Alderman Decides Not To Pursue Eminent Domain
City planned to take Latino family land to sell to neighboring business for their 5.7 million expansion
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 2, 2009
Milwaukee- On Thursday, July 1st, Alderman James Witkowiak who represents the 12th Aldermanic District sent out a statement saying he and the City of Milwaukee will no longer pursue using eminent domain to take property from Eligio Cetina’s family. The Cetina’s are now planning to develop the land as retail space and the city is letting them develop the land, even without submitting new plans, according to attorney Don Stinespring Jr. who represents the Cetina’s.
“From a legal and constitutional point of view, no one should be forced to build on property that is unblighted, without any violations and is not harming anyone,” Stinespring said. The Cetina’s have hired an architect to finalize their plans and submit them to the city.
The City of Milwaukee for years had tried to deny the Cetina family permits to break ground for a business. City officials led the Cetina family to believe that they would be granted building permits once repairs were made to an existing building in their property. They spend thousands of dollars for repairs of the building. Finally, since the city was not granting them a permit to open a Mayan Restaurant and bar, the Cetina family decided to spend another 30 thousand to remove the building. Once demolition began, the Cetina’s received a letter a week later from the city demanding demolition of the building, according to Eligio.
Cetina’s properties are located on 1443 and 1445-47 S. Muskego Ave. The two land parcels were blight designated to facilitate the acquisition of the land by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in late May. The Redevelopment Authority and the Department of City Development (DCD) have no record of ever citing the Cetina’s properties for any kind of violations that would actually classify them as blighted.
Alderman Witkowiak led the decision to take the Cetina’s properties and then sell it to Pete Tsitiridis, owner of Pete’s Fruit Market at 1400 S. Union St. who wants to build a $5.7 million, 51,790-square-foot expansion of his business that would include Cetina’s property.
Witkowiak’s actions led to the forming of a Hispanic business group who then publicly opposed using eminent domain to take the Cetina’s properties. The group threatened to recall Alderman Witkowiak and to begin a local boycott against Pete’s Fruit Market, which depends on Latino consumers.
Pete’s Fruit Market proposed expansion was not included in the South Side Comprehensive Development Area Plan that was approved in May by the Common Council. The plan is considered discriminatory against Hispanic businesses, because it lacks to promote growth, and to build on existing Hispanic businesses along W. National Ave., W. Historic Mitchell St. and W. Lincoln Ave. corridors. The comprehensive plan also lacked a Spanish version before it was passed by the city. The city wants retail growth in those business corridors.
The planners of the South side Comprehensive Area Plan include the consulting firm of HNTB, Department of City Development planners, the Contract Management Team, and funding partners Maria Monreal-Cameron, executive director and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Tony Baez, executive director and CEO of the Spanish Speaking Council.
Both Aldermen Witkowiak and Tony Zielinski have been criticized for using the Comprehensive Development Area Plans approved in their districts to promote special interest growth.
Witkowiak during the Zoning, Neighbors and Development Committee in May, had said he or the city would never take land from residents of the South side, but in just three weeks after passing the South Side Comprehensive Area Plan, Witkowiak was using eminent domain to take the Cetina’s properties.
The plan controversy ignited back in December when the South East Comprehensive Plan approved by the Common Council was used by Alderman Zielinski to keep AK Food Mart in Bay View from getting a Class Malt license. At a License Committee hearing on December 15, 2008 they even brought Michael J. Maierle, Urban Planner from DCD to testify that it wouldn’t further the development plan, if a license was granted.
But a month later Ald. Tony Zielinski spear headed the approval of a liquor license to another business under construction called the Tonic Tavern in the 2300 block of S. KK without advising the neighborhood residents as required by law. Currently, Zielinski is a member of the License Committee.