The Nine Springs Network
"Working to protect and enhance the Nine Springs E-Way"
Nine Springs Network mission statement
Contact: Sandy Lott/Nine Springs Network
2739 Marledge Street, Fitchburg, WI 53711.5217,
Telephone: 277.9207
New for August 5!

Come to the Tuesday, August 5, Plan Commission meeting where it is our understanding that action on the Harlan Sprague Dawley plat is to take place.  Click here for more info.

Our presence is critical.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR BACKYARD?
One of the last pieces of land needed for the Nine Springs E-Way is about to be bulldozed!
Issue:
The Harlan Sprague Dawley property, which lies south of the Greene Prairie and the Grady tract of University of Wisconsin Arboretum, is one of the last pieces of land designated for acquisition and protection as open space in the Nine Springs E-Way plan. This tract is about to be developed into a residential development called Harlan Hills.

City of Fitchburg officials have stated that they want this project to take place in order to complete a road system connecting Seminole Highway through the Highlands of Seminole to County PD. The Arboretum and Dane County Parks offered to purchase the land (which is now farmed) in order to provide open space in this quickly urbanizing area. Hal Harlan (President of the Indianapolis-based Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc.) was offered $20,000 per acre for this property, making a total of $1 million committed from state, county, and private funding. This offer was not accepted by Mr. Harlan. Now, Mr. Harlan has made it clear that he is willing to sell part of the land but not at raw land prices, only at lot value prices: $70 - $80,000 per acre. Plat approval and rezoning will escalate the price to unattainable levels for public purchase for open space.

Location:
The Harlan Sprague Dawley property (in local vernacular, "The Rat Farm") comprises 51 acres that lies to the east of Seminole Highway and just south of the Greene Prairie. The Greene Prairie is the Southern most portion of the Arboretum and is part of the Grady tract, that segment of the Arboretum that lies south of the Beltline. The Greene Prairie, already damaged by runoff from urban development in this area, will be further endangered by the development of the Harlan Sprague Dawley property 
Dates:
February 19, 1996
Offer to purchase the Harlan Sprague Dawley (HSD) property by public and private conservation agencies
May 7, 1997
Hal Harlan submits Preliminary Plat to City of Fitchburg to develop 112 lots for homes and also requests rezoning of part of the property from Rural Development to Residential Low Density and Parks and Recreation. (NOTE: the "Parks and Recreation" in this case refers to areas that are not actually parks but to areas being used for storm water control.)
May 20, 1997
Fitchburg Plan Commission held a Public Hearing on the rezoning request. Twenty people testified as opposed to the rezoning. Consequently, the Plan Commission delayed action until June 3, 1997. However, the item did not appear on the agenda for the June 3 meeting. Exerpt from minutes of that meeting.
June 17, 1997
City of Fitchburg Plan Commission will hold another public hearing (7:30 PM, Fitchburg Community Center, where it is expected that they will resume consideration of the rezoning request. 
What can you do?
FITCHBURG RESIDENTS:
CALL OR WRITE YOUR ALDERPERSON AND MAYOR MORRISETTE
  • Request that the City of Fitchburg preserve at least 27 of the 51 acres of HSD land through a combination of park land dedication and public acquisition
  • Request that the City of Fitchburg participate with other conservation agencies in order to purchase the land for open space

    • This is the single most effective thing you can do!EVERYONE (Madison, Fitchburg and Dane County residents):
  • ATTEND JUNE 17 PLAN COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

    • (7:30 PM; Fitchburg Community Center)
  • Contact your County Board Supervisor(Link here to County Board directory via DaneNet)
  • Sign and circulate our petition
  • Keep informed; Check this site periodically for updates 
    CITY OF FITCHBURG OFFICIALS

    • Mayor: Douglas W. Morrissette.........274.0754

    Common Council Members (by district)
    (1) Thomas T. Machaj, Jr................276.8144___(3) Philip Winkel.....................271.0481
    (1) Richard E. Zach.......................271.0051___(3) Mark Vivian......................274.6413
    (2) Kathleen Kilgore......................288.9272___(4) Duane Stegall.....................273.1674
    (2) Ronald J. Johnson....................274.6745___(4) Jay Allen..........................271.4772

    Plan Commission Members
    Lois Gilbert Anderson....................271.0895___John Freiburger.......................274.8466
    Bob Purcell ................................835.3972___Phil Winkel............................271.0481
    Dennis Peterson...........................277.0564___Ron Johnson...........................274.6745

    PETITION
    Instructions: Copy and paste this header into your word processor, print it off and circulate. Return completed petitions to Nine Spings Network, 2739 Marledge Street, Fitchburg, WI 53711.5217 or bring them (plus copies) to the June 17 Fitchburg Plan Commission hearing (7:30 PM; Fitchburg Community Center). Please circle the names of any Fitchburg residents who sign. Return to "What you can do."
    PETITION FOR OPEN SPACE

    We, the undersigned are in favor of the creation of an open space in the land presently known as the Harlan Sprague Dawley (HSD) property, located between the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and the Seminole Hills and Highlands of Seminole neighborhoods of Fitchburg. We recognize that the open spaces of the Nine Springs Watershed and Environmental Corridor, the HSD property, and the proposed Capital City Bike Trail greatly enhance the quality of life for residents of Fitchburg, Madison and Dane County. To this end, we ask that the City of Fitchburg:

  • Preserve at least 27 of the 51 acres of HSD land through a combination of park land dedication and public acquisition
  • Participate with other conservation agencies in order to purchase the land for open space

    • Signature_____________________Printed Name____________________
    Address____________________________________________________
    Phone/Fax/E-mail___________________________________________

    NINE SPRINGS NETWORK MISSION STATEMENT
    The Nine Springs Network is a group of individuals and organizations whose purpose is to insure that the Nine Springs E-Way is recognized as a valuable natural and environmental asset to all the governmental units along its boundary and to the citizens of Dane County.

     The Nine Springs Network works toward raising awareness of all people and, especially, governmental officials on the environmental and recreational significance of the E-Way through education and advocacy. The result of these efforts will ensure that elected and appointed decision- makers learn of the environmental impact of potential development along the E-Way corridor so that they will make informed decisions to preserve and protect this irreplaceable resource.
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    From the May 20 Fitchburg Plan Commission minutes
    The following was listed about action taken on the Harlan Sprague Dawley property: Public hearing and consideration of rezoning request RZ-0739-97 by Harlan Sprague Dawley to rezone land in part of the NW 1/4 Section 4 from Rural Development (R-D) to Residential Low Density (R-L) and part of NE 1/4, Section 5 and NW 1/4 Section 4 from R-D to Park and Recreation (P-R). Motion to defer action on the rezoning request, as well as the plat request, until various issues can be worked out. Motion carried unanimously. Back to May 20, 1997
    Return to Wisconsin Stewardship Network