letter 08-05-20August 5, 2020
To: Shorewood Mayor, Council and Administration:
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We, the South Lake community residents, are outraged that the city of Shorewood continues to
charge ahead with projects that are fiscally irresponsible and destructive to our natural heritage
of woods, wildlife and water without involving, communicating or engaging with us, the citizens
of Shorewood.
Specifically, our concerns center on the western Shorewood storm drainage plan including
"Freeman Ponds", and the Glen Road upgrade that includes a large wastewater basin next to
the trail.
We are requesting that all work, a/annina, morketing and constderation (including financing)
if these nlons immediately cease until that timg when, fully oven, public, in person meetings
can be conducted:
Here, briefly, are a few of our concerns and demands:
1. Planning and funding are moving forward for expensive and environmentally damaging
projects with insufficient disclosure of scope and costs and with little resident input,
involvement or agreement.
2. The Glen Road and Freeman Ponds projects will cause the destruction of Shorewood's
last few publicly owned woodlands. it is our responsibility to preserve our natural resources for
future generations.
3. The City's historic stormwater control approach has been ineffective and shortsighted.
Specifically, Shorewood 's general use of holding ponds for stormwater management is flawed
because these ponds eventually fill with residue that often is considered toxic. it is
irresponsible to proceed with unreliable, high -cost infrastructure systems without fully
considering other options. We favor a more incremental, comprehensive and sustainable long-
term approach that preserves the natural setting Shorewood residents enjoy.
upstreamShorewood has not considered the accumulated impact of development and sub- 0
with little consideration
management.
S. The city of , - done little testing
Beforestormwater holding basins. The public has been kept in the dark to what lurks in these waters.
• holding basins are constructed demand a full accountingof _
6. Shorewood relies entirely on plans developed by engineering firms without consultation
from environmental experts. The engineering companies have a financial interest in
constructing expensive and extensive systems. Moreover, the engineering firms are not
required to guarantee that their plans will function as expected. This is unacceptable. (Some
about not wanting a repeat of Park and Grant Street boondoggles where resident's basements
were breached with Shorewood taxpayer's absorbing costs of purchasing homes.)
7. Before any additional projects are approved there must be an assurance of water
neutral or water reduced flow for all developments and sub -divisions. Today city code does not
require a developer/builder to keep storm water runoff on site. A requirement for on -site
stormwater capture and infiltration must become part of city code.
S. Shorewood city government has not considered alternative approaches to improving
stormwater management, as promised in a November 2019 council meeting. The city needs
insight from experts such as freshwater biologists, limnologists, pollution control specialists and
ecologists - not just engineering firms.
9. We have yet to see the report regarding the Indian burial ground issue as well.
Before any additional work is done, we request the opportunity to discuss the Glen Road and
Freeman Ponds projects In person at open public forums. We believe this is reasonable and,
in fact, a basic requirement of a functioning representative government.
We expect a written response to this letter within 7 days emalled to:
wedeewoodforestloemall.com
Respectfully,
Residents that support to stop the destruction of Shorewood Forest's! 350 and growing