LIVING HERE

Residents of Lake Geneva spoke in opposition to a new Basso development.
Basso recently submitted a concept review. Basso is proposing eight duplexes, comprising sixteen units on a property that runs along Wells and Mobile Street. The units each include a one-car garage and a driveway with room for one vehicle. This property is currently in the Town of Bloomfield so it would need to be annexed into Lake Geneva. The other properties around it are already in the city of Lake Geneva and the property in question is considered an island of Bloomfield. The zoning for this property is currently set for part multifamily and part commercial planned business. Lake Geneva zoning staff feels this conceptual plan is an appropriate transition use and is consistent with the neighborhood.

This is step two in the planned development process and the residents of the area wanted to voice concerns and opposition early in hopes of ending the development before it really gets started. Residents of Mobile Street are concerned about the added traffic (both vehicle and pedestrian) this proposed development will bring and are concerned with the potential of some of the units becoming short-term rentals. Basso has assured the city that he does not intend to develop any property for short-term rental use.  Of course, once the properties sell, the new owners can proceed to operate short-term rentals all they might want. Examples of several other developments were presented and ensuring affordable, quality, and long-term housing is and has been Basso’s goal, or at least was what Basso presented.

This development is not a done deal as annexation (allegedly) has to be done, a general development needs to be presented and approved before anything can get started. With the residents of this neighborhood opposing this development, and other nearby residents who are opposed to any more development in the city, Basso has a hard sell ahead of him.