WMK Investment Properties_Wild Rose LaneOctober 5, 2011
To: City of Dubuque Engineer: Gus Psihoyos
From: WMK Investment Properties Inc. / Steve Wieland, Larry McDermott, and Ken Kress
This letter is in regard to WMK Investment Properties Inc. and their development of property
off of Middle Rd and Wild Rose Lane which is located in the County of Dubuque but within the 2
mile radius of the City of Dubuque.
Middle Road is a shared responsibility road which the North side is in the City of Dubuque and
the South side is in the County of Dubuque. This parcel of property which WMK is proposing to
be developed will be accessed by Wild Rose Lane which has been an existing and approved
entrance that has been in place since mid 1990's. Wild Rose Lane has met all of the
requirements as far as sight distance and entrance requirements for the County but can't be
passed by the City of Dubuque's requirements even though this driveway was in place before
the City of Dubuque had annexed the property to the North side of Middle Rd in the last five
years and the City of Dubuque had accepted all of the entrances off of Middle Rd. at that time.
We have had numerous speed studies done by both City of Dubuque and the Dubuque County
Sherriff's Dept. with all studies that have shown over desired speeds. We have asked for Police
enforcement on Middle Rd. to reduce the speeds on this portion of the road. Dubuque City
Police have been out in this area on patrol numerous times along with the Dubuque County
Sherriff's Dept. but have not been able to write any tickets because they are not finding any
speeders while they are in the area.
Wild Rose Lane is currently being used by four residents and has been used since the mid
1990's by these current residents, also there are four other existing driveways in the immediate
area that have the same problem with sight distance as Wild Rose Lane according to City of
Dubuque standards.
When the City of Dubuque had annexed the property to the North of Middle Rd. there were not
any concerns with sight distances of existing driveways until WMK started this development
three years ago and WMK is still using the same existing driveway that was in place when the
City of Dubuque had moved into this area.
The developer, WMK Properties has worked with the City of Dubuque over the past 2 years to
try and accommodate the City of Dubuque's request for further sight distance in this area of
Wild Rose Lane and meet the City's existing standards of 85 percentile of average speeds rather
than the County's standards of posted speeds.
WMK Properties as developers, believe the City of Dubuque has a responsibility to its taxpayers
to provide safe traffic conditions in this area as they do is other areas of the City of Dubuque.
Not only for the people using the driveways but also for the hundreds of vehicles traveling
Westbound on this road on a daily basis. Stop signs have been considered as a remedy but as of
yet have not been approved by the City of Dubuque.
WMK Properties would suggest that the only solution to this existing problem of the City of
Dubuque would be to lower the speed limit in this area of Middle Rd. around Wild Rose Lane.
WMK Properties believe than when the 85 percentile of the traffic is traveling 20% higher than
the posted speed limit that the road needs more enforcement or the speed limit needs to be
lowered to meet the City of Dubuque standards and provide a safe environment for all parties.
We appreciate your cooperation to finding a remedy on this matter.
Thank You,
WMK Investment Properties Inc. / Steve Wieland, Larry McDermott, Ken Kress
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Kevin Firnstahl - Fwd: City Council Meeting Agenda - Wild Rose Estates
From:
To:
Date:
Subject:
Attachments:
Ken Kress <kenkress @yousq.net>
<kfimsta @cityofdubuque.org>
7/8/2011 9 :32 AM
Fwd: City Council Meeting Agenda - Wild Rose Estates
Wild Rose Estates - Final plat 3- 23- 11.pdf; Middle Rd. - eastbound speed study.pdf;
Middle Rd - westbound speed study.pdf
Forwarded message
From: Ken Kress <kenkress(a,vousq.net>
Date: Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 7:35 AM
Subject: City Council Meeting Agenda - Wild Rose Estates
To: rdbuol@a,cityofdubuaue.org, ctymgr @cityofdubuque.org, riones(a,citvofdubuque.org,
dresnicka,citvofdubuque.org, klvnch cr,citvofdubuque.org, kbraig@cityofdubuque.org,
iconnorsna citvofdubuque.org, lsutton(a,citvofdubuque.org, dklein(a,dbeco.org, wdemmer@a,dbaco.org,
emanternach@dbeco.org, "Kenneth L. Buesing" <klbuesing @buesing.com >, "Thomas,P. Larsen"
<tplarsenabuesing.com >, Terry Koelker <tlkoelker@buesing.com >, David Clemens
<dclemens(a.cwcmlaw.com >, gpsihovo@a,citvofdubuque.org, blindahl(a�citvofdubuque.org, Anna O'Shea
<zoningadmin(a,dbaco.org >, engineer(cr�dbeco.org
Hello everyone!
Please allow us to introduce ourselves, we are Steve Wieland, Larry McDermott, & Ken Kress who have
formed a partnership called WMK Investment Properties Inc. for the sole purpose of development of
rural subdivision just off of Middle Road with access from Wild Rose Lane, we have attached copy of
Phase 1 plat for your review.
We purchased 95 acres in September of 2009 that is located in Dubuque Co. which is zoned residential,
and lies directly across Middle Road from land that is in the City of Dubuque and proceeded to work
with Buesing Engineering to diligently proceed through the process of surveying and platting this parcel
into a nice subdivision consisting of 3 phases that would total 61 lots. We met with all committees in
City & County and attended meetings to work through this process and finished the Preliminary Plat in
summer of 2010 with all approvals. We have been stalled since then on any further meetings.
Since that time we had a very hard time getting approval from the city on the Final Plat, the city
planning & engineer's office has dictated that we would need a speed study completed on this access
even though this driveway access, Wild Rose Lane, has been in place for the last 20 years. Also there
was a speed study previously done in April of 2010, with higher than acceptable results. The city
wanted another study done in fall of 2010 and decided to wait all winter to complete speed study and
final approval for city placed speed study was granted in April of 2011. WMK paid for the placement of
speed signs from Selco for a two week period and we were promised city police patrol on this road for
a two day period before the study was done. Even though the city only owns the westbound lane and
the county owns the eastbound lane, the sheriffs department was never contacted for patrol by the
city. After Selco removed signs and city police patrolled this area for a small time period on one day,
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the speed study was completed over a 24 hour period on April 28, 2011 with results of an average
speed of over 51 miles per hour, even though the speed limit is only 35 miles per hour. The city would
like WMK to produce a lower speed study to grant access for our subdivision on an existing 20 year old
driveway, Wild Rose Lane, from Middle Rd. even though the city will not patrol this area, because of
lack of manpower. City engineering has also suggested that we could re -grade a portion of Middle Rd
at our expense to help lower speeds, even though Middle road was just resurfaced last year for Ragbrai
bike ride, and since then speeds have increased on the new road. Dubuque County Sheriffs Dept. was
contacted by County Supervisors and has had two speed studies completed, one for each lane over a
week long period with a lot lower speeds, attached studies for your review. If you look at these studies
you will see some speeds over 100 mph on a stretch of road that has a 35mph speed limit with over
60% of the cars are speeding, if we could get some patrolling from our local officials this might take
care of our problem. I would hate to see a bad accident on this road with all city and county officials
knowing about the high speeds on this road and nothing has been done to enforce the speeds on this
road.
Dubuque County changed the zoning of this property back in late 1960's with the intent of residential
development. We are looking for your help in this matter to resolve this situation, Dubuque County is
losing a lot of tax revenue from the delay of this project. Looking at rough estimates, we will have
potentially 61 lots with an annual property tax assessment of anywhere from $3,000 - $4,000 per
home, which equates to over $210,000. per year in future tax revenue for Dubuque County.
We would like to be placed on the agenda for the next city council meeting on July 18 to discuss this
situation with the council and try to find a solution to this dilemma, your timely response to this matter
and any help and direction you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Please call with any questions, Sincerely,
Steve Wieland 563 - 451 -3216 Larry McDermott 563 -542 -2712 Ken Kress 563 - 543 -6620
Ken Kress CRS, GRI
Remax Advantage Realty
4029 Pennsylvania Ave.
563 -588 -3078 Office
563 -543 -6620 Cell
563 -588 -1799 Fax
KenKress @,yousq.net
www.DubuqueAreaHomes.com
Ken Kress CRS, GRI
Remax Advantage Realty
4029 Pennsylvania Ave.
563 -588 -3078 Office
563 -543 -6620 Cell
563 -588 -1799 Fax
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KenKress @vousq.net
www.DubuqueAreaHomes.com
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