Appleton residents dictate street improvements
Duke Behnke
Q: My wife and I recently moved back to the Valley, specifically on South Woodendale Way in Appleton. We have full ditches, no curb and gutter, and no streetlights. Are there other neighborhoods in the city with the same situation?
A: The Cedar Ridge Estates subdivision, which includes South Woodendale Way, is governed by a 1999 development agreement that prevents Appleton from installing curb and gutter, concrete streets and sidewalks unless a majority of the homeowners in the subdivision petition for the improvements.
Paula Vandehey, Appleton's public works director, said Cedar Ridge Estates is unique in that way.
"Occasionally there are areas that we annex in that are constructed to town standards, and then we urbanize them," she said. "This is the only one I can think of that says we can't urbanize unless a majority of the people want it."
Cedar Ridge Estates is located on the southeast side of Appleton and is bordered by the Town of Harrison on the east, north and west and by Menasha on the south. Vandehey said the subdivision was being developed in accordance with town standards when the land was annexed to Appleton.
At the time, Appleton agreed that the developer wouldn't be required to comply with the city's storm sewer ordinance. The city also agreed it wouldn't install curb and gutter, concrete streets or sidewalks at any time in the future unless a majority of the owners of the lots petition the city for the infrastructure. The subdivision has 40 lots.
Vandehey said Appleton installs streetlights only after a subdivision is urbanized.
"When you get rid of the ditches and put in curb and gutter and sidewalks, that's when we put in the streetlights," she said. "It's one urbanized package."
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If Appleton were authorized to make the improvements, homeowners in the subdivision would be assessed for a portion of the costs.
"That might be another reason why they don't want it," Vandehey said.
Duke Behnke: 920-993-7176, or dbehnke@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @DukeBehnke
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Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@postcrescent.com or call 920-993-7176.