ROTHSCHILD (WAOW) -
Village of Rothschild leaders held a public hearing on Wednesday about a plan to redevelop parts of the village in order to make it more inviting.
After the meeting, the planning commission voted to move the plan forward to the village board.
The plan has caused some concern with homeowners who live in the area targeted for development, because they would have to move in order to make way for some new developments.
At the hearing, dozens of residents voiced their concerns.
Heidi Johnsen's house is in one of those areas. She says she supports revitalizing parts of Rothschild, but is worried about her home, which is located just off Business 51 in the proposed redevelopment area.
"These things happen" said Johnsen. "They are inevitable. Change and progress is inevitable, but we can't change just for the sake of changing."
On Wednesday, the village president told Newsline 9 he did not want to force people out of their homes saying, "Vacant lands will be developed. Some homes will be purchased to do that."
He said the plan will take place slowly, and could take more than 20 years to complete.
Taxes would go up in the redevelopment area if a new TIF district is approved. That money, along with grants, would help pay for the project. Rothschild leaders say they hope the redevelopment plan will attract new businesses to the area and they hope to build some new upscale residential buildings and restaurants.
They say the idea is to make the area just off Highway 29 in Rothschild a gateway to central Wisconsin.
The village board still needs to approve the plan and a new TIF district before it becomes official. Leaders say that could happen at the end of the month.
