A new subdivision named Theofila Estates is planned near the new park on Sunny Slope Road south of Grange Avenue. It is a 14-lot single-family subdivision that will be accessible from the south end of the Red Fox Crossing subdivision. It is adjacent to the driveway leading to the parking lot of the park on the south and Sunny Slope Road to the east. The 17-acre parcel was previously zoned as A-2 and used as farmland.

The land has been rezoned to R-6., which features ~25,000 square foot lots with 30-foot front setbacks and 10-foot side setbacks. The trees on the western edge of the parcel should be protected by a preservation easement, and a drainage pond will be located on the southeast corner (adjacent to Sunny Slope Road). The existing residential property at 5715 S. Sunny Slope Road will remain. The site plan shows that the multi-use trail that has been installed along Sunny Slope Road as part of the Red Fox Crossing subdivision to the north and the Thomson Hollow subdivision to the south will be connected by a trail as part of this development. This is good news for those not wanting to walk along Sunny Slope Road, which has very little shoulder in this area.

Connected to Red Fox Crossing Subdivision

The new subdivision will be connected to the north to the Red Fox Crossing subdivision via an extension of South Red Fox Road. The properties in Red Fox Crossing are also zoned R-6, so the lots are of similar size. A sampling of assessed values of the improved properties there range between $750,000 - $1.1 million, with tax bills of approximately $10,000 per year. Every home in Red Fox Crossing features solar panels intended to offset its electrical usage, but time will tell if such features will be part of the homes in the Theofila Estates neighborhood.

Proximity to Park

When the park was being proposed, residents were told that the park would become an attraction for buyers of homes in the immediate area. This attribute will be put to the test when these lots go up for sale, but given the demand for residential lots in New Berlin, there is little doubt that buyers will be found quickly. Those homebuyers should be fully aware of the current and future plans for the park, which include the possibility of baseball diamonds with lights and evening activities, with the noise, traffic, and other characteristics of such use.

Basement Restrictions

An interesting note on the Site Plan document for the property is one labeled "Basement Restriction for Groundwater Note" which mentions that soil conditions in the area "may require additional soil engineering and foundation design with regard to basement construction." It sounds like a robust sump pump or two is going to be necessary, and given the propensity of the area to have power outages, some form of power backup should be planned.

Timeline

• August 1, 2023 - Plan Commission Site walk

• August 13, 2023 - Residential Subdivision Proposed South of Red Fox Crossing Near Grange & Sunny Slope

• August 14, 2023 - Plan Commission Concept plan review

• October 2, 2023 - Plan Commission Public Hearing for Rezoning

• November 6, 2023 - Plan Commission Action on Rezoning

• November 14, 2023 - Common Council Action on Rezoning

• January 8, 2024 - Plan Commission Action on Preliminary Plat

• January 23, 2024 - Common Council Action on Preliminary Plat - Motion Approved

More Information

For more information about the Theofila Estates subdivision, see the project page on the city website.

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2024

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