Politics & Government

Greendale Drops Threat of Lawsuit over Rock Sports Biking Trails

Village officials say they have come to an agreement with Rock Sports, after they threatened to sue because construction of a new bike trail started without the proper permits.

Village officials and The Rock Sports Complex have reached an agreement squashing a dispute over permitting of a new bike course in Greendale and Franklin.

Earlier this week the Greendale Village Board said it would file a lawsuit because work had started on the Rock’s “Gravity Mountain Biking Trail” without the proper permits.

Village officials say Rock Sports Complex representatives were informed in March, and again in May, they would need a special use permit before work could start. No permits were applied for or granted, yet, construction started on the biking trail. 

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However, Rock Sports has now agreed to apply for the proper permits, according to the village. 

“Our hope has always been that we could work with the contractor and the County to resolve these issues and move forward with this exciting development,” Village President John Hermes said in a prepared statement Friday. 

Hermes added Milwaukee County will be working with their contractor and the village to minimize the impact that sports field lighting in the complex will have on neighboring Greendale residents.

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“We know this complex is a great economic draw and will have a positive impact on our local economy,” Hermes said. “When the County learned that procedures and policies were not being followed by their contractor, they worked with us to quickly and efficiently move forward with the project in a way that is in the best interest of our residents.”

The complex, which is primarily in Franklin but spills over into Greendale, is a redevelopment project including baseball diamonds and a mountain biking course on the former Crystal Ridge ski hill, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

A spokesperson for Rock Sports could not be reached for comment on Friday.  


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