Village of Big Bend residents confront planning commission over proposed sports complex 

VILLAGE OF BIG BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) — Homeowners in the Village of Big Bend will continue to fight against a proposal to build a massive sports complex.

If approved, the multi-million-dollar facility would house more than a dozen different sports fields on 150 acres of land.

The Village of Big Bend Planning Commission tabled a vote to recommend a conditional use permit for phase one of the proposed Breck Athletic Complex, which would have begun development of soccer fields, parking lots, and storage.

It was a full house inside the gymnasium at Christ Lutheran School Thursday night, where hundreds of neighbors attended a public comment session before the commission meeting.

A vast majority of attendees asked commissioners to vote against any recommendations for the project.

"We want to see northern lights, we don't want to see baseball lights," one speaker said.

Light and noise pollution, traffic, lack of parking, property values, environmental impacts, and sewage were just some of the many concerns homeowners shared.

"We are people who choose to live in this community because of the small-town feeling," another speaker said. "That's why this matters so deeply for all of us."

Only a few spoke in support of the project, with some saying they had been chastised for their opinion.

"This does give us an opportunity to grow, to strengthen, and to continue to develop this area for the residents," one supporter voiced.

Several speakers requested a referendum vote for the people of Big Bend, rather than a board-focused decision.

"Let's give them a chance to vote on it. Let's have a referendum, and if enough people want this, go for it," said one neighbor. "I'll live with the decision." 

The commission also deferred a request to rezone 40 acres from residential to commercial property for the project.

The commission did recommend a planned unit development (PUD) request for 110 acres, which means they can establish standards for development, such as maximum building and lighting heights.

That recommendation will go to the full Village board for a final vote.