Realtors say ‘no’ to PDR plan

State group funding campaign to defeat referendum

By DAVE RANK - GM Today Staff

March 29, 2007

An advocacy group started by the Wisconsin Realtors Association is campaigning against the proposal Washington County create a purchase of development rights (PDR) rural land preservation program.

Called the Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance, the Madison-based organization is campaigning in this final week for a no vote on Tuesday’s binding referendum question that would create the state's first countywide PDR program.

The Washington Board of Realtors asked its state association to help defeat the binding referendum, said Board of Realtors President Amy Curler, who works for First Weber Group, a West Bend real estate firm.

"We’re not necessarily against PDR as a whole," she said Wednesday afternoon. "The local Realtors have some concerns."

Curler said the referendum question lacks details on how a PDR program would work, what land would be targeted and how much tax money ultimately would be needed.

"Those are our main concerns," Curler said. "At this point there isn’t enough information."

According to media reports, a "Vote No on April 3rd" campaign, sponsored by the alliance, lists William Malkasian as treasurer. Malkasian has been president of the Wisconsin Realtors Associa-tion since 1978. The Realtors group established the homeowners alliance as an advocacy organization.

Roger Rushman is identified as the "Vote No" sponsor’s president.

Rushman is chairman of the board of the Wisconsin Realtors.

Tuesday’s referendum question will ask voters if they approve spending "at least $800,000 per year for 10 years" to pay willing landowners to not develop agricultural land.

Bob Retko calls the Realtors opposition to a PDR program disingenuous. He is chairman of Washington County Citizens for Farmland and Natural Areas, the advocacy group campaigning for creation of a county-run PDR program. That group was formed by the local Land Conservation Partnership.

Realtors were invited to help shape the land preservation program, Retko said. "They chose not to participate in the task force that did exhaustive work last year on the farmland initiative, and now they are saying they don’t have enough information about how it would work.

"It’s inappropriate to be claiming ignorance when the task force report has been widely distributed and can be obtained easily at www.lcpwc.org," he said.

Retko Wednesday invited the Wisconsin Realtors Association to participate in the development of the farmland preservation program if is passed in the referendum vote Tuesday.

Retko also invited local Realtors to help draft the rules and regulations for the PDR initiative, if it is approved.

Curler said the referendum should provide more information on how the PDR program would be organized. "At least some very detailed points."

"The Realtors are working against their own interests and the interests of property owners in the county," said Retko, a farmer and a Jackson Town Board supervisor. "Good planning and preservation of key parcels has the effect of raising all surrounding property values. Bad planning and sprawl ruins property values."

He said Realtors should back a program that increases property values.

The funds for a "no vote" advertising and phone campaign are being provided by Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance.

The Land Conservation Partnership has been working since 1999 to bring the preservation program forward. It and its advocacy group have put out lots of information about the make-up of the PDR program, he said.

"It’s shallow and political to be jumping at the 11th hour in on top of all the work that has been done here in the county," he said. "This makes sense for Washington County."

Hundreds of volunteers and dozens of organizations have supported a Yes vote Tuesday, said Sue Millin, campaign coordinator, including the local chapter of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the West Bend Economic Development Corp. and several hunting and fishing groups.