Letter 1
Dear neighbors of Saylesville and the surrounding areas,.
Hello, We recently bought a nationally registered historic property (one of many) in the
Saylesville area so unfortunately, I don’t know many of you... yet. I love this beautiful area and
the sense of pride and preservation that many of the residents have of their homes and land.
I also respect the rich history of “South Genesee” and would like to see this area remain a
community - not just a shortcut for the rapidly expanding city/suburbs of Waukesha County.
We are writing to you in an effort to form a citizens group or make a cohesive community effort
to protect the Saylesville area from the negative affects of “through traffic” (speeding cars and
trucking) and to secure a safer more community friendly road where area residents can
continue to bike, walk/jog, fish and perhaps visit like they did not too long ago. This effort will
most likely just involve signing a petition and voicing your concerns- whether safety,
recreational, historic, agricultural, property value oriented or all of the above.
Recent discussions with the County Highway Dept. has made it painfully clear that currently
the only interest the county has of Saylesville Rd., or as they refer to it as CTH X, is that it is the
quickest way (saves maybe 2 minutes over taking 59 or I) for trucks and commuters to get into
Waukesha from highway 83. Even though state highway 59 runs almost parallel to it, they
would ultimately like to see Saylesville Rd. widened (100 ft width), the speed limits to remain
what we consider too high (or be higher) and for the trucking to continue. They are trying to
retrofit a historic and residential area to their new not necessarily always better "standards".
The question is why?
This road has too many driveways (homes on or near), reduced speed turns, crossroads,
bikers/joggers and bus stops on it to have cars and large trucks driving 50- 60 MPH. Do we
really need three major roadways at speeds of 55 MPH all going to the same place? The
county is trying to preserve part of this area as an environmental corridor and says they
respect the historical significance yet "allows" semi-trucks and speeding cars to prevent
residents and visitors from fully enjoying the area (living here, scenic/cultural views, bicycling,
jogging,...)
Many of you have been in or have seen a number of accidents as a result of sending too
much “through traffic” on a winding country/residential road at too high of speeds. In addition,
the noise of the trucks alone is like living on top of an expressway, which Saylesville area
residents should not be expected to “just live with”. The commuters and truckers are almost
encouraged by the Highway Department to take Saylesville Rd. because they can drive
roughly 55 MPH even though it is not an appropriate speed for the area (why would they take
the state highway). There are not enough county highway sheriffs to actually do anything
about the speeders. So it continues- year after year.
It appears the Waukesha County Highway Department wants to make it even more desirable
for commuters and truckers to use this road as a short-cut by keeping speeds high and
adding passing lanes or widening it. This will be a “death sentence” for the historical district
and will cut off any recreational activity on Saylesville Rd. as well as destroy the natural beauty
and charm of this country roadway. The State Highway Department seems to show better
respect for the residents along state highways by reducing speeds in residential areas and
even taking measures to protect valuable views, or properties. Is there a “department” in the
county system that is in place to preserve or maintain the integrity and quality of life of existing
communities?
The County Highway Department should be encouraging the state DOT to make HWY 59 and
83 more desirable for through traffic to 83. Why not pass the cost onto the State? They
anticipate widening those two state highways anyways. If the county lowers speeds and/or
uses traffic calming measures on Saylesville Rd., the bulk of the traffic pattern will most
certainly change to the state system. The commuters and truckers will gladly take a faster
and safer route (Hwy 59). It is a win-win situation for the commuters, tax payers (don't have to
pay for widening two routes) all the residents along Saylesville Rd. from 59 to 83, the high
school and surrounding housing developments and Waukesha County in general because of
the soft economic benefits of preserving this area. Saylesville Rd. wasn't always a county
highway and doesn't have to function like a spur ramp to 83. There is too much at stake in the
long run to take a do -nothing approach.
Perhaps the County does not value or fully understand the historical (homes, outbuildings
and barns), scenic (wetlands, mill pond, mature oaks...), and agricultural beauty that this road
offers. We feel they should be doing more to pro actively preserve the history and rural charm
that Saylesville has to offer Waukesha County (for example dedicating it as a Rustic, Scenic or
Historic Roadway, reducing traffic or adding recreational opportunities to highlight the area).
Too many other country roads and rural homesteads in Waukesha County have been lost
forever by short-sighted thinking. This is a residential area that they zoned years ago (and
continue to add homes to) but now say that our homes and yards are too close to the road or
that we shouldn’t have moved on or near a county highway. Many of these homes are older
than the county itself. The city should also see the advantages of having such beauty and
history so close to it’s borders. Not everyone moves to or lives in Waukesha county for “over-
planned, auto-centric, sprawl-like” development. We have seen too many existing
communities destroyed (not to mention a decline in property values) as a result of short-term
"progress" which at times the county seems to favor at the expense of it’s long time
residents.
The world is run by those who show up. We realize many of you have made previous
attempts to reduce speed limits and encourage trucks to use the state highways but have not
been heard. There are plenty of other county trunk highways, and state highways that have
slower speeds. As a larger unified voice we may be better able to control our quality of life,
safety, history and our property values. Let’s show up.
Thank you for caring for our community,
Steve and Diane Visuri
Hello, We recently bought a nationally registered historic property (one of many) in the
Saylesville area so unfortunately, I don’t know many of you... yet. I love this beautiful area and
the sense of pride and preservation that many of the residents have of their homes and land.
I also respect the rich history of “South Genesee” and would like to see this area remain a
community - not just a shortcut for the rapidly expanding city/suburbs of Waukesha County.
We are writing to you in an effort to form a citizens group or make a cohesive community effort
to protect the Saylesville area from the negative affects of “through traffic” (speeding cars and
trucking) and to secure a safer more community friendly road where area residents can
continue to bike, walk/jog, fish and perhaps visit like they did not too long ago. This effort will
most likely just involve signing a petition and voicing your concerns- whether safety,
recreational, historic, agricultural, property value oriented or all of the above.
Recent discussions with the County Highway Dept. has made it painfully clear that currently
the only interest the county has of Saylesville Rd., or as they refer to it as CTH X, is that it is the
quickest way (saves maybe 2 minutes over taking 59 or I) for trucks and commuters to get into
Waukesha from highway 83. Even though state highway 59 runs almost parallel to it, they
would ultimately like to see Saylesville Rd. widened (100 ft width), the speed limits to remain
what we consider too high (or be higher) and for the trucking to continue. They are trying to
retrofit a historic and residential area to their new not necessarily always better "standards".
The question is why?
This road has too many driveways (homes on or near), reduced speed turns, crossroads,
bikers/joggers and bus stops on it to have cars and large trucks driving 50- 60 MPH. Do we
really need three major roadways at speeds of 55 MPH all going to the same place? The
county is trying to preserve part of this area as an environmental corridor and says they
respect the historical significance yet "allows" semi-trucks and speeding cars to prevent
residents and visitors from fully enjoying the area (living here, scenic/cultural views, bicycling,
jogging,...)
Many of you have been in or have seen a number of accidents as a result of sending too
much “through traffic” on a winding country/residential road at too high of speeds. In addition,
the noise of the trucks alone is like living on top of an expressway, which Saylesville area
residents should not be expected to “just live with”. The commuters and truckers are almost
encouraged by the Highway Department to take Saylesville Rd. because they can drive
roughly 55 MPH even though it is not an appropriate speed for the area (why would they take
the state highway). There are not enough county highway sheriffs to actually do anything
about the speeders. So it continues- year after year.
It appears the Waukesha County Highway Department wants to make it even more desirable
for commuters and truckers to use this road as a short-cut by keeping speeds high and
adding passing lanes or widening it. This will be a “death sentence” for the historical district
and will cut off any recreational activity on Saylesville Rd. as well as destroy the natural beauty
and charm of this country roadway. The State Highway Department seems to show better
respect for the residents along state highways by reducing speeds in residential areas and
even taking measures to protect valuable views, or properties. Is there a “department” in the
county system that is in place to preserve or maintain the integrity and quality of life of existing
communities?
The County Highway Department should be encouraging the state DOT to make HWY 59 and
83 more desirable for through traffic to 83. Why not pass the cost onto the State? They
anticipate widening those two state highways anyways. If the county lowers speeds and/or
uses traffic calming measures on Saylesville Rd., the bulk of the traffic pattern will most
certainly change to the state system. The commuters and truckers will gladly take a faster
and safer route (Hwy 59). It is a win-win situation for the commuters, tax payers (don't have to
pay for widening two routes) all the residents along Saylesville Rd. from 59 to 83, the high
school and surrounding housing developments and Waukesha County in general because of
the soft economic benefits of preserving this area. Saylesville Rd. wasn't always a county
highway and doesn't have to function like a spur ramp to 83. There is too much at stake in the
long run to take a do -nothing approach.
Perhaps the County does not value or fully understand the historical (homes, outbuildings
and barns), scenic (wetlands, mill pond, mature oaks...), and agricultural beauty that this road
offers. We feel they should be doing more to pro actively preserve the history and rural charm
that Saylesville has to offer Waukesha County (for example dedicating it as a Rustic, Scenic or
Historic Roadway, reducing traffic or adding recreational opportunities to highlight the area).
Too many other country roads and rural homesteads in Waukesha County have been lost
forever by short-sighted thinking. This is a residential area that they zoned years ago (and
continue to add homes to) but now say that our homes and yards are too close to the road or
that we shouldn’t have moved on or near a county highway. Many of these homes are older
than the county itself. The city should also see the advantages of having such beauty and
history so close to it’s borders. Not everyone moves to or lives in Waukesha county for “over-
planned, auto-centric, sprawl-like” development. We have seen too many existing
communities destroyed (not to mention a decline in property values) as a result of short-term
"progress" which at times the county seems to favor at the expense of it’s long time
residents.
The world is run by those who show up. We realize many of you have made previous
attempts to reduce speed limits and encourage trucks to use the state highways but have not
been heard. There are plenty of other county trunk highways, and state highways that have
slower speeds. As a larger unified voice we may be better able to control our quality of life,
safety, history and our property values. Let’s show up.
Thank you for caring for our community,
Steve and Diane Visuri