SOMERS, Wis. — A controversial proposal to build a 200-unit subsidized apartment complex known as “Somers Flats” was rejected Monday night by the Village of Somers Plan Commission after strong public opposition, but Village President George Stoner vowed the development will continue moving forward despite the vote.
The project would be built on farmland just west of Sheridan Road and north of County Highway E, near Somers Fire Station No. 2.
Planning documents show the development would include 15 two-story apartment buildings containing 200 units, along with a 5,093-square-foot clubhouse, walking trails, dog parks, playground areas and other amenities.
After hearing from residents and commissioners, the Plan Commission voted to deny the development 6-1, with Stoner casting the lone vote in favor of keeping the project alive.
Residents raise concerns about subsidized housing
During the meeting, residents repeatedly pressed developers about whether the project would involve government housing subsidies.
Developers said the project would not rely on traditional Section 8 housing vouchers but acknowledged that federal housing subsidy programs could be used to help qualifying tenants pay rent, confirming the development would operate as an income-restricted or subsidized apartment project.
The proposal is being advanced by Roers Companies of Plymouth, Minnesota, a national developer known for building income-restricted apartment communities using federal affordable housing programs.
Many residents said the possibility of subsidized housing had not been clearly explained earlier in the process and raised concerns about how the development could impact nearby neighborhoods.
Strong public opposition
Roughly 30 residents attended Monday night’s meeting, with many speaking against the project.
Opponents raised concerns about:
- increased traffic along County Highway E
- the continued growth of apartment developments in Somers
- impacts on nearby neighborhoods
- strain on village services
Many residents said they moved to Somers specifically because of its lower-density character and fear the village is approving too many multi-family developments.
Fire department strain becomes part of debate
The debate comes as Somers voters prepare to decide an April 7 referendum that would increase the village’s property tax levy by about $1.3 million to support additional staffing for the Somers Fire Department.
According to the department, Somers firefighters responded to a record 1,778 emergency calls in 2025, and current staffing levels limit the department’s ability to operate more than two ambulances at a time.
The referendum would fund eight additional full-time firefighter-paramedics to address the growing demand for emergency services.
Several residents questioned the logic of approving hundreds of new apartment residents while simultaneously asking taxpayers to approve a tax increase because emergency services are already struggling to keep up.
Administrator says project still moving forward
Multiple people who attended the meeting said that immediately after the Plan Commission vote, Village Administrator Jim Hurley was overheard telling the developers, “Don’t worry, this is just an advisory committee,” or words very close to that effect.
Hurley confirmed Tuesday that the project will still advance to the Village Board despite the commission’s decision.
“My statement was correct. Plan Commission items will be reviewed at the March 17 Village Work Session, and considered for action at the March 24 Board meeting,” Hurley wrote in an email.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Political divide emerges
Monday night’s vote highlighted a growing divide among village leaders.
Several residents said Village President George Stoner (D) and Trustee Jackie Klapproth Nelson (D) have been pushing aggressively for the project, even as residents and all members of the Plan Commission have voiced opposition.
The Plan Commission’s vote now sets up a likely showdown at the Village Board level, where trustees will ultimately decide whether the Somers Flats subsidized apartment development moves forward.
The proposal is expected to be discussed at a Village Board work session on March 17, with possible action scheduled for the March 24 Village Board meeting.
48 Responses
There is a true need for subsidized housing. Our son is high functioning special needs. He lives in an apartment in an Independent Living program and he and his roommate each pay $750 per month. Our son gets SSDI plus works 24 hrs per week. There is nothing left over at the end of the month after paying, rent, food, internet, cell phone, etc. He’s been on a waiting list for Section 8 for 1 1/2 years. All section 8 people are not bad. Where do these people go that is affordable living. We used to rent to save up to buy a house. Now rent is a mortgage.
This may be true but it should be done “right” and not shoved down the throat of residents speaking against it. Somers probably is not the right place for it
Ok, so what is the right way to complete this? How do we make everyone happy? Not everyone searching out Section 8 are low life’s or trouble. If you get into trouble on Section 8, you are kicked off for life. People who finally do get accepted are grateful for their family’s.
This is more about how the village is conducting the approval/non-approval of this project and the amount of apartment buildings in Somers. Not necessarily about low income housing BUT Somers *was* hiding that fact from residents
This first is about Stoner.
He needs to be challenged at the ballot box.
Every two years right ?
So why is he still there ?
Because NOBODY WANTS THE EFFIN JOB !!
I hear the concern you’re raising, and I can’t imagine how difficult it must be trying to find stable housing for your son. Families navigating disability and housing challenges really do face a tough system, and it’s understandable to feel frustrated when there aren’t enough options available.
At the same time, many people in our community have concerns about the specific proposal for a large Section 8 complex here. The issue for many residents isn’t about families like yours who genuinely need support, but about how these programs are structured and how developments are planned.
It might actually be really powerful for parents and families in your situation to push for improvements at the policy level. Programs like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are administered through local agencies under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but state-level advocacy can help expand housing designed for people with disabilities and improve how the system works overall.
Your voice as a parent directly affected by this could carry a lot of weight if you ever chose to organize around it. Many people would support better housing solutions for people with disabilities but the challenge is getting the system improved so it works better for everyone.
There was an attempt to create housing for special needs adults a couple of years ago. I believe the area proposed was in the 18th Street and the 30th Ave area. Lisa Barth Chiapetta from Barth Storsge launched a huge “not in my neighborhood “ campaign. Little did she know that at that time, there were multiple higher functioning special needs adults living in the Woodcreek Apartments-which were in her Hunters Ridge neighborhood.
Guess he’ll have to move in with his parent(s)? That seems more fair than demanding strangers pay his way.
He lived with us until he was 27 years old. We want him to learn how to live Independently- which he is capable of-instead of being 100% reliant on his parents. I’m sure your tax $$$ go to worse places than helping out a special needs adult, that only wants to be treated as a person instead of a hindrance to people like you.
Thanks for answering with a false description of the choices, and diversion to other topics, like wasted tax money. We need to get rid of poor spending, not use it as an excuse to spend additional money.
If your son is so broke and special needs why isn’t he living at home with you?
I’m a Silver citizen. Why don’t you house your own child. In tax payer housing everyone else pays for your child
This isn’t section 8 housing. Its section 42. “High end affordable”.
Yes, but disabled people are not the kind of citizens that will get most of the housing.
Poor George Stoner must have been stoned like his dead heroin junky son was when he pushed this turd project. I am sure glad that I sold my Lake Michigan home and moved out of Somers and out of the CuntRy. I have said before, it is as if, Poor George Stoned must actually be trying to destroy Somers.
He’s also banging the Jackie Nelson and used to bang the court clerk Fran Dibble too.
I’ve heard that too. Well known
Probably doing it to the owner of the cornfield also. anonomous
Stoned stud?
Like him or not you’re comment makes you a real fucking Piece of Shit.
I disagree
Follow the money
Exactly. Stoner would get a nice kickback from this project.
The cruelty is the point.
We don’t need low rent apartments to bridge the gap from Racine to Kenosha.We have enough problems already.
You think the rent by the hour motels and sex offenders currently here are the best option?
Nice diversion try. Not.
When do voters get the voice to get rid of Stoner? he has been around to long!!
.. it’s who’s going to run against him.
Figure that out and you’ll have your answer
A recall is a lot of work but is within the time frame. The question is who is a candidate to replace him?
Pritzger has Illinois completely hosed, so yeah lets do the same to Somers. G o o d i d e a.
Ya get what ya vote for, and usually …good and hard.
Want to protect the property value of the million dollar homes down the road. Which I don’t blame, build this nonsense in Uptown.
I wonder how much of a kickback stoner is getting from this project.
Stoner is tyrant. That whole board needs to go. He got his training from Bill Morris.
Seamlessly priced i bet. Must cost a pretty penny.
It doesnt matter what you “vote” for. They do what they want.
I have seen so much section 8 housing destroy neighborhoods and stores ( small ones at that ) in Milwaukee. I would not have believed it, but I saw it with my own eyes. I hope they build up their police force. The smell of pot will be all over the place. The owner of this housing property must be real strict and choose wisely on the residents. It cannot be just for the first year but for several decades to ensure Somers maintains their peaceful environment.
Yeah good luck with all that
Few years back used to deliver pizzas PT in Illinois near a “Government Housing” Development. Front area was for Disabled, Senior, or Rehab Individuals who did not wt to live in a Home. A nurse would visit daily to check on them and a percentage of their Disability/Social Security would go to rent. When Illinois legalized Marijuana, signs were placed everywhere in that building that stated residents would be evicted if any form of Marijuana was found in their rooms because it was Federal and not State Housing. Yet in back “Section 8” area, those signs were not posted and you would get a “contact high” from the smoke when customer would answer door. As an aside, our female drivers were not allowed to deliver to the Complexes that were Section 8 after dusk for safety reasons. Fun times.
Planning documents show the development would include 15 two-story apartment buildings containing 200 units, along with a 5,093-square-foot clubhouse, walking trails, dog parks, playground areas and other amenities.
Is it low income housing or a country club?
Yeah…its nice to see where our tax money is going to🙄
Don’t forget the shooting range . Criminals need to hone their shooting skills.
Those will be scrapped somewhere between groundbreaking and completion.
Someone needs to look into the percentage of high-density housing in Somers versus single-family homes. The Southeastern Regional Planning Commission has recommendations on that ratio and Somers is ignoring that ratio and wants to vastly exceed it. Somers is going to be known as the village to rent your apartment from big developers instead of owning your own home.
Money money money…just like Pleasant Prairie…anything for money
Fu*kers won’t be satisfied until Kenosha county becomes lake county il
Ah, leave it to a Democrat, they’ll destroy everything they are involved in.
They can deny it, but all ya have to do is look south of the WI border. Living proof. That state is soooo screwed. All ‘dem’olished.