Poths General: City Backs Eichmann’s “Official” Town Hall While Salous and Residents Are Sidelined

By Franklin Community News

Out-of-district alderwoman — aligned with Mayor Nelson, Supervisor Steve Taylor, and developer Mike Zimmerman — promoted as the public face of the project, while the district’s own alderman is left out.

Back in August, FCNewsWI published “From Promises to Revisions,” documenting how the bold original vision for Poths General — a hotel, band shell, food truck court, and more than 400 apartments — had already been pared back. Now, new details reveal the plan continues to evolve. But what hasn’t changed is the sense among residents that Franklin politics, not just planning, are shaping the outcome.

The New Plan on the Table

At the July 1 Council meeting, the developer presented a scaled-down proposal. The unit count fell from 426 to 312. The hotel, band shell, and food truck plaza were eliminated. Two-story apartments now ring the perimeter, with 12 townhomes added on the north side. Inside, five buildings are slated for three to four stories, two of them mixed-use. The 76th Street frontage is now reserved for additional commercial space. Demolition is targeted for December, with construction to follow (see Timeline Sidebar).

The changes show adjustment — but for neighbors, the project still looms large.

Citizen Concerns: Who Pays and Who Sits in Traffic?

During public comment, residents zeroed in on two points: money and mobility.

If the project is as marketable as claimed, why does the developer need financial backing from the City of Franklin? Talk of a TIF subsidy has already taken place in closed session, raising concerns about transparency and fairness.

Traffic remains the other flashpoint. With a new light planned between Pick ’n Save and Harry’s Ace Hardware, drivers on 76th Street may face a signal roughly every 105 yards — four in less than a half-mile. As one neighbor remarked, “It’s like driving a football field and stopping every time.”

Even scaled back, residents warn, the development’s density and congestion risks haven’t been solved.

Politics in Play: Salous vs. Eichmann

The controversy has become as political as it is practical. Alderman Nabil Salous, who represents the district, held a neighborhood meeting on August 13 to hear directly from residents. The city offered no support — no flyers, no social media, no mailing. It was left to word of mouth (see Timeline Sidebar). Additional Note....Salous asked to have representatives from Poth's General at his meeting and they refused.

Meanwhile, Alderwoman Michelle Eichmann, whose
district does not include the development, is headlining a city-promoted town hall on October 2 at the Franklin Library. This time, the city rolled out polished graphics and official promotion.

The imbalance came into sharper focus at the September 2 Common Council meeting, when Eichmann chastised Salous. She criticized him for skipping a school district referendum meeting on development impacts in order to hold his own town hall with constituents about Poths General (see Timeline Sidebar).

For residents, Salous’ choice was straightforward: meet with the people most affected. But Eichmann’s criticism — coupled with the city’s backing of her event and neglect of his — underscored the sense that Franklin is favoring an alderwoman aligned with the developer and her allies, including Mayor John Nelson, Supervisor Steve Taylor, and developer Mike Zimmerman over the district’s elected representative.

Social Media Tension: Posts Appear, Then Vanish

On September 29, the Poth's debate spilled over into the Franklin WI Community Discussion Group.

Alderwoman Eichmann posted the city-produced graphic reminding residents to attend the October 2 town hall. In the comments, she called it “the official city town hall meeting on Poths General” and said she would be there as Council President, joined by the mayor and “possibly Alderman Salous.” She also claimed city leaders had missed the August 13 meeting because of a school referendum conflict.
Danielle Kenney, a close ally of Nelson and Eichmann, made a separate post asking what residents’ concerns are about Poths General. She replied repeatedly to commenters — including one who noted that Steve Taylor and Mike Zimmerman were tied to earlier Franklin development projects and to the launch of Land By Label with Jim Pekar. Kenney responded by sharing screenshots from Land By Label’s website showing that Zimmerman and Taylor are not currently listed (see Kenney’s Political Ties Sidebar).

On both Eichmann’s post and Kenney’s post, I commented directly — as myself, not under Franklin Community News:

📌 Quote

“Why is an alderwoman from outside the district calling the meeting at all?
Why was Alderman Salous, who represents the district, forced to rely on residents going door-to-door to notify neighbors about his August 13 meeting, while Eichmann’s event is backed with professional graphics, city social media, and even a mailing?”

By the next morning, both Eichmann’s post and Kenney’s post had disappeared (see Timeline Sidebar).

For many residents, that disappearance only deepens suspicion. If the city and its allies — Nelson, Taylor, Zimmerman, and Eichmann — are truly committed to transparency, what are they afraid of when the hard questions get asked?

📌 Sidebar: Kenney’s Political Ties

Ran against Patti Logsdon: Danielle Kenney challenged Logsdon for County Supervisor but was defeated. Her candidacy was widely seen as backed by Steve Taylor, John Nelson, and Michelle Eichmann.
Strauss lawsuit: Kenney was part of the group that sued the City of Franklin to block the Strauss Brands development project.
Key ally: That lawsuit was spearheaded by Kelly Hersch, Nelson’s campaign organizer and now Franklin’s Director of Administration.
Current role: Kenney has reemerged in community forums as a defender of the Poths General project, echoing the positions of Nelson, Taylor, and Eichmann.

Is the “Official” Town Hall Really About a TIF?

With no public TID proposal yet on record for Poth's General, some residents now wonder if the October 2 town hall is less about “listening” and more about building political cover for a subsidy.

The city has thrown its full communications machine behind the event — professionally designed graphics, official social media, and even mailers — while Alderman Salous’ grassroots meeting in August received none of that support. Add in the presence of the mayor, the council president, and other city officials, and the picture starts to look less like a neutral update and more like a campaign.

If the developer needs a TIF to move forward, an “official” town hall could serve to manufacture consensus: showcase city leadership standing together, minimize dissent, and then point to the meeting as proof of “community engagement.”

For neighbors who fear another Ballpark Commons–style deal, that possibility is exactly why they’re speaking out now — and why they’re skeptical of who’s hosting the conversation.

📌 Sidebar: What is a TIF?

Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is a tool cities use to help fund development.
A TIF district locks in today’s property tax base. As property values rise from new development, the increment (the extra tax revenue) is diverted to repay project costs.
In Franklin, this usually means issuing debt up front for infrastructure or subsidies, then paying it off with future tax growth.
Catch: Until the TIF closes, those new tax dollars don’t go to schools, the county, or the general fund — they stay in the district.
Supporters say: It makes big projects possible.
Critics say: It’s a hidden subsidy that shifts risk to taxpayers and diverts money from other public needs.

The Developer Network: Zimmerman, Taylor, Pekar

Behind the political maneuvering are familiar players.

ROC Ventures & ROC Foundation operate from 7044 S. Ballpark Drive, Suite 300, led by Mike and Joe Zimmerman with County Supervisor Steve Taylor as executive director.
In January 2024, Land By Label, developer of Poths General, listed its office at Suite 305 in the same building — next door to ROC.
Jim Pekar, now a Land By Label principal, was publicly described by Zimmerman as his partner in Luxe Golf Bays at Ballpark Commons: “Jim was the perfect match … we’re building a new development company.”

Since then, however, Pekar has split his ties with Zimmerman at Ballpark Commons, moving his focus to Land By Label while Zimmerman remains anchored at ROC. Land By Label now lists a Delafield address and no Zimmerman on its team page (see Proof of Early Involvement Sidebar).

That history — of Pekar breaking from Zimmerman, Zimmerman and Taylor still operating from Ballpark Commons, and Land By Label now pushing Poths General — shows the same circle of players reshuffling positions while remaining deeply tied to Franklin’s biggest development projects.

Purposeful Blight? Questions Around TIF Justification

The Poths General project is moving forward under Land By Label, yet City Hall records show the Orchard View property is owned by INITECH, LLC — a company registered in 2022 with its principal office at developer Jim Pekar’s home address. Pekar, who sold First Choice Ingredients for $453 million in 2021, continues to launch new ventures through both Land By Label and Initech.

To many residents, the site looks like a case of purposeful blight: buildings left unkept, parking lots deteriorating, and tenants pushed out after being told their leases would not be renewed because the buildings were slated for demolition. At least one tenant reportedly moved out before the deal was even approved.

Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 66.1105), a TIF district may only be created if the property is truly “blighted,” in need of rehabilitation, or unlikely to attract private development without public assistance. In simple terms: TIF is meant only when no personal or private investment would occur otherwise.

That standard is difficult to square here. With Pekar as both property owner (via Initech) and developer (via Land By Label) — and with a proven track record of financing projects — residents are asking: how can the city credibly claim this project wouldn’t move forward without taxpayer subsidy?

📌 Sidebar: Proof of Early Involvement

April 2023: Milwaukee Business Journal reported that Land By Label was launched “with the leaders of Ballpark Commons” — a direct link to Mike Zimmerman and ROC Ventures.
Jim Pekar was highlighted in the same coverage as a “team player in Ballpark Commons buildout.”
Today: Land By Label’s website no longer lists Zimmerman.
Resident takeaway: The change fuels belief that Zimmerman was once involved but later split, with Pekar moving forward under Land By Label and Zimmerman remaining at ROC.

What Comes Next

Two dates matter now. On October 2, Eichmann will host her city-backed “update meeting” at the library (see Timeline Sidebar).

A week later, on October 9, the Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on amending PDD 42, the zoning framework that governs the Poths General site. Amending it would give the developer legal clearance to move forward with the revised plan: 312 apartments, townhomes, and expanded commercial space along 76th Street.

For residents, this is where the rubber meets the road. Once PDD 42 is amended, the project moves from “concept” to “approved pathway.” Without that amendment, the developer can’t break ground as currently designed. That makes the October 9 hearing the most consequential moment yet (see Timeline Sidebar).

📌 Sidebar: What is a PDD?

Planned Development Districts (PDDs) are special zoning designations in Franklin.
Instead of following standard zoning rules, a PDD lays out a custom set of requirements — covering density, building height, land use, traffic flow, and design features.
Developers often use PDDs to propose mixed-use projects that wouldn’t fit neatly into traditional zoning categories.
Any changes to a PDD — like the amendments now sought for Poths General — must go through a public hearing and then approval by the Plan Commission and Common Council.
For residents, this means a PDD amendment is a crucial moment: once approved, it locks in the rules the developer can build under.

Upcoming Hearing:

When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers (9229 W. Loomis Road).
Purpose: Public hearing on amending PDD 42, which governs the Poths General site.

📌 Sidebar: Poths General Timeline

July 1, 2025 – Developer revises plan: unit count drops from 426 to 312; hotel, band shell, and food truck plaza removed. Narrative: Project scaled back, but still dense and controversial.
August 13, 2025 – Alderman Nabil Salous hosts a neighborhood meeting. Residents distribute notices door-to-door. Narrative: Salous engages his constituents without city support.
September 2, 2025 – Common Council meeting. Eichmann chastises Salous for holding his town hall instead of attending the school referendum meeting. Narrative: Political clash highlights imbalance of support.
September 29, 2025 – Facebook debate. Eichmann posts city-backed graphic; Kenney posts separately asking for concerns. I comment on both. By morning, both posts are gone. Narrative: Disappearance deepens suspicion.
October 2, 2025 – City-backed “official” town hall at Franklin Library, led by Eichmann with support from Mayor Nelson. Narrative: Out-of-district alderwoman promoted over the district’s elected rep.
October 9, 2025 – Plan Commission hearing on PDD 42.
Location: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers, 6:30 p.m.
Narrative: The decisive step — amendment would secure the developer’s legal path forward, with political insiders aligned and residents demanding their voices be heard.

The Greater Good

At its core, the Poths General debate is about more than one development. It’s about who Franklin works for — its residents, or a small circle of political insiders and developers.

Franklin has faced this crossroads before. When decisions are made behind closed doors, when the city’s communications machinery backs one faction over another, and when honest questions disappear from public view, trust erodes. The community deserves better.

As one resident reminded the Council, “the greater good is not served by favoring developers over neighborhoods.”

Now is the time for citizens to make their voices heard. Show up on October 2 at the Franklin Library. Speak out on October 9 at City Hall when the Plan Commission considers amending PDD 42.

This is your city. Your neighborhood. Your future. The greater good depends on you.

📌 Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard

The October 9 Plan Commission hearing isn’t just another meeting — it’s the decision point.

If PDD 42 is amended, the developer gets a legal pathway to build 312 apartments, townhomes, and commercial space as proposed.
If residents don’t show up, city officials can claim the project has community support and move it forward without opposition.
If you speak out, commissioners are forced to hear — on the record — concerns about traffic, financing, fairness, and transparency.

Franklin’s future shouldn’t be decided by insiders alone.

📅 When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 — 6:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers, 9229 W. Loomis Road

Your voice matters. Your neighborhood matters. The greater good depends on you.

Franklin Community News will keep pressing for answers. We will not be silenced by political pressure. We will continue to investigate, expose, and report on corruption in Franklin. Please support us by liking our page on Facebook: Franklin Community News.

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