In the July 25, 2003 Isthmus, Woodman’s spokesman, Bret Backus is quoted as leading a fight against a 42,000 square foot Copps grocery store in his own Middleton Hills neighborhood. Mr. Backus is using similar arguments that Neighbors for Responsible Growth has used.

Mr. Backus lives in Middleton Hills and he appeared in the July 25, 2003 issue of the Isthmus as an opponent to a proposed grocery store in his neighborhood. He is quoted as saying, “If you look at the Master Plan, Middleton Hills was never, ever intended to be the home of a supermarket.” Additionally, he stated, “this is completely inconsistent with the commercial development called for in a traditional neighborhood.” And in regards to the estimated 10,000 WEEKLY car trips the store will generate, another opponent states, “most of it will come during the evenings and weekends when you and your children are trying to enjoy a nice walk, a bike ride, a trip to the park, or a chat with your neighbors on the porch.”

When Woodman’s questions the motives of the residents of Sun Prairie and tells us that traffic (up to 14,000 daily car trips) won’t be an issue with their store, it’s important to remember that what they say is good for our neighborhood may not be good for their own neighborhood.