WAYNE -- Families in Wayne, who are used to playing soccer in their backyards are worried that their fields will soon be future construction sites. 

Finding a home is difficult in the current market, with inventory and cost both proving to be prohibitive. For the northeast Nebraska college town of Wayne, a housing crisis is affecting Wayne State College's nearly 4,000 students -- and slowing business growth, according to officials. But one potential solution has struck a nerve with homeowners in the community.   

The city of Wayne is selling land to a developer to build a 144-unit apartment facility. In response, some Wayne residents have started a remonstrance petition.  

"Nebraska’s Revised Statute [16-202] gives its citizens a way to challenge a decision to sell public land – called a remonstrance period – to petition the City to delay the sale of public property for one year," explained Wayne resident Lee Brogie.   

Brogie and other homeowners are signing the petition to prevent the development by R. Perry Construction, based in Sioux City, IA.  

"It makes me sick to my stomach," Brooke Sturm of Wayne said. Sturm said she loves small towns like Wayne, where everyone gives a “two-finger wave.” She even chose her home because of the peaceful countryside view and rugby park behind it, where her four kids play soccer and golf.   

"I have anxiety over this [...] this is in our backyard. Who wants that in their backyard?" Sturm said. "Try to put yourself in our position."   

Sturm continued, she's scared her family memories will be replaced by the massive apartment complex, with asking prices of $850 for a one-bedroom -- considerably higher than Wayne's median rent cost of around $695, according to a study by the city.

"Who in Wayne is going to be able to afford that?" she asked.   

"It's not going to alleviate the housing crisis they're talking about, it's just for college students," her husband Mike Sturm agreed.  

They've signed the petition, started by Wayne mayoral candidate Bradley Jason (B.J.) Woehler, of Robert Woehler & Sons Construction. 

"I just don't think it's the city's job to do housing," said Woehler, who's looking for 1,000 more signatures to meet his goal by April 23rd.  

City officials disagree. Mayor Cale Giese stated that the housing crisis is holding Wayne back.  

"It's also affecting our major employers, [...] Great Dane Trailers for example -- less than 20% of their workforce lives in Wayne," Giese said.  

Plus, Giese believes the location at WSC's rugby field is better than development in older neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, WSC tells NCN they do not have a comment, nor stance at all on the matter. Their rugby team is in the process of working out when and how they would use the school’s soccer field for practices.   

The apartment's development will be funded through tax increment financing in 15 years. It will not cause an increase in taxes.  

As for the mighty price of the product itself, Giese argued, it's never bad to have more options on the market -- even if they're more expensive -- because it widens the menu.  

"I like to call it reverse musical chairs, when you add chairs, there's more for everyone to move up," Giese said.   

Still, Woehler is even more concerned about his primary goal; to protect the wastewater treatment facility adjacent to the property.   

"If we lose our permit because people complain of the smell, just putting anybody closer to that is poorly advised, there are other properties that are available," Woehler said.   

Moreover, Woehler believes the decision to sell the land in the first place -- through eminent domain -- was illegal.   

"The precedent is horrible,” Woehler said. “Nobody wants their land taken, and if it is taken, it shouldn't be given to a private developer.” 

The mayor explained that his lawyers can prove the sale is not in violation of any rules, as the original purchase was only for purposes of the water treatment facility which will remain. Woehler, on the other hand, said he would have considered a lawsuit if he had the funds.  

Finally, the opposition disagrees with the city's choice between its two proposals -- that it chose a developer outside of Wayne, rather than a local employer. There was a second proposal, which the city rejected by Heritage Homes of Wayne. 

"One of the biggest mottos in Wayne is shop local. And then they go and outsource this out of Wayne," said Mike Sturm.   

The Heritage Homes proposal was rejected on the grounds of costing the city significantly more. 

Plus, “There is no developer the size of R. Perry in town,” Giese said. He claimed Heritage Homes is still supportive of the development as it would provide homes for their own employees.  

Another argument in support of R. Perry is that they offered to pay for the creation of a lake. The city council had been separately hoping to add this recreation to their community for a while.   

"It will be next to a trail and it'll be stocked with fish, it'll be ideal for citizens to just go for a walk or a run," Giese said. "I think it's going to be a great spot."  

"If it was only a lake then the community would love that, but it's all those apartments," Brooke Sturm countered. 

Construction could begin as early as this fall.