Williams Bay -- Many people have waited to ask the proponents of a plan about the future of the Yerkes Observatory many questions.

Finally, their time is coming.

The third public information meeting on the plan by Mirbeau Co., Skaneateles, N.Y., is set for Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Williams Bay High School.

The Mirbeau plan calls for building a 100-room "retreat" and 72 homes on a portion of the 78-acre property, which is owned by the University of Chicago.

Earlier this summer, the university and Mirbeau reached a tentative agreement that would allow Mirbeau to buy the property for $8 million, but the proposal is contingent upon receiving approval for the plan from the village.

Despite the plan being in the preliminary stages of the process, it has sparked concerns, inspired a local philanthropist to underwrite a design contest for alternatives to the proposal and drew large numbers of people at past village meetings.

The Mirbeau plan is one of the largest proposals the village has ever dealt with -- yet so far, Mirbeau hasn't filed an application for any land use action on the property.

"As far as when they're going to approach us officially, we have no idea," Village Board President Don Weyhrauch said at the Aug. 7 board meeting.

Weyhrauch said it is a "hot button" issue, and one in which people will receive the opportunity to express their concerns, ask questions and obtain information at future meetings.

"We will make every effort to answer questions," he said.

There may be a speaking time limit of three minutes per person -- and village residents may have the first opportunity to step up to the mic.

It also may be the first of the three information meetings held since July 30 in which a moderator will be present.

On Monday, Weyhrauch said he contacted the University of Wisconsin-Madison to have a moderator at the meeting, but nothing has been finalized yet.

"We will have one," he said. "We don't know who it's going to be yet."

Since the first information meeting July 30, it has been a busy summer for Mirbeau and university and village officials.

The July 30 meeting was open for members of the Village Board and the Planning Commission to ask questions to university and Mirbeau representatives.

People were asked to write questions about the plan, some of which were addressed at the second meeting Aug. 3.

At that meeting, Weyhrauch said the village received more than 500 questions since July 30.

Gary Dower, of Mirbeau, and University Vice President for Community and Government Affairs Hank Webber answered questions about numerous factors of the plan --mostly financial.

Other questions concerned environmental and community impact, whether or not the plan would set a precedent for lakefront development if it is approved and why the university chose the Mirbeau plan over one presented by Aurora University, which it collaborated on with a group of local residents called "Yerkes 21."

On Aug. 3, Webber said there is no "Plan B" for the future of Yerkes if the Mirbeau plan fails.

However, others have taken it upon themselves to come up with other options for the village and for Yerkes.

Last week, news that Lake Geneva philanthropist and multibillionaire Richard Driehaus wants to provide three alternatives to the Mirbeau plan was announced to the Village Board.

On Aug. 7, the chairperson of the Concerned Taxpayers of Williams Bay read a letter from Driehaus stating that he wants to underwrite a design contest.

"Because I believe Williams Bay should have more options than it is now being given by the University of Chicago for this nationally significant site, I am offering to underwrite a design competition," he stated.

According to the letter, Driehaus wants to invite three prominent architects who have experience with historic sites and have demonstrated "understanding of landscape and context-sensitive urban design."

"Each will be asked to present a concept for the best use of the entire Yerkes site," Driehaus stated. "The architects will begin with a study of the original landscape plans. ... They will then review how the site and adjacent parcels that provide its context have evolved over the past 110 years."

Each presentation would include comments on the past proposals by Mirbeau and Aurora, recommendations on incorporating a continuing role for the observatory as an educational tool, the need for an endowment and the continued maintenance and preservation of the observatory and the original landscaping.

Weyhrauch said he wanted to look at the ideas Driehaus proposed in his letter.

"Is there a possibility this can happen? We don't know. ... It's certainly an interesting letter," Weyhrauch said.

In the letter, Driehaus also expressed his concerns about the potential impact of the Mirbeau plan on the community and the environment.

"I am concerned that the good people of Williams Bay are being pressured into accepting a plan for the Yerkes Observatory site that will badly compromise this valuable asset for the benefit of others but the detriment of the community," he stated.

Driehaus isn't the only one thinking about alternatives to the Mirbeau plan.

Recently, the Geneva Lake Conservancy publicized its concept for turning the property into a nature preserve.