Plan Commission Meetings and Agendas

PLAN COMMISSION MINUTES
December 9, 2021 – 7:00 pm

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

President Knutson called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Plan Commission members present: Comm. Theresa Hoff, Comm. Cheryl Mantz, Comm. Ryan Lange, Comm. Brian Belt, Trustee Craig Roberts and President Jeff Knutson. Comm. Jim Grabowski was excused.
Also present: Village Planner Mary Censky, Village Contract Engineer Tim Barbeau, Village Attorney Matt Gralinski, Village Administrator Scott Gosse, and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Jackie Schuh.

2. Public Hearings

a. Request for Conditional Use Grant approval to construct a multi-family building/use (i.e. a duplex) at 203 E. Wisconsin Avenue.  The property owners/applicants are Joanne Koehler and Dwight Zoellner.  The property is zoned B-2 Downtown Business District.
Jason Szymanowski at 304 E. Wisconsin Ave. - Mr. Szymanowski raised questions regarding building plans, who the property owner is, where the entrance will be and whether it will require an easement.  He also raised concerns regarding traffic and parking at that location.

3. Citizen Comments - None.

4. Approval of the Minutes:

a. Regular Plan Commission Meeting – November 11, 2021

Comm. Lange motioned, seconded by Comm. Mantz to approve the minutes of the November 11, 2021, Regular Plan Commission meeting as presented. 
Motion carried 4-0-2, with Comm. Belt and Comm. Hoff abstaining.

5. Old Business – None.

6. New Business

a. Review, discussion and possible action on the Conditional Use Grant request to construct a multi-family building/use (i.e. a duplex) at 203 E. Wisconsin Avenue.  The property owners/applicants are Joanne Koehler and Dwight Zoellner.  The property is zoned B-2 Downtown Business District.
Planner Censky explained that conditional uses such as the proposed multi-family building are included in the B-2 Downtown Business District but are subject to approval by both the Plan Commission and the Village Board to ensure the development will not be detrimental to the surrounding area or have an adverse impact upon the public health, safety and welfare.  This development was brought before the commission in September 2020 and has returned with a plan for a two-dwelling, side-by-side, three-story development.  Both units face E. Wisconsin Ave. and have garage units in the lowest level of the building which are accessible only via an easement/accessway that enters from Clark St. and runs behind its property.  Per Censky, the setback and offsets meet necessary distance requirements but she was unsure as to the open space requirements.  She suggested that the pavement be removed in front of the units to meet the open-space requirements and to discourage parking there.  Consult Engineer Tim Barbeau indicated that traffic would not likely be an issue but also suggested that the hard surface in front of the building be removed.  Per Barbeau, no stormwater management will be required but suggested the impervious area to the rear of the building be removed and replaced with topsoil and seed to allow some run-off infiltration. Data was limited and in some cases inconsistent so a site grading and drainage plan with Village Engineer approval will be needed. He also suggested all underground work for laterals be done prior to the road reconstruction project.  Discussion followed regarding the need to close the curb cut so there is no question as to parking in front of the building, depicting access/easements on plans, clarification as to the number of parking spaces per unit, whether an HOA is necessary with this type of development, green-space requirements and the need for the applicant to secure an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan Map to change the category of land use for this site from existing single-family residential to proposed general commercial. 
Trustee Roberts motioned, seconded by Comm. Belt to table item 6(a) for the Conditional Use Grant to construct a multi-family building/use (i.e. a duplex) at 203 E. Wisconsin Avenue until more information is available from the applicant.
Motion carried unanimously.

b. Review, discussion and consultative feedback to the applicant, Wellspring Construction Group LLC (in/c/o Tim Knepprath), on a potential Planned United Development (“PUD”) plan including a “mini warehousing” use in the B-5 Zoning District.  The prospective development project would encompass the presently vacant lands located immediately north and west of, and adjacent to, the existing uses/building located at 227 Sussex Street.  The property is Zoned B-5 Light Industrial.
Planner Censky indicated that the proposed self-storage would include approximately 284-10ft.x20 ft. leasable units throughout nine buildings which will be constructed of masonry/brick materials with metal roofs.  The lighting plan and fixtures appear to be fully compliant but the landscape plan is not.  A six-foot-tall woven metal fence is proposed with a gated, lockbox accessway for tenants, and there is no water or sanitary sewer proposed.  The greenspace well exceeds the 35% minimum for the property although the buildable area of the project appears to be 99% impervious.  Censky raised concerns regarding access for fire department vehicles, the need for a PUD as this use is not expressly permitted in the Zoning Code and the need for a CSM to create the underlying lot. Engineer Barbeau noted that no computations were provided for the size of the stormwater ponds which may require alteration of size and number of buildings on the lot, that there is no water or sewer being requested and that the plan of operation indicates one access point while the plans indicate two.  Discussion followed regarding the building layout on the property, fire access, lighting plans and security issues.  The Commission responded generally favorable and indicated areas to be addressed to the applicant.

7. Citizen Comments 

Jason Szymanowski at 304 E. Wisconsin Ave. - Mr. Szymanowski stated that condos would typically be owner-occupied as compared to a duplex and that busses turn in front of the property at 203 E. Wisconsin Ave. and it creates issues and congestion.

8. Adjournment

Trustee Roberts motioned, seconded by Comm. Hoff to adjourn the December 9, 2021, Regular Plan Commission meeting at approximately 8:04 p.m.
Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Jackie Schuh
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer