Cafe and Rentals replace carwash and trailer park

Council says cafe and rentals will replace carwash and trailer park on Wisconsin

Council approved Tom LaChance's PUD overlay, but before the vote, discussion turned philosophical over what Wisconsin Ave. should look like in the future.

Public comment started off the evening when Mike Smith asked for insight and an amendment into the sign ordinance because his church underwent a name change which required their grandfathered sign be updated in accordance with sign ordinance. The new name, Alliance Missionary and Christian Church, was too large to accommodate the two by five foot allotted space, particularly if the church wanted to advertise upcoming pastors.

Mayor Andy Fuery informed Smith that the council is not allowed to comment before official paperwork is filed because it would be "prejudicing ourselves."

Later, Feury broke a tie vote on Tom LaChance's 4.4 acre PUD overlay requested on 28 cabin/ vacation rentals. It drew no public comment. The tight vote was marked with questions over the changing nature of Wisconsin.

LaChance plans to replace the trailer park and car wash with a cafe and weekly and monthly rental units and three employee apartments.

Acting city planner Tom Jentz painted the development as an upgrade, noting the age and condition of the trailers currently on the 4.4 acre site and maintaining that the style of the development was in accordance with a "residential character."

Councilor Tom Muri questioned the need for more lodging, citing the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and indicating a lodging glut and lack of affordable housing. Muri went on to note the city's master plan vision of Wisconsin.

"The master plan says to avoid further commercial development on Wisconsin Ave," Muri stated.

Jentz pointed to the bed and breakfasts and restaurants that line the thoroughfare and noted that current zoning allows for 150 units on the acreage.

"What is the character we want for Wisconsin?" Muri queried.

Cris Coughlin echoed similar concerns, "Isn't it changing (the character) when we allow (change) piece by piece. Didn't we create (that zoning) for walkable homes?"

In defense of the project, Scott Eldon characterized the development as suiting both sides and the proper appearance, "It's a residential looking, commercial-like development. It's in line with the rest of Wisconsin and will have that look. I think the goal is to have that appearance."

In the end, Feury swung the tie vote in favor of the development, with Adams, Wagner and Garberg voting in approval and Phillips-Sullivan, Coughlin and Muri voting against.

In other council news:

Council approved a Whitefish Lake dredging project on a close vote, deferring to the Lakeshore committee's endorsement of the project. The project will clear excess silt from the Bay Point Marina on the southeast corner of Whitefish Lake.

In order to ensure that other homeowners would not propose similar projects, the council placed a condition stating that this will be a test case that does not set precedence for future applications.

Jim and Laura Blankenship received council approval to convert a room of their Iowa Avenue residence into a bed and breakfast.