Plan Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, you can test your mics now if you think you need to. Okay. And Bill Okay, good evening everybody. It is 4:32 Tuesday, April 29th. Do we have contact in the back? Okay, we do. 4:32 p.m. You're at a plan commission meeting. City of Wasau. We have a quorum in place, one member absent. long agenda, so hopefully I can read all these off quickly for you. Uh, first item is the approval of the minutes for March 18th. I would entertain a motion. Motion from Bulan, second from Bornean. Oh, those second. Second. Second from Larson. Any discussion? Seeing none, those in favor of accepting the minutes say I. I. I. Opposed? That passes. All right. The first item, we have several hearings and then followed by discussion. So, we'll open the hearing on the first item. This is item two, discussion on reszoning 2811 West Wasaw Avenue from a DR8 to a TF10 to allow for a 3 to four unit multiplex. It's Lang Investments LLC. Is there anyone here from Lang or from the would like to speak? Step on up, sir. Please state your name and um I'm Craig Lang uh part of Lang Investments. We are

looking to put a three or fourplex probably a 4plex unit up there. Um and I guess I the plans are all on there. I guess does anyone have any questions I can answer or get going with? We sure we'll we'll work on the questions at at the next uh item which is discussion and possible action. So at this point uh we're looking for give us your uh your elevator speech on why we should approve this. Okay, we are the lot is very large as you can see. Um it is zoned for a single duplex on there. We we're talking about two duplexes but that's not meeting the zoning regulations that we wanted to do. So, we are going to look at changing them into a forplex with the location of this lot just seems to be good for more building. Um, I we just want to get more building and more rental units in there. And a duplex would leave that whole back of the lot just not unusable, but for a rental property, we just felt that there would be more access to put the four units the way that they're designed on there. So, we are looking to possibly build it this summer and uh want to get it going. Um I know there's another meeting we have to get approved if this one goes through, but uh uh that's what we're looking at doing with it. So, it be a singlestory unit. Um each one would have a twocar garage, two bedrooms, two baths in each one, and a full kitchen. Um and a lifesize living room. They'll be nice units for smaller couples or single people that are looking for units to do. Okay. Thank you. And stand by in case we need to call you back up here. Okay. Anyone else wishing to speak on this item as public uh hearing is still

open. One more call. Anyone else for public hearing on 2811 West Wasa Avenue? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and we'll move on to item three, which is discussion and possible action on the resoning of 2811 West Wasaw Avenue uh to allow for three to four unit multiplex for Lang Investments. I would entertain a motion. Okay. Motion from Bornean, second from Bulan. Discussion. Got it. Thanks. All right. Seeing none, any staff comments, recommendations? I think Go ahead, Bill. Uh, thank you. I'd just like to clarify that um, tonight is just the reason, then they'll have to come back and get a conditional use to do the forplex. It's just a two-step process. So, tonight's just the reason. Okay. So that but the resoning will come to council on May 13th. Correct. Okay. All right. Seeing no nothing further on this item, we have a motion in a second, all those in favor of approving or taking action to the council for reszoning 2811 West was avenue signify by saying I. I. I. Yep. Any opposed? Right. That passes. Thank you. Next public hearing is item number four. It's discussion on reszoning. It says discussion. It's public hearing 1040 South 12th Avenue from a TF10 to a PUD to allow for two duplexes. This is Mack Ventures. Anyone from the public wishing to speak to this matter?

against it. This this being a public hearing, if you have any comment for or against, this is your opportunity. Please state your name and address. My name is Richard Westber. I live at 1021 South 12 a kitty corner from the re from the building that they're going to build onto. Now, um, we have traffic. We have GD Jones school in front of our house. Okay. And I give the Wasa school board, uh, recommendations for putting a fence around the dog park. Oh, I didn't say dog park. I meant the, uh, playground for the kids. But anyways, here we get we get the we get these here big uh, you know, buildings put in there. You know, people they got to walk their dog. You know, they have dogs, you I mean, they have uh cars and and on 7th and 11th, I see I noticed that they're they're using their the road for their driveway. There's not enough parking. And then you got Troy's Tik Tok across the road. Okay. And it's a business. They do a good business there. And they park on 12th. We have a school on 12. We have school buses in the morning, in the afternoon, and at 4:30. Okay. Then when the school buses come through, that's traffic there. So, um, you know, I'm just saying that there's there's parking issues, you know, that are going to come up on that. So, that's why I'm kind of, uh, against having, uh, two duplexes put there because you're talking what, four families. So, but I just hope I made a, you know, point like I said, and if they can't use the GD Jones school playground for their dog park, I mean, they use the my boulevard and they walk their dog. I mean, everybody's got to have animals,

you know. I mean, but anyways, and some people too when they move in, they have like, you know, they got the sports car they put in a garage and they got the wife's car and then they got their car and I mean it just takes up a lot of uh parking space. So, they're going to park on the road. So, okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chair. Yes. I I have a question. Uh, this it says 1040 South 12th Avenue. Um, would this by chance be the corner lot that's on 12th and and uh and Thomas? No. There was that yellow house that burnt down and there's that yellowd off until we get to that. Okay. Go ahead. Thank you. So, that's Thank you. Okay. Public hearing. We still have opportunity. Second call. Last chance for public hearing comments on 1040 South 12th Avenue. Okay. We're going to close the public hearing and we'll proceed to discussion possible action on reszoning 1040 South 12th Avenue from a TF12 to a PUD to allow for two duplexes uh by Mac Ventures. So, we heard the comment and Brad, you want to Sure. I guess since the petitioner doesn't appear to be here, just some background information. Uh, there were three units on this property previously. As you noted, there was a fire there that destroyed the duplex. So, there was an accessory dwelling unit also on the the property that was raised. Um, so their desire is to put four units, which just be one more unit than was there previously. Uh, the lot under the current zoning isn't quite big enough. It's about 700 square ft too small to split it in half. So that's why they're seeking the flexibility of the the PUD zoning district to to get that extra unit to do two duplexes on the site rather than um just the one that would be allowed

because of the the size or the sorry the the overall size of the the parcel again just being a little bit too small. So that's the proposal. This this stage is just the general plan. um basically looking at the two units or the two uh duplexes for a total of four units and they have a general site plan in there but we would need to work with them on the specific plans which would come back to us at a future meeting. Um but at this point I guess staff seem that the extra unit again above what was there before seems appropriate for this lot. Thank you. Anyone have any other comments on this? I would entertain a Go ahead. Excuse me, Mr. A question on this. It appears based on the schematic here that there's one of the uh duplexes is going to be accessed off Thomas and then is the other one then off of 12? Yep, that's what's being shown here. So, uh, 12th would be to the right of the screen. Thomas would be at the bottom. Okay. All right. And actually, you know, we have design standards that we're going to have to work with the petitioners a little bit because this might not actually work because of some of our standards, particularly the garages taking up too much of the front facade. So, that might need to be tweaked um, you know, might need to be turned either sideways or or backwards with access on the back. I guess that'd probably be the preference from staff's viewpoint, but we'll we'll have to work with them on those more specific details. Any other questions, comments? I would entertain a motion

motion. Motion from Balkan, second from Barnaman. Motion and a second to to uh reszone, pass that to council on for the 13th. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed. That passes. Up next, public hearing. Another public hearing. Item six, discussion on approving a conditional use permit for 9033rd Street. That's the First United Methodist Church to allow for the use of their basement as an emergency night shelter. uh sponsor or by the Wasaw PD looking for public comment or uh get public comment on this item and we can take it now or we can take it later. It's up to you. Last chance, Brian. Hi, Brian Bailey, 707 Third Street. I'm the president and CEO of the Woodson YMCA. Have some reservations of of the location for the the shelter. Um although I do appreciate Chief Barnes. He forgive me. All right. That's embarrassing. Anyone want to dance? Okay. Um the my my reservation comes and I and I I feel for the homeless population and where this goes, but I'm sure you're going to hear, "Well, no one wants this in their backyard." My uh same would be this is one of the worst backyards you could put it in. We have the largest child care licensed childcare center in the city of Wasau with over 200 uh children that congregate uh in our playgrounds. Our strollers go around those blocks. We have the only senior center uh in the

community with a lot of vulnerable population um that that spend a great deal of time um at the the landing and the Y. We have hundreds uh of of children and young families that come on a daily basis. The the reason I'm even more hesitant is because I lived through this uh back I believe it was 2021 when the shelter was there and what we found was there was poor behavior. We had theft. We had loitering. We had uh drug needles, alcohol, garbage, defecation on our campus. It made our our members very um worried, upset. Um the YMCA healthy healthy atmosphere that people come to on that. Um Chief Barnes did talk to me and said it'll be a little bit different this time because they will be overseeing that. And I and I I do trust that it could be different, but I also have to say that for my board that it's not a comfortable place um to be put in our location. I want to be a good neighbor. I want to work with the community. Um but I did need to say my piece for for our constituents. Thank you. Thank you. Right. The public hearing is still open. I'm going to make the last call on that. All right. Last call. We're closing the public hearing on the conditional use permit for 903rd Avenue and we'll take it to uh Oh, I'm sorry. That's all we need on that. Yeah. So, gota learn how to use my microphone. Yeah. Conditional uses, this is just the public hearing. Uh they come back to plan commission for the final action. So, um that's why the special meeting actually was called on Thursday. So, so that's the Thursday. We'll come back and take action then. Okay. So, that'll be Thursday at 4:15, I believe. So, okay. Thank you. Uh, another public hearing item is number seven, uh, public hearing discussion regarding the uh, tax increment district number three, project

plan amendment number six, in order to add projects and project costs. And this comes to us from finance and we're looking for any public comment. We have a hearing open. See Maryanne standing up. Help us out. Uh again, just as the mayor indicated, we're just adding project costs uh not amending the boundaries. Uh the majority of the projects are infrastructure projects including Fulton Street uh first to North 7th Street water and sewer. Related to that is first street river drive mando uh to 300 ft of Fulton again water and sewer. Uh the mall streets as you know we torn down tore down the mall and now we're putting in streets. Uh so it's um construction, engineering, uh sidewalks, lighting, water, sewer, and any other related costs. Another project is demolition of the old water plant. Uh that facility is located strategically next to Wasa Chemical and the River Life Park. So um we want to be able to demo that property and prepare it for reuse. uh second street from short to decalb uh including water and sewer parking ramp improvements and then on street parking uh mando Franklin street and fourth street and that is uh part of our attempt to provide additional parking for the YMCA. So a resolution once the public hearing is conducted um the plan commission's responsibility is to adopt uh that plan. There is a resolution that

would go to the common council in the plan itself. Uh so that would be the resolution that you would be adopting tonight. And we did have our initial meeting with the joint review board yesterday morning. So the rest of the timeline would be after plan commission. It would go to council on May 13th and then we would have the final uh joint review board meeting set for sometime after May 13th. Thank you. Thank you. Quite the journey for for TID plans. Any other comments? Any other one wishing to speak publicly on the TID TID 3 plan? Seeing none, I'm going to close the the public hearing and we'll take up the discussion and possible action. This is item eight regarding tax increment number three, project plan amendment number six in order to add projects and project costs. This is comes to us from finance via uh the joint review board and I would entertain a motion. Motion from Balkan, second from Bornean. Comments, questions, concerns? Um, just I'm pretty sure I asked this question the last time we had it, but I need I need to review for my own sake. Um, the the purpose of the uh plan commission in this is simply to hold the public hearing and there really aren't any standards we have to apply of whether we approve it or not. It's simply to hold the meeting and that it complies with the comprehensive plan. Yeah, I would say that's accurate. The main Okay. The main purpose is the public hearing. Um, but also like you said, to make sure that the these plans jive with other plans that the city has. Make sure it's transparent and and everything's it's part of the process,

the joint review board, common council, plan commission, going back to joint review board after council action. It's all sort of laid out in the statutes, the process. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Good question. I was just sidebaring with with Brad to understand that. Any anything else on the matter? All right. Seeing none, we have a motion and a second. I would all those in favor of accepting the uh possible or the uh tax increment district 3 project plan amendment six signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? That passes. Okay. Another tax increments. District number nine. Uh public hearing is discussion regarding tax increment district number seven project plan amendment 4 in order to share surplus increments with tax increment district number 12 for the year 2026. This comes to us from finance. So this would be a donor tid situation and I believe we have Maryanne still here. Yes. So this is authorizing one year of increment which we're estimating would be 1.7 um 1 million728175 to be exact for an estimate and uh the justification for the increment sharing is this would be shared with tax increment district number 12. 12 was created prior to uh COVID and its goal was to redevelop the mall. At the time I think there was a belief that we could save the mall. Obviously after COVID the mall came down that created some um challenges for the district because a lot of that value turned into negative value. Uh and so

and it it also TID 12 has um funded um most of the demolition the underground for the streets. That's why we asked for this the rest of the streets to be put in TID 3 which is adjacent to TID 12 was to really try to financially um recover our costs. And uh so this in the TID plan shows what tax increment district number 12's financial condition looks like if there is no one year of TID sharing and what it looks like if we do share that one year. If we share the one year currently uh with the T- wall expected increment, we would um close up the period uh with about $700,000 extra. that would expect no additional development. Um and it is you know ticking towards the end of its life. So um the finance committee considered this one year of increment. We actually gave them the option of one or two years. Uh they selected one year and so that's what we're proposing here is a one-year increment sharing. Uh and then at that point uh which would happen next year the district would be eligible to close or to be considered for the one year of housing extension. And we are just as a side note we did close TID 6 which is our largest increment district. Um the council authorized that I think fourth quarter of 24. So we're in the process of closing that district uh right now. Thank you. Anyone else in from the public wishing to speak to TID district number seven project plan amendment four? Last call for TID 7 amendment

four. We're going to close the public hearing and we'll move to item 10 which is the discussion on the said TID tax seven project plan amendment 4 in order to share surplus increment with tax increment district number 12 for the year 2026. I would entertain a motion. Make the motion motion from Balkanin or Balkan and second from Bornean. comments, discussions, a little different but same idea. All right, seeing none, all those in favor of accepting the amendment four to TID 7 signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? All right, that passes. All right, our last hearing today is a public hearing uh discussing again on tax increment district. This is number eight project plan amendment five in order to add projects uh and project costs. Maryanne once again. So uh this project plan really is asking to add uh the land assembly costs for two parcels located on the west side of the river uh immediately adjacent to TID 8. So it's in the half mile boundary. Uh those we consider to be key parcels for several reasons. Obviously, right now it's um Marathon Box is operating um their facility out of that. Um those properties uh the city has spent uh made significant investments to try to move some industries off of the river. So it would be part of our goal to accomplish that. And then this these have been two key parcels to extend the River Edge Trail. We've been working

with the current owner for in since early 2000s to try to uh get easements for the River Edge Trail. Uh that has been a challenge because um you know there's a very steep incline there towards the river. There's limited space um currently with their existing facility for that easement to occur and basically we would be required to put the uh trail on the embankment itself which would be basically you know it's probably going to cost as much as the property itself. Uh so this would give us some flexibility for redevelopment and for the river edge trail and basically to continue our uh efforts to clean up the properties along the river. Thank you. Anyone from the public wishing to add or make comment? One more chance. Public hearing for tax increment number eight, amendment five. We'll close that public hearing and we'll move on to item 12 which is discussion and possible action regarding tax increment district 8 project plan amendment five in order to add projects and project costs. This comes from finance. I would entertain a motion Borman second from Watson. Thank you. Seeing no comments, questions, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? I You're opposed. Okay. Yes. Okay. And I skipped kind of fast through that. Was there any comment you wanted to make? Okay. Uh last item is uh discussion and possible

action on dedication of land as right away at 700 Grand Avenue. This is an infrastructure and facilities uh motion and it's the 20 ft right of way uh that we're dedicating there. This will go to council on May 13th. Would entertain a motion. Oh, Andrew. Actually, that'll go to council tonight. Oh, yeah. It's on the council agenda as a suspension of rules. Okay. It also did pass infrastructure committee already. So this is just something that we're um part of our development agreement with Commonwealth um to develop this uh site and this is the 20 ft that um the city kind of identified early in the process is wanting to reserve for any future expansion of Grand Avenue right away. So this something we kind of need to do for ourselves before we uh close on the property with the developer. Okay. Thank you. would entertain a motion. Move to approve from Watson. Second from Balkan. Comments, questions? All those in favor of of dedication of land right away at 700 Grand Avenue. Signify by saying I. I. I. Any opposed? That passes. All right. We're showing next meeting date is May 20th, but actually we have the special meeting two days from now. Correct. Yep. Just Yes. Confirm that for me, Brad. Yep. It's uh set for Thursday at 4:15. Thursday 4:15. And we'll be taking up that uh the United Methodist Conditional Use piece at 903rd Street. And then following that, it should be May 2nd, 2025. May 20th, 2025. Yep. That get us

back on our regular schedule uh which is the third Tuesday of each month. Okay. Thank you. That brings us to the last item is adjournment. Motion to adjurnn there. So moved. Watson. Second. Larson. Those in favor. Great. See you later. Yeah, the uh the podium was not picking up and I I can't tell what the right distance is here. Oh, try it now, Lou. Just maybe a distance thing we got to get used to. All right. Oh, the one on the the podium is the old one.