[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6091744,"mediaKeyId","2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf","parentId",2859232,"title","Community development presents 2024 annual report; highlights Mann Valley, Kinney Corridor, trails and grant wins","audioSeconds",948,"startMs",951000,"endMs",2573,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf&start=951&end=2","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf/thumbnail_951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091744/River-Falls/Pierce-County/Wisconsin/Community-development-presents-2024-annual-report-highlights-Mann-Valley-Kinney-Corridor-trails-and-grant-wins","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091744-69617cfbeced35a6888600ee4eb45178/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090038&Signature=ljhcWBH9cIcJTU-qkxQ16yHfBaFSXJL62T2TuMW5Lb9FZmISkvET12k6zwrXnwU6~ZP-uKy-uq3BKDxSalAciF3lfEuVFu8UZoAAN6P8HAub2ZynMDibK9EodZOXY23lIHL2iyFXKM63hq-D1MRzUZgH6BIpDcx8jPs1zsqaCySouvch-pvOlGFz16M67xbJqulEZD3WJFqSmotRB~fm5ah2XkjjhWeXKG-4wyN0j8~xdou6tNl6X29K599tsEEyoC3ZkeHNS80mxPnWmbbJOttSfbNlQfqom-J~1X00oP4RTWCR5~bSBcnxFaaiJeUTXcBTGFzzMFy9E1MOb8bWQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of River Falls, WI","date","2025-04-03T07:01:09.53Z","article","Emily Shively, assistant director of community development, presented the department’s 2024 annual report and 2025 major projects to the Planning Commission on April 2.

Shively highlighted completion of infrastructure at the Mann Valley Corporate Park, including 4.5 miles of water main, 2.5 miles of sanitary sewer, nearly 1 mile of storm sewer, about 35,000 cubic yards of earthwork, 3,900 feet of roadway construction and roughly 2 miles of multiuse path. She said the Mann Valley ribbon-cutting marked completion of the infrastructure phase and the city is now seeking business interest for development in the park.

On the Kinney Corridor, Shively said the city has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a feasibility study that originally hit a $10 million federal authorization cap; she reported the cap was raised to $15 million in January 2025 after congressional action and agency waivers, and the study continues. Shively also said the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program is providing technical assistance to plan river access and recreation elements, an in-kind value the department estimates at about $50,000.

Shively described trail and recreation work including a recently acquired easement from the Fox family that added more than 50 acres to enable trail connections, and work to expand trail maintenance through an amended memorandum of understanding with Kinney Off-Road Cyclists. She reviewed trail improvements completed in 2024 and noted upcoming work on safe crossings on Division Street at regional parks in partnership with UW–Madison.

Shively reviewed housing and development highlights: several new neighborhoods advanced approvals or permits, including Brookgreen (a roughly 100-unit rental townhome development), the Oak Hill second phase final plat, Red’s Place supportive housing nearing final plat, and that Caesar River Falls (a proposed 66-unit apartment building) is on hold pending financing. She said the department permitted new homes and worked on code enforcement and permitting during 2024; the transcript did not provide a precise citywide permit total.

Funding highlights Shively cited included more than $250,000 in grants the department secured in 2024. She named a roughly $200,000 Safe Streets for All planning grant, an approximately $9,000 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant for Hoffman Basin watershed work, and the National Park Service technical assistance valued in staff materials at about $50,000. Shively said the city also worked with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on a project for Bodie Studios.

Shively said the city has built out a new Conservation and Parks division and hired Brooks Ostendorf as manager; that division will add staff in 2025. Commissioners asked about specific safe‑streets priorities — including crossings on East Cascade and Division — and about federal funding uncertainty; Shively said partners have encouraged the city to proceed and that the city remains in close contact with grant partners.

No formal commission action was required for the report; commissioners thanked staff for the update.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","River Falls Plan Commission 04/02/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Emily Shively presented the Community Development Department’s 2024 annual report and outlined 2025 priorities including Mann Valley infrastructure, Kinney Corridor work and trail acquisitions.","taxTitle","River Falls, Pierce County, Wisconsin","taxId",69651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091749,"Plan commission recommends annexation of about 7.28 acres from Troy for R2 residential zoning",459,453000,912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf&start=453&end=912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf/thumbnail_453000.jpg","/articles/6091749/River-Falls/Pierce-County/Wisconsin/Plan-commission-recommends-annexation-of-about-728-acres-from-Troy-for-R2-residential-zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091749-dd7e5e4529b746ebeee3a93599cb9e12/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090038&Signature=Neme9uB3kKTrC876KChrQn-k9q7n30DmYj-SzZfS6JKO62nLX-qwaCZpb5FTUjDnzVAibDJZH6fqdKJhNyF19tdAhlYpVrBWZU6kk~2az1J0CpfSZdiH8gCnXxjpey7Tb7M7UAaysYIMp~agqcJzvhWLTuJw~7r8VUhlBsacuaZP0YKX0EKYI25uNfw9W1wsEs4bmTQeQxQoG68ZrWshCr6k9KHIaETCv2T8VZb3ajsVUHT1pVIqlLoLndUnBLCLy5rHj14M8UfTdkLIku4ipD7LfumQvHIndH5wB-V0bCROk4oUidgveHhmhUzKik6Ox7om3ahIEBr4Pa0h9CIqng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 2 the River Falls Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council supporting an annexation petition by Rolling Hills Development for roughly 7.28 acres north of Powell Avenue between Woodridge and Oak Ridge drives.

Harley Melhorn, senior planner, said the petition requests annexation of one full parcel and portions of two parcels totaling approximately 7.28 acres. \"An annexation petition is a request from a landowner to become part of the City of River Falls,\" Melhorn said, adding the commission’s role is to advise the council on land-use and zoning matters and to confirm contiguity to the city boundary.

Staff recommended changing the future land-use classification from UAB medium-density to medium-density residential within the city and applying an R‑2 medium-density residential zoning if the area is annexed. Melhorn showed graphics the commission said demonstrate the annexation area abuts Powell Avenue and is surrounded by existing residential uses.

A member of the public, Mary McNamara, spoke during the meeting and said she lives at 92 A West and that some neighbors are concerned about spring water-melt and runoff affecting East Woodridge properties. \"She had some concerns about, like, spring, you know, water melt and runoff,\" McNamara said. Melhorn and the commission clarified that the petition is only for annexation and associated land-use/zoning recommendations; no specific development plan or density was under consideration at the commission hearing.

After discussion, a commissioner moved and another seconded to forward the annexation petition and recommended zoning change to the City Council. The motion carried.

What happens next: the City Council will consider the annexation petition, future land-use change and zoning recommendation; if Council approves annexation, future development applications would be considered separately and would have to conform to the zoning and city requirements.","The River Falls Planning Commission on April 2 recommended the City Council approve an annexation petition from Rolling Hills Development for approximately 7.28 acres north of Powell Avenue, proposing a future land-use change to medium-density residential and an R-2 zoning designation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091754,"Planning commission recommends Sycamore 2 memory-care planned unit development to city council",322,148000,470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf&start=148&end=470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859232-458b47878430f9b346473ea2f52d34cf/thumbnail_148000.jpg","/articles/6091754/River-Falls/Pierce-County/Wisconsin/Planning-commission-recommends-Sycamore-2-memory-care-planned-unit-development-to-city-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091754-cf683600e6c9bf230e7152df46766181/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090038&Signature=OwxbE4i0rgsqq6M7ncr6QK4VTSt8BbsZtrYlUyMWUtNM2iu3wECdnf8JPBEp4ggxdDi2oNskOPn4UG7wuKri73V03ixzvuz-1BJrXNd2ctYGfrgFHnr78frewLBY5JTELe1tNlsjvmmtxf9PBAw4ej4EPDCSNNLrfiyKnX8iBK4R-D95tTcCslEU5TeoEJ~KidremrIjsawgzLEh7ikpTCqG1RZyoNrJ50rG30LvcAfkouVCy48GRUrcmJiD4VeK78PUbKTb6Eu-SQP25hhIMNYPkW8NpTmb1qh2kFUDtfZ4-ikgLuFf11alNDcrBe1S5Ye4NN1TiXD2XiJx84x4Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The River Falls Planning Commission voted April 2 to forward a general development plan (GDP) for the Sycamore 2 planned unit development to the City Council.

Harley Melhorn, senior planner, told the commission the application requests GDP approval for a new 24-unit senior living memory-care facility and 8 units of independent-living villas on a site south of Broadway bounded by Sycamore, Orange and Foster. \"The GDP is the first step in the PUD process and establishes the basic right of use and conceptual site design and architecture for a project,\" Melhorn said.

Staff materials show the proposed development would include five single-story buildings: a roughly 17,000-square-foot memory-care building and four two-unit independent-living rental villas. Parking for the memory-care facility is shown along the Charlotte Street alignment, which would become a private drive if the project proceeds. Melhorn told the commission the discontinuance of Charlotte Street is not part of the commission’s action; the City Council is scheduled to initiate that discontinuance on April 22, and approvals are to be contingent on such discontinuance.

The applicant requested two deviations as part of the PUD: a minor reduction in required parking-stall depth from 20 feet to 18 feet, and reduced setbacks along Sycamore, Orange and Foster with a proposed 10-foot setback and side-by-side deviations ranging between 5 and 10 feet depending on the frontage. Melhorn said staff finds those requests reasonable in exchange for the project’s niche housing and public improvements, including a new sidewalk on the north side of Broadway and a developer contribution to a future Foster connection.

No members of the public spoke during the PUD public hearing. After staff presentation, a commissioner moved and another seconded to forward the enclosed council resolution approving the GDP with a favorable recommendation. The motion carried.

What happens next: if the City Council approves the GDP and later the project’s specific implementation plan (SIP) substantially conforms to the GDP, the PUD process would continue toward final approval. The Charlotte Street discontinuance by City Council remains a prerequisite identified in staff materials.","The River Falls Planning Commission on April 2 voted to forward a general development plan (GDP) for the Sycamore 2 planned unit development — a proposed 24-unit memory care building and eight independent-living units — to the City Council with staff conditions and contingencies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community development presents 2024 annual report; highlights Mann Valley, Kinney Corridor, trails and grant wins

Plan commission recommends annexation of about 7.28 acres from Troy for R2 residential zoning

Planning commission recommends Sycamore 2 memory-care planned unit development to city council