[{"_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",6267838,"mediaKeyId","3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57","parentId",3062183,"title","Public hearing on Division Street rezoning draws mixed reaction over parking, scale","audioSeconds",635,"startMs",1320000,"endMs",1955000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57&start=1320&end=1955","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267838/Watertown/Jefferson-County/Wisconsin/Public-hearing-on-Division-Street-rezoning-draws-mixed-reaction-over-parking-scale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267838-1820eec0a5450a3379a49b039ff4979d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442911&Signature=YxLNEVhE76GA~FGhThvYkxGQU8ahI1PshoLEH7oupUN2X7pj5iJZjEKcUF1fOcG9xELe3MnofGzDXTdwfMQ7DY-pjowfYoI86zMyLjsqHI30CH8zvYyiwzhMex-JC0-N2LMGJpCpGkFeJ2mQN3IxoHU2HOdgpSL-qunx~J6atnGVdF0nzYTUHs4RlcIbNcLQW9pJ-OJOFN778sk6A2DD1QnGDH7Bfg95CMYQylaPwEhHq1qUJj1LMPbklx8O7geM06UIPID7jo1kgnUtld9RT-A9ZN3btJjsZH60Qujn4uNWM7LrrczeA3RlZroOX4EWVFffCg8BZsOAMWsOIiOuKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Watertown, WI","date","2025-04-19T20:57:51.737Z","article","Watertown City Council opened a public hearing on a rezoning request for 100 East Division Street that would change the site’s land-use designation to allow a multi-unit residential development, and heard several residents, a small-business owner and an architect describe concerns and potential benefits.

Property owner Pat Warner told the council, “My biggest concern is parking. I believe it's, the project is way too big for the amount of parking that they are allowing.” Warner said neighborhood streets are already heavily used and that inadequate parking could “devalue my property.”

Small-business owner Cara Pugh offered a contrasting view, calling the project “a real turning point for our city” and urging the council to accept market-rate housing to bring more customers to local businesses. Pugh said Watertown lacks housing and that bringing people “who can afford at market rents…might actually spend money in our businesses.”

Sandra Trigo of Trio Architects supported the concept but raised design and siting concerns. She told councilors the proposed building’s north wing is “a 50 foot plus structure that is 10 feet off the property line of single family residences,” and warned that neighbors “are going to lose their daylight 24/7.” Trigo suggested moving or flipping the north wing to improve sight lines and marketability.

Mayor Robert Stocks opened and closed the hearing; council staff also noted the applicant requested changes including a move “from a plan development overlay district to a general development plan.” The hearing was closed after public comment; no final zoning vote was held at the meeting.

Why it matters: the site sits on the north end of the planned River Walk and near downtown business corridors; the council must balance neighborhood impacts — parking, scale and sunlight — with goals to increase downtown housing and foot traffic.

Next steps: the council completed the public hearing and will consider any formal rezoning ordinance or plan amendment at a later meeting after staff reports and any revisions from the applicant.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council Meeting | The City of Watertown | April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Watertown City Council opened a public hearing on a rezoning request for 100 East Division Street that would allow a multi-unit residential development, and heard residents, a business owner and an architect outline parking, scale and sight-line concerns.","taxTitle","Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin","taxId",69184,"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},6267833,"Watertown council approves ordinances, licenses and contracts; moves into closed session on litigation claim",2242,1144000,3386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57&start=1144&end=3386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57/thumbnail_1144000.jpg","/articles/6267833/Watertown/Jefferson-County/Wisconsin/Watertown-council-approves-ordinances-licenses-and-contracts-moves-into-closed-session-on-litigation-claim","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267833-c5eb5c76c2ee8da95a0fc3cae40e54ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442911&Signature=mE52zqxqVc4u412Bd6~r6T5j1kXfXVwI1mMGnZwzGmzDh5K9jHO9JfzLFYP-J3MvPzRPzgqCq4yD4iurNnlsb8NvK2MmfFc2SeWa-ucO4aQzLn1iegZ4zpSfj0B~lA5oD8M74iAlOwrhDedVlDB6LYaVrXO5L9x-38O8hzECRQQpZ1qI-KHsjQ89lQcSQbKowitGUnjLRwRYC~jGmN0w5RaYfA3FRAfZh~zulS2dGJuZXPBBPjfjOogw0EIDVfUmyPyvdkSGxny-vHOanQ70jMIeEPwHD~1AyDkzwt7vOO1647MYycWUFDO23fFaHGjttvW~8ophb1h6eIpnGp~J~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Watertown City Council approved a bundle of ordinances, resolutions, licenses and appointments at its April meeting and recessed into a closed session under Wisconsin statute to consult with legal counsel over an ongoing claim.

On procedural matters, councilors elected Fred Smith as council president by unanimous ballot among those voting; the roll call showed one abstention. The council approved committee and commission appointments, including the appointment of Alderman Blankie to the Planning Commission and Linden QC to the Town Square Programming Commission.

Licenses and permits: councilors approved a class B malt liquor license for Golden Spoon with noted conditions and gave conditional approval for CRD, STP and G, LLC (d/b/a Third Street Pub) pending passing city inspections. The council approved temporary class B licenses for the Whiskey and Wine Walk (Watertown Chamber of Commerce, 04/26/2025) and for two Town Square Summer Concert Series dates sponsored by the Watertown Rotary Club. The council voted on an application for an operator’s license from Jessica Reyes; Alderman Fred Smith moved to deny the application “specifically because of falsification on the application.” The transcript records the motion and second; the council then conducted a roll call on the motion.

Ordinances and resolutions: the council passed Ordinance 25-06 amending chapter 560 (vehicles and traffic) on second reading, and Ordinance 25-07 amending the comprehensive plan land-use designation for 1220 Wilbur Street and 1220 West Main Street from institutional to two-family residential (citing Wis. Stat. 66.1001 in the ordinance text). Both ordinances passed on recorded roll calls. The council adopted Resolution 9735 approving a vending contract with Lake Country Vending, Resolution 9736 to update handbook language about the city’s group health insurance (administrative change reflecting a move to a Dean Health plan effective Jan. 1), and Resolution 9737 approving a wildlife management agreement; each passed on roll call.

Budget and finance: Alderman Berg highlighted that the recently closed TID 4 produced about $2,000,000 in increment; about $840,000 is earmarked for Rock River Ridge infrastructure, leaving roughly $900,000 for other priorities. Finance staff said a budget modification would be drafted to reflect earlier finance-committee recommendations and return to the council for formal amendment.

Closed session and litigation: the council voted to convene a closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85 to \"confer with legal counsel…regarding oral or written advice concerning strategy with respect to litigation\" and cited a claim by Christopher O'Brien. After returning to open session the council recorded action on the O'Brien claim; the motion and votes on that matter were made by the council in open session after the closed-session discussion.

Why it matters: the council's votes affect downtown licensing and events, traffic regulations, the comprehensive plan and the allocation of TID funds that will fund infrastructure projects; the closed-session litigation matter is a legal step documented under state law.

What’s next: several items will require follow-up reporting or ordinance language and a budget amendment to formalize allocations from TID 4 increment.","Watertown City Council approved multiple ordinances, licenses, contracts and appointments at its April meeting and moved into closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85 to consult with legal counsel over a claim involving Christopher O'Brien.",{"_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},6267828,"Robert Stocks sworn in as Watertown mayor; multiple alderpersons take oath",116,654000,770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57&start=654&end=770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062183-3985215cb2e2c6ba52cabe5abd3bea57/thumbnail_654000.jpg","/articles/6267828/Watertown/Jefferson-County/Wisconsin/Robert-Stocks-sworn-in-as-Watertown-mayor-multiple-alderpersons-take-oath","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267828-32362102fe301e73802ba9048b54bfa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442911&Signature=gbVNVFQnsvp7Cn4N3sk-gsqhJ1IrbBXq3xFhTaIYGKai2MXMgIVKeEt0r0uJRng22tJgHLjs7gj2ngTJpVynuywCT9pYC6Lcb6nQJbyEMh-EzY59gt5urAvviCNNIOCxZm0bZ1OZcgEKRIMoasEgjuI5kvgNqLWFOCSwr2FOjghINoAvGZTHWY7Q0nHC2CAmOE-K231jW7B7ywX2eKN9NFj2NkF6ZnU-Ptuo3Iuxvv-Sn~Jd3GU6u50axM2nXaSEwWBYfKakChrE2qJOAfMRY5wIDB9iL-YAqKSNUt8mC0mak7ENwuTaK20atJF0MBe93e4CbQC-3atHSQBn8CgaQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robert Stocks was sworn in as mayor of the City of Watertown at the start of the council meeting. Stocks repeated the oath of office administered by the presiding official and concluded with “So help me God.”

The council also administered oaths for newly elected alderpersons representing multiple districts. Those sworn included Dana Davis (First District), Kenneth Berg (Third District), Alderman Blankie (name variant in transcript; sworn as an alderperson), Tony Arnett (Seventh District), Myra Moldenhauer (Ninth District) and others whose oaths were recorded in the meeting minutes.

The oath proceedings were followed by roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance; the council then moved to conduct regular business, including approval of minutes, elections and committee appointments.","Robert Stocks took the oath of office as mayor and several alderpersons were sworn in for their respective districts at the April council meeting","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public hearing on Division Street rezoning draws mixed reaction over parking, scale

Watertown council approves ordinances, licenses and contracts; moves into closed session on litigation claim

Robert Stocks sworn in as Watertown mayor; multiple alderpersons take oath