Plan commission approves rezoning to allow 391-unit multifamily project at Paradise Drive and South River Road

WEST BEND, Wis. — On Oct. 7, 2025, the West Bend Plan Commission voted to approve a change to the 2020 comprehensive plan and a zoning map amendment to allow a multifamily residential development on roughly 64.13 acres at the southwest corner of East Paradise Drive and South River Road.

Fiduciary Real Estate Development presented a conceptual plan for a townhome-style multifamily project that would ultimately include about 391 units, to be built in phases. Craig Raditz, director for Fiduciary Real Estate Development, told the commission the company envisions two-story, direct-entry units with attached garages and large on-site green spaces and amenities. "Our desire to be here, to invest here, to be part of this community," Raditz said during the presentation.

The developer said the layout concentrates new buildings on upland portions of the 64.13-acre parcel and preserves wetland and wooded areas. Sam Elliott, development coordinator for Fiduciary, described the project as "more of a middle ground between that and a single family type of development," emphasizing lower density (about six units per acre) and a planned clubhouse, pool and connections to the state trail.

The public hearing drew several nearby residents who raised traffic and neighborhood-compatibility concerns. Paige Presley, who lives on Paradise Drive, asked: "Why do we need more apartments in the city here when every apartment complex you go by has for rent signs out there?" Nick Thill, owner of Honey Grove Apiaries adjacent to the site, and homeowner Jeremy Lesage said they were surprised by the scope of the proposal and asked for more information. Chris Shrage, a resident on South River Road, said he sometimes waits minutes to exit his driveway and added, "What's it gonna be like with so I I I take the math of this way... that's a lot more in and out off through 2 different, entrances." (Quotes are verbatim from the public hearing record.)

City staff and the developer responded that a formal traffic-impact analysis will be required and that the developer plans to phase construction to match market demand; the developer said roughly 240 units are envisioned for the first phase. Jim (city planning staff) told the commission that staff reviewed the land-use and zoning requests and finds multifamily residential appropriate given site constraints, including a high water table and wetlands that limit typical single-family construction. The developer said market studies from a consulting firm the company uses informed the unit count and product type and noted that modern work arrangements have changed peak travel patterns.

Commission discussion noted competing concerns about housing demand, unit pricing and traffic. Commissioner Jed said rezoning would change the character compared with single-family neighbors but acknowledged the site's wetlands and high groundwater make single-family subdivisions difficult. Chair John (Plan Commission chair) moved to approve the comprehensive plan amendment; Matt seconded. The commission then approved the zoning change to RM-3 multifamily residential with associated environmental overlays (non-shoreland wetland, shoreland wetland, floodplain/floodway designations). Votes were taken by voice; no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the hearing record.

Next steps: the developer will prepare a detailed site plan and a required traffic-impact analysis for subsequent commission review; the plan commission's action forwards the recommendation for consideration by the City Council as part of the formal approval process.

(For the record: the developer repeatedly stated the proposal is conceptual; the commission approved the comprehensive-plan change and zoning amendment only. Specific site design, access points and mitigation measures must be reviewed and approved in future site-plan proceedings and any required public infrastructure approvals.)