Delafield council approves 6-unit condo at 805 Wells Street after neighbor landscaper warnings

The City of Delafield Common Council on Monday approved a six-unit condominium project at 805 Wells Street, voting to accept conditional use, condominium plat and declarations, a developer agreement and a stormwater maintenance agreement, all contingent on final staff review.

The approval follows public comment from nearby residents raising concerns about revised landscaping plans, tree removals and how runoff and snow storage would be handled. Mary Daniel, who identified herself as a Delafield resident at 309 Wisconsin Avenue, said the developer’s revised plans removed several trees and altered plantings from an earlier submission: “I hope that the due diligence is being done by the developer for the best use of this land and preserving all the existing trees.”

Joanne Genetti Tipo, who said she manages Genetti Gardens adjacent to the property, told the council the landscaping changes left her garden exposed to headlights and utilities and asked for the arborist report on a beech tree. She raised concern that the revised plan shows “a 36 foot fence line with grasses planted in front,” which she said could amount to a fence in front of an existing fence and would not provide the screening previously promised to neighbors.

Dan Ackerman of Wear Design Build, representing the applicant, acknowledged the multiple revisions and offered to work directly with Genetti on plant selection: “I’m totally okay sitting down with Joanna or having her giv[e] us a list of what trees she’d like where… and we can adjust it. I have no issue with that at all as long as plan commission’s gonna be okay with it.” He also said the design includes curb-and-gutter collection and underground storm sewer around building perimeters to address runoff concerns.

Council members and staff noted the project had been reviewed by the plan commission and public works; several approvals were made “contingent upon final staff review for any necessary updates or corrections,” language the council used for each of the four related actions.

The specific items approved were the conditional use and site plan and appearance approval to allow three two-unit buildings; approval of the condominium plat and related declarations, restrictions and bylaws; the developer’s agreement; and the stormwater maintenance agreement. Council discussion included reference to an arborist report for the beech tree that staff said had been uploaded to the city portal and confirmation from the applicant that snow storage areas were included in the plan.

The council directed that final details—plant selection, screening, location of mechanicals and confirmation of snow storage—be resolved through staff review before final implementation.

Votes and formal motion language were recorded on the meeting record as voice votes with the motions passing by affirmation. No numeric roll-call tallies for these motions were included in the meeting transcript.