The Village of East Troy Plan Commission voted to recommend that the Village Board approve an amendment to the general development plan for 2931 Union Street that would allow general office, personal or professional services, church activities and a commercial kitchen in portions of the former church/school building, and permit retail sales in the former parochial school portion.

The change stems from a tenant shift: the retail tenant known as the Wilted Rose vacated the church-side space, and the property owner, applicant Steve Lambrecht, is negotiating with a church that would lease — and ultimately may purchase — portions of the building. Village planner Oren, presenting the staff review, said the applicant is also seeking “overall more flexibility” to help lease vacant spaces.

The amendment would not add on-site parking. Oren told commissioners that since the Plan Commission’s February review the village approved an angled-parking layout on Clark Street that created additional spaces in front of the property, and that his onsite check showed only a few cars parked at a random time. “This was something that was approved in June,” Oren said, noting one accessible stall is now available in the front parking. He also cautioned that “if the tenant mix changes and we add new uses, there could be situations where that it is busier than what we see now.”

Steve Lambrecht, the applicant, told the commission the church’s initial goal is “between 35 and 50 members,” including children, and that the church portion and fellowship hall would be used mainly on Sundays. He said the building contains an existing kitchen in the lower level that the church would use for potluck dinners and other activities, and that he has granted the prospective church a first right of refusal to buy the building if the congregation grows.

Commissioners pressed on parking and possible midweek services. One commissioner asked, “how big is this church gonna be? How many members are they gonna have? And what are they gonna do with the parking?” Lambrecht replied that most of the personal and professional service tenants operate by appointment (hairdresser, massage, tattoo, personal trainer) and that in his observations he has not seen more than six or seven of the roughly 13 on-street and angled spaces filled at one time. He said a personal trainer living nearby often walks to appointments.

Oren and commission members discussed ownership change if the church purchases the property. Oren said a transfer of ownership could trigger a requirement for a new approval and noted questions about tax status if parts of the building become nonprofit-owned and parts remain leased to private tenants.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. The commission moved to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance as drafted, subject to the three conditions listed in the packet. The motion carried.

The recommendation will go to the Village Board for final action; the packet listed three conditions but the commission did not read them into the record during the meeting.

Clarifying details from the meeting that the Village Board will see include: the Wilted Rose retail tenant vacated before the application; the proposed church initially expects 35–50 members; the site has approximately 13 parking spaces adjacent to the building plus parallel spaces on Union Street; the village approved angled parking on Clark Street in June; the lower level contains an existing kitchen; and the applicant has first right of refusal from the current owner to purchase the property if the congregation grows.