The West Bend Common Council on Aug. 18 voted to amend the city’s 2020 comprehensive plan and to rezone multiple parcels at and near 2151 West Washington to allow construction of a new fire station and related facilities.

Planning staff told the council that the land‑use change moves recommended designation from commercial, multifamily and wetland to Institutional (I‑1). The council approved Ordinance No. 8 to amend the comprehensive plan for roughly 12.9 acres and separately approved a zoning change that covers about 21.15 acres — rezoning parcels from B4 General Business, RM‑3 Multifamily and Non‑Shoreland Wetland to I‑1 Institutional and Non‑Shoreland Wetland.

A planning staff member explained the difference between the land‑use and zoning acreages: the land‑use amendment covers the parcel footprint while the zoning line extends to the center of adjacent rights‑of‑way, producing different acreage totals.

Council members said the rezoning better aligns the site’s regulatory classification with the intended public safety use, which will include apparatus storage, training spaces and support facilities. The council took both votes separately and approved each by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

What happens next: city staff and the fire department will move forward with site planning and required permitting now that the land‑use and zoning actions are in place.