Plan commission recommends approval of 500,000‑gallon water tower at South Holiday Drive

The Village Plan Commission voted to recommend approval of a specific implementation plan for a new 500,000‑gallon water tower to be sited at the corner of Yeske Drive and South Holiday Drive, conditioned on staff approval of a certified survey map to combine Lot 18 and Lot 6.

The recommendation matters because the tower will increase local water storage capacity and alter land use within the Planned Unit Development area; the project already has approvals from the DNR, the public service commission and the Federal Aviation Administration, the utilities staff said.

Planning staff described the proposal as a straightforward site plan that will combine two lots and provide a grassed service area and driveway for staff access. "The tower is gonna be at 500,000 gallons," Tim, utility staff, said, adding that the top of the tower will be about 115 feet tall. He said the well house and tower were originally planned on the same site but were split at the developer's request and that staff expects to return in the next month or two for building approval for the well.

Randy Dorn, the village's water sewer manager, was introduced as available to answer technical questions. Commissioners asked no substantive questions during the public discussion on the item.

A commissioner moved to recommend approval "of the proposed specific implementation plan for the new water tower at South Holiday Drive, conditioned upon staff approval of the CSM combining Lot 18 and Lot 6." The motion was seconded; the meeting record shows affirmative votes and one abstention, and the motion carried. The commission noted the item also must be considered by the Waunakee‑Westport Joint Plan Commission because the site lies in the joint plan area; staff said that hearing is scheduled for the next day.

Next steps include the joint plan commission's review and a separate building approval for the well house projected in the coming one to two months.