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Wausau council approves rezoning for duplexes at 1040 S. Twelfth Ave., 9-1
Summary
The Wausau Common Council approved a rezoning and general development plan for two duplexes at 1040 South Twelfth Avenue after the developer agreed to redesign units and address parking concerns raised by neighbors and an alderperson.
The Wausau Common Council on May 13 approved a plan commission ordinance rezoning 1040 South Twelfth Avenue from TF-10 to a PU zoning district and approved a general development plan for two duplexes, passing the measure 9-1.
The vote follows public comment from a nearby resident and questions from aldermen about traffic and parking near GED Jones School. The project was previously approved by the plan commission, 6-0, with a motion from Alder Lukens and second from Alder Watson. Alder Larson announced he would not support the council motion after a site visit and concerns about neighborhood congestion.
At the council meeting, resident Richard Westberg said school-related traffic on Twelfth Avenue already produces congestion and that adding housing could worsen the situation. "...there's gonna be a parking and there's gonna be a kind of a traffic jam there on Twelfth," Westberg said during public comment, noting school buses, crossing guards and existing parking issues near the school.
Jay Krix, identified as an owner of Northstar Builds and the project's prospective builder, told the council the developer had revised the plan to reduce likely vehicle demand. "We are gonna redesign 1 of the duplexes ... it'll all just be 4 1 bedroom units," Krix said, explaining the change would lower the number of cars per unit. He described two driveways providing access — one from the school side and one from Thomas Street — and said vehicle access would be arranged so cars park on private blacktop driveways behind the units rather than protruding onto the sidewalk.
Alder Rasmussen pressed for confirmation that driveways would be long enough for full-size vehicles so residents could park off the street; Krix said the redesign and driveway layout addressed that concern. With a motion and second on the floor, the council voted to approve the rezoning and general development plan.
The ordinance and development plan were returned to the consent agenda and pulled for discussion before the final vote; plan commission approval was recorded as a prior action. The council's approval authorizes the rezoning and general development plan but does not itself constitute building permits, which remain subject to administrative review and building permit processes.
