Planning commission recommends limited conditional use for Racine Street bar despite operating irregularities

The Delavan Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Common Council approve a limited conditional use permit allowing indoor commercial entertainment and an in‑vehicle sales/service (drive‑through) at 1265 Racine Street, subject to conditions including additional parking and other requirements listed in the staff report.

The petition covers two related applications considered at the March meeting: a public hearing on a zoning petition for 1265 Racine Street and a separate conditional‑use petition to authorize indoor commercial entertainment in a Business Local B zoning district with a wellhead protection overlay. The commission’s recommendation will go to the Common Council for final action.

The item drew extended questions from commissioners about whether the business — operating under new management identified in the record as operator Mark Schmuck and with owner Lisa Churchill named on property paperwork — was already open even though the conditional use had not been finalized. Andy, a city staff member, acknowledged that the facility had been operating and said, “it would have been me. So I apologize for that.”

Commissioners pressed the petitioner on a range of operational details. Schmuck said proposed drive‑through hours would be 6 a.m. to midnight, that the facility now lists about 17 indoor seats plus two picnic benches outside (about 25 total), and…