West Bend Planning Commission approves conditional use permit, multiple CSMs, site plans and preliminary plat

The West Bend City Planning Commission on an evening meeting approved a series of land-use items including a conditional use permit for grading in the Flood Fringe Overlay District at 261 South Main Street, two related certified survey maps tied to a WEC Energy Group (We Energies) service center, three site plans, a 97‑lot preliminary plat for single‑family homes, and several extraterritorial certified survey maps.

The actions came after staff presentations and brief discussion; public comment was opened on the conditional use permit and no members of the public spoke. Commissioners voted to approve each matter as presented or as amended by conditions and an added landscaping phasing requirement for the subdivision.

The conditional use permit covered grading and other site improvements within the FFO Flood Fringe Overlay District at 261 South Main Street, filed under tax key 202320403 and applied for by Tommy Zernia Access LLC. Staff recommended approval and the commission closed the public hearing and approved the permit.

Two related certified survey maps (CSMs) tied to the proposed WEC Energy Group service center were approved. The first CSM subdivides an existing parcel to create an outlot to be combined with the adjoining CSM; the second CSM combines three lots into a single parcel at the northwest corner of Trenton Road and Wingate Street. As part of the redevelopment the commission approved vacating the westerly 750 feet of Wingate Street and noted that the CSMs identify existing utility easements, pipeline and airport height restrictions. Staff recommended approval with listed conditions and the commission voted to approve both CSMs separately.

The commission approved the related site plan for construction of a new WEC Energy Group service center at the northwest corner of Trenton Road and Wingate. Staff said the project follows an earlier concept review, that outstanding site‑plan cleanup comments remain and will be addressed, and that public improvements for the Wingate Street cul‑de‑sac bulb and associated engineering approvals are included as part of the approval. The motion carried with conditions as recommended by staff.

Two additional site plans were also approved. Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church Properties, Limited received approval for a 14,633‑square‑foot gym addition and a parking‑lot expansion at 777 South Indian Avenue, subject to conditions including submittal and verification of the replacement underground stormwater storage design that staff and the city engineer must approve. The commission recorded that the underground storage is an accepted method if dimensioned and designed to code.

The commission approved façade and site repairs and rear‑yard improvements at 103 South Main Street for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The application included a Business Improvement District façade grant for rear improvements, paint and stucco repairs, replacement of rear fencing and paving for garbage containment, and repair of a front facade thin‑brick veneer that staff categorized as maintenance/repair. Commissioner Matt recused himself from discussion and voting on that item because his wife is the organization’s executive director; the meeting record shows the recusal was noted before consideration of the item.

The commission approved a preliminary plat for a 97‑lot single‑family subdivision filed by Newman Development (referred to in staff materials as “Liquid Farms”). Lot sizes in the preliminary plat range from approximately 7,680 square feet to about 29,928 square feet. The plat will be built in four phases, includes four outlots intended for landscaping and stormwater management, and requires extension of sanitary sewer and water main from the north. Staff recommended approval with listed conditions; the commission approved the plat after adopting an amendment to require that evergreen (spruce) plantings in the berm behind a neighboring residence be installed in phase one to provide earlier screening for that homeowner.

The commission also approved several extraterritorial CSMs: one creating a building parcel on Rusco Drive (staff noted a needed street-name correction from Rusco Road to Rusco Drive), and two related CSMs creating a total of seven residential lots at the southeast corner of North River Road and Wallace Lake Road submitted by Parish/Parrish Survey and Engineering. Staff recommended approval for each extraterritorial CSM and the commission approved them as presented.

Across the evening commissioners repeatedly noted that site‑plan cleanup comments or technical corrections remain for several items and that those outstanding items must be addressed before final permits are issued. Several approvals included explicit conditions requiring final engineering sign‑off, stormwater design approvals, updated grading plans, and applicable permits for signage and building‑code required features.

Votes at a glance

- Conditional use permit: 261 South Main Street (Tommy Zernia Access LLC; tax key 202320403) — Approved (motion to approve carried after public hearing closed). - CSM (2‑lot) Northeast corner Stockhausen Lane & Wingate Street (Stockhausen Business Center LLC) — Approved. - CSM (combine parcels) Northwest corner Trenton Road & Wingate (Ziegler Benz West Bend LLC) — Approved. - Site plan: WEC Energy Group (We Energies) service center, NW corner Trenton & Wingate — Approved (conditions; public improvements for Wingate cul‑de‑sac included). - Site plan: Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church Properties — 14,633 sq ft gym addition and parking expansion at 777 S. Indian Ave — Approved (conditions; underground stormwater design to be approved by city engineer). - Site plan: Big Brothers Big Sisters, 103 S. Main St. — Approved (Commissioner Matt recused). - Preliminary plat: 97‑lot single‑family subdivision (Newman Development / “Liquid Farms”) — Approved (amended to require berm spruce plantings in phase 1). - Extraterritorial CSM: Rusco Drive (Dean and Joseph Growth) — Approved (staff noted street-name correction to Rusco Drive). - Extraterritorial CSMs: Wallace Lake Road & North River Road (Parrish/Parrish Survey & Engineering) — Approved (two related CSMs creating seven lots).

Commissioners and staff emphasized that final engineering, permitting and plan corrections remain conditions of approval. No contested votes or formal denials were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending

The commission completed its agenda and the chair adjourned the meeting with no further business noted. Pending items for several approvals include submittal of final engineered plans, stormwater details and the developer agreements required before building permits are released.