Oconomowoc council approves conditional‑use permit allowing Mont Bijou to operate public cocktail lounge

The Oconomowoc Common Council on Feb. 18 approved a conditional‑use permit that allows the Mont Bijou hotel at 351 East Lisbon Road to operate a public cocktail lounge as an expansion of its legal nonconforming lodging use.

The permit carried with a 6‑2 roll call: Aldermen Spiegelberg, Shellpepper, Maroney, Douglas, Rosick and Altman Cloth voted in favor; Aldermen Ellis and Mulder voted no. The council added a condition that the applicants return for a one‑year update and that the plan commission and common council reserve the right to review the operation and amend the permit if necessary.

Supporters, including several neighborhood residents and the owners, described Mont Bijou as a restored historic property and said a small, upscale lounge would complement the inn’s use rather than generate rowdy nightlife. “Mont Bijou is a high end luxury hotel. It’s never been a bed and breakfast,” owner Joe Brisk told the council, adding the owners want to “do everything the right way” and share the building with local residents. Owner Catherine Brisk said they have operated for a year with no complaints and asked the council to “give us a chance.”

Opponents — many representing nearby Pine Terrace condominiums — raised concerns about noise, parking, trespassing on private property, property values and a deed restriction they said limits the property’s uses. Attorney Jackson DuFolk, representing Pine Terrace Condominium Association, told the council a 1999 deed restriction limits the site to bed‑and‑breakfast, single‑family or office use and said permitting a tavern would create legal disputes between property owners even if the city could lawfully grant the permit. “By passing this proposal, it would create a legal problem for both the owners of Mont Bijou as well as the owners of Pine Terrace,” DuFolk said.

City staff and the Brisks answered operational questions. Planner Jason Gallo described the draft conditional‑use permit’s conditions and said the plan commission had recommended approval, including added hours limits. The permit as discussed sets an indoor occupancy limit of 49 people for the lounge, requires existing on‑site parking to be used (18 marked stalls were identified in staff materials), requires downward‑directed lighting, screening of any outdoor storage and a Knox box for fire access. The applicants voluntarily proposed hours that include locking hotel exterior doors at 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday; bar service would end by midnight when guests remain inside. Outdoor service and special‑event outdoor activity would end by 11 p.m.

Speakers on both sides urged the council to consider the neighborhood context. Pine Terrace resident Michael Ostranga said the association collected 67 signatures of 76 residents opposing the change; others produced a petition they said represented local sentiment. Proponents including nearby homeowners and event workers said previous operations were managed responsibly and the Brisks had voluntarily proposed measures to limit impacts.

The council discussed alternatives during the quasi‑judicial hearing: rezoning the property to commercial was considered earlier but rejected by the plan commission because it would allow broader uses without the same level of council oversight. Several aldermen said the conditional‑use route gives the city more control and allows the council or plan commission to revisit the issue if the operation creates problems.

The permit includes roughly 19 conditions in the draft presented to council; council members amended the review clause to expressly include the common council and asked that the applicants return in one year for an update. The council also discussed (but did not adopt as a formal change in the motion) making some minor operational changes subject to council review rather than staff‑level approval.

With the vote, the council approved the conditional‑use permit subject to the listed conditions and the added one‑year review. If future complaints show the operation is detrimental to public health, safety or constitutes a nuisance, city procedures allow the council to reopen the permit and consider revocation.

The Mont Bijou owners said they would continue to work with neighbors and implement additional screening or sound‑mitigation measures if requested. The Brisks and supporters thanked the council for the vote; opponents said they would consider next steps regarding private deed restrictions.