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Plan Commission recommends acquisition of 5.6 acres on Jackson Street for planned workforce housing amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
The Plan Commission voted 7-0 Dec. 3 to recommend acquisition of approximately 5.58 acres behind 3483 Jackson Street for an anticipated single-family subdivision aimed at workforce housing; the item prompted extensive public comment from neighbors concerned about lot size, traffic, and property values.
The Oshkosh Plan Commission on Dec. 3 recommended approval to acquire roughly 5.58 acres of the rear portion of 3483 Jackson Street to add to an adjacent parcel the city previously acquired; combined, the city said the properties could yield about 40 single-family lots intended to increase the city’s supply of workforce housing.
City staff told commissioners the land is currently zoned SMU and would be rezoned to Single-Family 9 and the comprehensive land-use map would be amended from General Commercial to Low-Density Residential as the project moves forward. Staff estimated the combined parcels could yield roughly 37 single-family homes across both acquisitions (staff cited approximately 21 homes on the subject parcel and roughly 16 on the adjacent parcel approved earlier in the year).
Assistant Community Development Director Sarah Rutkowski, who said she recently joined the department, described the acquisition as an early step in a multi-stage process. She told the commission the city is responding to a 2022 housing study that identified a shortage of workforce housing and that detailed decisions — including the extent of city involvement, selection of developers, lot configuration, utilities, and design standards — would be decided in later phases after additional council discussion.
The public comment period was lengthy: multiple neighbors voiced opposition citing concerns about smaller proposed lot widths (neighbors compared proposed lots of roughly 55 feet to adjacent lots of 60–65 feet), potential traffic increases on Christian Drive, safety for children, groundwater/utility impacts, and potential property-value declines. Several neighbors requested larger lot sizes, a traffic study, and assurances about the character of future homes. Two speakers supported the project, noting the need for more housing.
Commissioners emphasized this action was the initial acquisition step, not final approval of lot sizes or final plats. Council member Nichols and others said the commission and council intend to provide opportunities for neighborhood engagement when preliminary and final plats, zone changes and utility plans are prepared. The commission voted 7-0 to adopt staff recommendations for the acquisition and associated preliminary actions; staff noted the item will proceed to Common Council for further consideration.
