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Plan Commission OKs bronze pig fountain in State Street right-of-way
Summary
The Oshkosh Plan Commission voted 7-0 to approve a privilege-in-the-street permit allowing a bronze pig fountain and associated utilities to be installed in the sidewalk at 224 State Street, subject to standard conditions and coordination with Public Works.
The Oshkosh City Plan Commission on Jan. 21 approved a privilege-in-the-street permit to allow installation of a bronze pig fountain in the State Street sidewalk next to 224 State Street.
Staff said the statue — described by the applicant as a replica of the Florence bronze known as Il Porcellino — would sit on a concrete base wrapped in limestone and include underground electrical to operate a fountain. The Department of Public Works reviewed the proposal and reported no conflicts with city utilities that could not be addressed through standard permit conditions. Staff recommended approval with the conditions listed in the staff report.
The installation plan places the base about 5 feet from the building facade and approximately 1 foot from the curb of State Street, leaving an ADA-compliant circulation path that staff described as the restaurant’s entrance ramp and accessible route. The applicant said there will be 18 inches of clearance on the west side of the base to allow car doors to open when vehicles are parked adjacent to the statue. The applicant told the commission the base will be concrete block wrapped in limestone to match the building exterior.
Commissioners asked technical questions about dimensions and ADA clearance, and staff explained the 5-foot pedestrian clearance north of the statue and the one-foot buffer to the street. Staff also explained the request required higher scrutiny because of the underground electrical for the fountain; other encroachments like awnings are handled administratively, the staff member said.
Applicant Kelsey Lally, who told commissioners she is converting the first floor of 224 State Street into an Italian restaurant, said the bronze pig would greet patrons at the sidewalk entrance and that the design team had coordinated with Public Works. There were no members of the public who requested to speak during the public comment period.
The commission approved a motion “to adopt the findings and recommendations as stated in the staff report.” A roll-call vote recorded seven ayes and no nays or abstentions, carrying the motion 7–0.
The permit approval requires the applicant to satisfy the standard privilege-in-the-street conditions and to coordinate final utility locations with Public Works before construction begins. The applicant did not request a closing statement after the public comment period closed.
