Wausau plan commission approves amended River Life multifamily general development plan

The City of Wausau Plan Commission on March 18 approved an amendment to the general development plan (GDP) for the River Life property to allow two multifamily buildings and a detached clubhouse at 920 North First Street and 15 Fulton Street.

The amended GDP would permit two residential buildings totaling about 144 units, with four stories of residential over one level of garage parking and a detached clubhouse with community amenities, according to the developer presentation. The commission voted in favor after a public hearing and discussion of traffic and site constraints.

Developer Dave Bridal, representing Vanguard Partners, introduced the project and said the firm modified its plans after public and staff feedback. "We're here specifically to discuss multifamily," Bridal said, adding the team had posted signs on the site and collected public comments. Bridal described the proposal as two buildings, a clubhouse and a layout that opens a view corridor to the river.

Kathy Volkman, speaking on behalf of Clover Belt Credit Union, said her office overlooks the proposed clubhouse and expressed concern about added traffic at the First and Fulton intersection. "While we are not opposed to adding multifamily housing on this lot, we remain concerned about the increased traffic at what we consider to be a poorly designed intersection," Volkman said, describing semitruck activity from ABC Supply and maneuvers that sometimes block Fulton Street.

City staff and the project's civil engineer, Jim Borisenko of REI Engineering, said the site has a roughly 9-foot grade change from First Street down to the campus, a constraint that influenced the clubhouse location and led to the proposed vehicular access from First Street and a separate pedestrian stair connection from the apartment buildings. Staff noted Fulton Street (First to Seventh) is scheduled for reconstruction this year; the street is expected to retain an approximately 45-foot width. Staff said traffic counts will be done after reconstruction to determine whether a four-way stop is warranted.

Commission member Brueggemann moved to approve the GDP amendment; Borneman seconded. After discussion, the commission voted verbally in favor with no roll-call tallied in the record; the motion passed.

Under Wausau procedure the GDP amendment allows the proposed density and general building layout but requires the developer to return to the commission with site-specific plans for ingress/egress, detailed parking arrangements and final grading. Staff recommended approval contingent on those future site-plan reviews.

The commission approved the GDP amendment following the public hearing and discussion; specific site plans, traffic studies and final engineering drawings will return to the commission for review.