Fond du Lac City Council amends comprehensive plan for hospital expansion, approves industrial revenue bond process and several routine measures

The Fond du Lac City Council on Jan. 22 approved a pair of land-use changes to clear the way for an expansion by SSM Health, authorized an initial resolution to begin taxable industrial revenue bond financing for a project at 1125 East Johnson Street, updated the city's public deposit and investment policy, and approved event and board appointments.

The comprehensive-plan amendment and a companion rezoning affecting properties on Eastgate Place were the meeting's most consequential votes for land use. Council members voted to change the future-land-use designation from residential to institutional for parcels south of Division Street and to rezone four Eastgate Place lots from R-1 single-family residential to O office conversion district to align zoning with that plan amendment. The measures passed 5- (yes) with Council member Schisler recorded as abstaining.

The land-use changes will allow SSM Health to expand a medical facility to the east where floodplain and other constraints limit expansion in other directions. Community development director Benson told the council the parcels are owned by SSM and that plan commission and staff recommended approval. Benson also described the city's review of the zoning change and stated, "there is absolutely no liability whatsoever for the city," when explaining the city's role in similar financing mechanisms being discussed later in the meeting.

Separately the council approved an initial resolution…