Plan Commission recommends removing county penal institutions from permitted uses, asks council to set public hearing

The Waupaca Plan Commission voted to recommend Ordinance O 4-2025 to the City Council and asked the council to set a public hearing on the measure. Staff member Juliana told the commission the amendment would remove a specific call-out for county penal institutions from the list of permitted and conditional uses in Chapter 17.104 of the zoning code, and said the change is part of a broader effort to streamline the code and avoid individualized listings. The commission’s action is advisory: Juliana confirmed the zoning change must receive a public hearing before the council. She also said the city is pursuing rezoning for certain properties — including the courthouse complex — into a public lands/facility and utility district that would more broadly list public facilities and government buildings as permitted uses. Commission discussion was brief and included no objections. A motion was made and seconded to recommend the ordinance and request that the council schedule a public hearing; the commission approved the motion by voice vote. Juliana described the purpose of the amendment: “What we're trying to do in this is part of a broader effort to streamline and clarify elements of our code so that we're not having very individualized call outs in particular areas.” No specific opponents or public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting, and commissioners did not request postponement or additional study before forwarding the ordinance to council.