Council OKs amendment allowing Koons Auto to expand inventory lot; council holds related survey map over right‑of‑way questions

Oak Creek, Wis. — The Oak Creek Common Council on July 15 approved an amendment to an existing conditional use permit allowing Koons Auto and RV (Koons Oak Creek Property, LLC) to expand vehicle inventory parking along West Rawson Avenue, but the council held a separate certified survey map that would combine the properties after residents and neighboring property representatives raised questions about a previously recorded road dedication note.

The conditional use amendment, adopted as Resolution No. 12600-071525, updates the 2018 permit to add an adjacent parcel and permits paving where vehicles are currently parked on grass. Christie Lane, community development director, told the council the proposal would add about 155 inventory parking spaces and clarified the 2018 permit had previously been amended to account for a state right-of-way.

The approval matters because it allows the dealership to legalize and pave vehicle storage that staff said is already occurring on an undeveloped parcel. "Right now, they are parking vehicles in the grass. It's not allowed. So this would allow them to pave that for vehicles, put more parking spaces for inventory," Alderman Greg (last name on file as Greg) said during the discussion.

During the public hearing Tom Stacowiak of Stack Design Group, representing property owners to the north, asked when a roadway referenced in a 2018 certified survey map would be constructed. Stacowiak said the 2018 CSM included a note that Boylan Properties Oak Creek LLC would dedicate right-of-way, obtain wetland permits and build an official‑map street "prior to the development of Lot 2 with the total cost of construction borne by Boylan Properties of Oak Creek." He told council members his client has attempted since 2020 to develop the northern parcels but cannot because there is no access.

Council members and staff said the conditional use amendment and the CSM are related but separate actions. City officials said whether the city has any obligation under that private memorandum of understanding is unclear and recommended follow-up research before recording a new CSM. "If it's referencing a memorandum of understanding between two private properties, that would not... be something the city would necessarily be a party to," one city official said. City staff and the council asked the applicant’s engineer (Pinnacle) and property owners to clarify title and any outstanding agreements.

Council member Burke moved to hold the CSM (item 8) for further review; the motion was amended to continue the hold until the common council meeting on Aug. 9, 2025, and the motion carried on roll call. The separate conditional use amendment (item 7) was adopted on a roll‑call vote.

The council record shows the planning commission recommended approval of both the conditional‑use amendment and the CSM at its June meeting; city staff told the council they updated outdated code references, applicant name, and the legal description as part of the amendment. The council did not alter the conditional‑use conditions when it voted to approve the parking expansion. No further permits were approved at the July 15 meeting that would authorize construction of the future road referenced in the 2018 CSM note.

The council instructed staff to coordinate with the applicant, Pinnacle (the engineer), and neighboring property owners to resolve title, the existence or enforceability of any memorandum of understanding, and whether the 2018 note should carry forward onto a new CSM before the matter returns to the council.

The matter remains open for further review and was set for reconsideration at the Aug. 9 council meeting.