Portage planning commission approves comprehensive plan amendment to allow multifamily project at Duck/Duck Lake marsh edge

The Portage Plan Commission voted June 16 to amend the city comprehensive plan for Parcel 6022 — a 16.39-acre site near the intersection of East Albert Street and East Hartle Street — changing the future land‑use designation from single‑family to multifamily residential to accommodate a proposed apartment community.

The vote advances a zoning application from developer Pre3 for Premier Portage Preserve, a preliminary proposal the city recorded as up to 84 units in seven (possibly six) buildings; Planning staff and commissioners said the action is a planning step that does not authorize construction and that a site‑specific stormwater plan, wetland setbacks and additional approvals remain required.

The change matters because it lets the developer pursue a formal rezoning from RT (traditional neighborhood, single‑ and two‑family) to R5 (large‑scale multifamily). Planning staff recommended approval of the comprehensive plan amendment and told commissioners the parcel contains delineated wetlands, that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ delineation and setbacks govern building limits, and that a stormwater management plan will be required because the project proposes to develop more than one acre.

Residents who spoke at two public hearings before the commission urged denial. Melissa Koller, who said she lives at 821 Dorothy Drive, told the commission the apartment proposal "will disrupt our community's single family zoning intent" and warned the project was "out of scale with the surroundings." Micah Grossdreiss of 818 Dorothy Drive and other neighbors described standing water near the site and said denser development would exacerbate local flooding. Second District Alderperson Shana Dunnehy also said she values the marsh and that smaller housing types such as duplexes would be more appropriate for the location.

Planning Director Steven Sobiak and other staff responded that the wetlands on the parcel were delineated and that the developer will be required to comply with DNR setbacks and city stormwater rules. "We will require the developer to provide us a site‑specific stormwater management plan because one acre or more is being developed," Sobiak said, adding that Strand Engineering is retained to review the developer's stormwater design. Staff said the delineation currently shown on the plans triggers a 10–30 foot DNR setback for that wetland type and that "we have no desire to fill in wetland".

Commissioners discussed alternatives during the meeting. Some members said the multifamily option could reduce impervious surface compared with a fully engineered single‑family subdivision because multiple units can share access and parking; others expressed concern about density and neighborhood compatibility. Commissioners also noted the rezoning decision will go to the City Council after the Planning Commission's recommendation.

On formal action, the commission approved the comprehensive plan amendment and, separately, the zoning map amendment application submitted by Pre3 to rezone Parcel 6022 from RT to R5. The roll calls recorded on the record were: for the comprehensive plan amendment — Feeney: Aye; Egan: Aye; MacReiner: No; Voss: Aye (motion carries); for the zoning map amendment — Feeney: Aye; Egan: Aye; Matt Greiner: Aye; Foss: Aye (motion carries).

Next steps shown in the record: the rezoning will be transmitted to the City Council for its decision; the developer must provide a detailed site plan and a stormwater management plan that meets city and DNR standards; Strand Engineering will review stormwater submissions; and any request for tax‑increment financing (TIF) would be considered separately.

The commission's approvals change only the city's comprehensive plan designation and recommend a rezoning; they do not authorize construction. Staff and commissioners emphasized that wetland delineation, DNR setbacks and city stormwater requirements must be satisfied before site work could proceed.