Council approves PUD for Sutler Avenue site including drive‑through cafe and retail space

The Beloit City Council approved a planned unit development master land use plan for a parcel at 1806 Sutler Avenue that will allow a two‑tenant commercial building including a drive‑through restaurant and other commercial tenant space.

The approval, in the form of Resolution 2025078, authorizes a standalone PUD carved off from the existing Morgan Square PUD and includes conditions on setbacks, building height, parking and pedestrian access that staff will verify during final plan review.

Julie, planning staff, told the council the site sits at the corner of Sutler and Milwaukee and that the application adds a restaurant drive‑in use, commercial retail and office space, outdoor patio seating, and ancillary uses. She said the planning commission reviewed the plan on May 7 and recommended approval 5–0 subject to 17 conditions included in the staff attachment. The PUD sets a 30‑foot setback, a 23‑foot maximum building height and limits building coverage to 3,484 square feet (15.4% of the parcel). Staff noted a stormwater conduit under part of the proposed building footprint that the applicant will need to address in final engineering review.

Conditions included a requirement for a pedestrian connection to the Milwaukee Road sidewalk, an on‑site bike rack, and a minimum of 14 parking stalls; the applicant proposed 18 stalls including three accessible spaces and submitted a shared‑parking agreement with Morgan Square. The PUD language gives flexibility on wall signage but restricts pole signs.

Councilor Denton moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded by Councilor Forbeck and passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed to submit final PUD plans and building permits; any public improvements identified during engineering review would also require a development agreement.