Plan Commission approves site plan for Buena Beef and Rainbow Cone at 8767 S. Howell Ave.

The Oak Creek Plan Commission on June 10 approved a site plan and architectural review for a proposed 4,700‑square‑foot Buena Beef restaurant and Rainbow Cone ice‑cream shop at 8767 South Howell Avenue, including a two‑lane drive‑through, a bypass lane, 58 parking spaces and conditions that require a memorandum of understanding with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation before permits are issued.

Why it matters: The project adds a drive‑through and new access onto Howell Avenue in a busy commercial corridor. Commissioners and staff flagged traffic, pedestrian safety and stormwater management as issues that could affect nearby properties and the city’s right‑of‑way; the approvals attach conditions intended to limit lighting spill, preserve required green space, and assign responsibility for any median modifications to the developer.

Todd (City planner) told the commission the applicant previously received a conditional‑use permit for a drive‑through from the Common Council in March and had returned for site and architectural review. The plan calls for a single‑story, approximately 4,700‑square‑foot building with a two‑lane drive‑through on the south side of the lot, a bypass…