Developers, neighbors spar over 1030 Fairfield rezoning request for higher-density housing

Two proponents of rezoning 1030 Fairfield presented to the Onalaska Common Council during public input, while several residents raised traffic and sidewalk concerns raised at the plan commission.

Neil Pfaff of Verebecker Associates, the project representative, described the request to rezone the property from R-2 to R-4 to allow higher density development. “The rezone application was going from a R2 zoning and a request to go to R4,” Pfaff said. He told the council the site was identified in the city’s comprehensive plan as suitable for higher density and that his client intended to provide “housing at affordable rates.” Pfaff noted the developer would not seek municipal funding and that stormwater management, emergency access and screening were part of the parcel’s due diligence.

Jacob Mooney, a nearby resident who also spoke in support, said townhouses could provide a pathway to homeownership and described existing development density on Fairfield Street. He urged council to align zoning decisions with the comprehensive plan and housing needs.

Speakers opposing the rezone told the plan commission they were worried about traffic and the absence of sidewalks on Fairfield Street; plan commissioners denied the rezone primarily for those reasons. Pfaff said a sidewalk could be proposed to connect a development and suggested a traffic study would support the project’s circulation plan, but the plan commission decision to deny the rezoning remains in effect. No council action was taken on the rezoning at this meeting; the item has been discussed previously at the plan commission.