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Fort Atkinson council approves retail market study to identify gaps in local retail
Summary
The City Council authorized a retail market study by Growth Services Group at a cost not to exceed $16,500, to be paid from the city’s lodging/room tax fund (Fund 8). The study is intended to identify retail gaps and potential sites for development after several approved retail projects were not constructed.
The Fort Atkinson City Council on May 6 authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Growth Services Group to conduct a retail market study for the city at a cost not to exceed $16,500, to be funded through the city’s lodging/room tax fund (Fund 8).
City Manager Hausman told the council the study would evaluate why approved retail projects — including a Dollar Tree on Madison Avenue and a Dollar General Market on Janesville Avenue — were not constructed, identify gaps in retail services and suitable development sites, and provide outreach materials for prospective developers. “We propose to use funds from our lodging cityscape room tax fund or Fund 8 to pay for this study,” Hausman said.
The consultant’s base fee quoted in the packet was $12,500 plus travel. Hausman said travel and onsite survey work were expected to bring the estimated total to about $16,500. He also said the city’s Fund 8 had a positive balance of about $138,000 at the end of 2024 and that the fund is the same source used for local tourism and business-pitch programs.
Several council members raised concerns during discussion about whether local building and zoning requirements — and the city’s approach to variances — might be a factor in businesses deciding not to proceed. One council member noted that plans submitted in compliance with the city’s zoning requirements were later abandoned, and urged the council to investigate permitting and variance practices alongside any market outreach. Hausman responded that the zoning code was not unusually restrictive compared with nearby incorporated municipalities, and that the agenda item at the meeting was limited to approving the market study.
The motion passed. The study will be used by city staff and planning partners to inform future development outreach and site-preparation work; results were expected to come after the consultant’s work is complete and will be shared with the council and public when available.
