Manitowoc council approves conditional-use permits for two recovery homes, rezones property and adopts cryptocurrency-ATM rules

MANITOWOC, Wis. — The Manitowoc Common Council on April 21 approved conditional-use permits for two transitional housing facilities intended for people recovering from addiction, rezoned a downtown property to allow indoor self-storage, and adopted several ordinances and grant applications, including a new municipal rule governing cryptocurrency ATMs.

Planning staff presented the land-use items after public information hearings and unanimous plan commission recommendations. Adam, a planning staff member, told the council the request for 601 Reed Avenue was driven by the new owner’s desire to include indoor self-storage: “That is not permitted in B1, but it is permitted in B3,” he said, and staff recommended approval because the future land-use map designates the area for general business. The council adopted the rezoning ordinance for 601 Reed Avenue.

The council also approved conditional-use permits for two properties to be operated by Restoration Recovery LLC as transitional housing: 1201 South Tenth Street (a roughly 4,500-square-foot building) and 1222 South Seventh Street. Planning staff said the applications set maximum occupancy based on bedrooms, and planning staff and the plan commission recommended approval subject to six conditions for each permit. Staff reported two people submitted opposition during the public-information process and other nonprofit providers sent letters of support. Staff confirmed a state registration is not required unless the facilities receive state or federal funds.

Separately, the council granted a temporary outdoor-sales conditional-use permit at 3310 Calumet Avenue for Gritty Lane Antique Mall to hold up to eight events per year, primarily on Friday afternoons and evenings; staff recommended approval subject to eight conditions and noted one nearby property owner submitted a letter raising visibility and tenant-relocation concerns.

On public-safety measures, the council adopted an ordinance creating a municipal code section regulating cryptocurrency ATMs. Alderman Tim Bolt, chair of the Public Safety Committee, described fraud and loss associated with the devices in Wisconsin and said, “This ordinance is gonna help our citizens be more secure in dealing with the Bitcoin transfers ATMs. And it's our first step to help protect you.” The council also adopted an ordinance adding a stop sign at Summit Street and South 20th Street and updated municipal rules on fences and walls.

The council approved several resolutions and administrative items from committees, including: authorization to apply for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant and a Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program grant; a municipal water installation agreement for a property at 3023 Highway CR; and approval of a temporary extension of premises for Petsco Brewing’s liquor/beer sales on North 11th Street from May 6 through Sept. 30. Personnel committee measures — including reclassification of a seasonal art instructor and a seasonal supervisory-employment resolution regarding relatives — were adopted; the latter was approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Conditional-use permit, 1201 South Tenth Street (Restoration Recovery LLC): approved; planning staff recommended approval; Plan Commission unanimous; council vote: unanimous. - Conditional-use permit, 1222 South Seventh Street (Restoration Recovery LLC): approved; planning staff recommended approval; Plan Commission unanimous; council vote: unanimous. - Conditional-use permit, 3310 Calumet Avenue (temporary outdoor sales, Gritty Lane Antique Mall): approved; planning staff recommended approval subject to 8 conditions; Plan Commission unanimous; council vote: unanimous. - Rezoning ordinance, 601 Reed Avenue (B1 to B3): adopted; staff and Plan Commission recommended approval; council vote: unanimous. - Ordinance creating municipal code section regulating cryptocurrency ATMs (create sec. 11.28): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Ordinance amending through-intersection stop regulation (add stop at Summit & S. 20th): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Ordinance creating sec. 16.34 (text not specified in transcript): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Ordinance amending sec. 16.35 (fences and walls): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Resolution authorizing Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant application: adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Resolution authorizing Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program grant application: adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Municipal water installation agreement (Ronald and Karina Eberhardt, 3023 Highway CR): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Temporary extension of premise for Petsco Brewing (Document 3-27): approved; council vote: unanimous. - Personnel resolution reclassifying Arts Instructor pay (Document 3-10): adopted; council vote: unanimous. - Personnel resolution authorizing seasonal employment of supervisory personnel who are relatives (Document 3-11): adopted by roll call; recorded ayes from alderpersons Beeman; Debates; Cummings; Norell; Bolt; Reichelberg; Sikowitz; Vanderkin; Brey; Schley (all recorded as “Aye” in the roll call).

Why it matters

The transitional housing permits affect the local recovery-service network by adding two recovery homes in residential neighborhoods; plan staff set occupancy limits and tied approval to conditions meant to address impacts raised by neighbors. The rezoning at 601 Reed Avenue formally allows indoor self-storage as a permitted use, changing what commercial activities can occur there. The new cryptocurrency-ATM rule is a preventative step the council cited to address reported fraud losses associated with unmanned crypto kiosks.

What the council heard

Planning staff said both transitional-housing proposals were subject to public-information hearings where two residents spoke in opposition and other nonprofits provided letters of support. For the temporary outdoor-sales permit, staff noted a new owner of a nearby former auto repair business submitted a letter about visibility and tenant-attraction concerns. No members of the public addressed the council on those agenda items during the council meeting itself.

Next steps

Several items adopted by resolution require further staff action, including the filing of grant applications and the municipal water installation agreement’s implementation. The council’s next scheduled public meeting referenced during the session is May 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.

(Reporting based on the Manitowoc Common Council meeting transcript, April 21, 2025.)