Council approves Meadowlark PUD for 3500 Eagles Ridge Drive, greenlights up to 94 apartments

The Beloit City Council on Nov. 7 approved a planned unit development master land use plan for 3500 Eagles Ridge Drive that would allow up to 92–94 multifamily apartments in seven buildings on an 8.662-acre parcel.

The resolution (listed on the agenda as resolution 2024-132) cleared the PUD after a public hearing and a presentation from city planning staff and the developer, the Alexander Company. The council approved the measure by a voice vote after a motion by Councilor Terrell and a second by Councilor Foreback.

City planning staff presented the proposal as seven two-story apartment buildings containing a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with a total building footprint of about 51,300 square feet (13.6% building coverage). The plan shows 54% of the site as open space, meeting the PUD ordinance requirement of at least 50% open space. Building footprints for the southern group (Buildings 1, 3, 5 and 7) are about 6,900 square feet each; Buildings 2, 4 and 6 toward the north are roughly 7,900 square feet each. Because the site is sloped, some buildings will present split-level façades with the upper story oriented northward.

Chris Day, development project manager with the Alexander Company, told the council the development — which the developer has named Meadowlark — aims to add workforce housing and support local employer recruitment and retention. Day said Building 2, at the northeast corner, will house resident amenities including a community room, fitness center, business center and an on-site property manager's office.

The PUD includes required pedestrian connections and bike parking: paved pedestrian links of at least 5 feet from the southwest corner of Building 2 to the Gateway multiuse path and an east-side pedestrian connection from the grilling area to the Eagles Ridge Drive path. The master plan shows a private access drive off Gateway Boulevard and an internal drive connecting toward Eagle Church Drive. The PUD standards on file set setbacks at 30 feet, a maximum height of two stories (28 feet 3 inches), and parking of 54 stalls; engineering-related utility requirements will be addressed at final plan review.

The Planning Commission heard the item twice, on Sept. 18 (laid over for additional information) and Oct. 9, when it recommended approval by a 3–1 vote subject to 15 conditions listed in Attachment A of the resolution. Planning Commission Chair Ramsden voted no, citing resident concerns about property values and quality of life even while noting support for increasing affordable housing stock.

Three members of the public spoke during the council public hearing. Steve Holland (Beloit) presented county-level housing statistics that he and others use to support more multifamily and affordable units. Devin Blaisdahl identified himself as a Beloit resident who works with students experiencing homelessness at the School District of Beloit and urged support for housing given rising numbers of students experiencing homelessness.

After closing the public hearing, Councilor Terrell moved to approve the resolution; Councilor Foreback seconded. The council approved the PUD by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The related zoning ordinance to rezone the parcel’s multifamily portion from R-3 to PUD (ordinance 3854 on the agenda as item 4b) was opened for public hearing but was laid over by the council for later action; the council took a separate motion to “lay over” the rezoning item rather than vote on rezoning that night.

If the rezoning and final PUD plans later receive approval, the developer will be required to enter into a development agreement with the city and to demonstrate preservation of mature trees and the other conditions listed in Attachment A at final plan submission.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2024-132 (PUD master plan for 3500 Eagles Ridge Drive) — Motion by Councilor Terrell, second by Councilor Foreback; outcome: approved (voice vote). Zoning ordinance 3854 (rezoning to PUD) — public hearing held; motion to lay over adopted.

Why it matters: The project adds a sizable multifamily workforce housing proposal to a neighborhood transitioning from single-family and duplex development. The PUD’s conditions emphasize open space retention and pedestrian connections, while the Planning Commission’s split vote and public commenters highlighted ongoing local concerns about neighborhood impacts and housing affordability.