Planning commission rezones County Road SS parcel from industrial to community business to allow owner-operated small business

The Onalaska Planning Commission unanimously approved a rezoning on Feb. 25 to change a parcel at 1352 and 1356 County Road SS (Tax Parcel 18-3515-0) from Heavy Industrial (I‑2) to Community Business (B‑2), allowing an owner to operate a small commercial business while retaining a dwelling on the site.

Planner Katie Aspenson said the parcel had been rezoned from single‑family residential to light industrial in 2003 and later became heavy industrial during the citywide UDC rezone in 2020. The current owner wants to run a personal‑service business and live on the property; those uses are allowed in the B‑2 district but not under the existing heavy industrial zoning. City staff recommended approval and proposed four conditions of approval.

During the meeting a resident, Brian Files (1343 County Road SS), spoke in the public input period asking how the rezoning would affect his business across the street and whether reducing the zoning intensity could cause problems if an industrial business on the site later ceased operations. Planner Aspenson responded during the public hearing discussion that properties north of the subject parcel would not be impacted by this rezoning and that any property owner may pursue rezoning in the future; she said the rezoning brings the property into conformance with the Unified Development Code for the owner’s intended use and that existing heavy industrial uses across the street may continue under their zones.

Commissioner Tom Smith moved to approve the rezoning with four conditions; a second was offered and the motion carried unanimously.

Applicants listed in the packet are Yi Tang and Linda Hong. City staff noted the parcel would have to meet UDC parking requirements for each use (two parking spaces minimum for a residence, plus required stalls for the business depending on its square footage).